[CAUT] In pursuit of perfection

[Willem Blees]

Unfortunately, unless the paper also mentioned that the piano tuner 
wasn't given enought time to tune the piano, most people will just 
assume it was the tuner's fault that the piano was out of tune. 

Wim 


Quoting David Ilvedson <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>:

> I love that story....I wonder if the pianist learned anything?   
> 
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
> 
> 
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: johnsond <johnsond at stolaf.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Received: 11/1/2006 7:27:11 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] In pursuit of perfection
> 
> 
> >Hi-
> 
> 
> 
> >This is without doubt the most difficult and frustrating point of 
> >contention regarding our work.....  at least as I see it.  Obviously
> 
> >everyone involved wants everyone else do their small part as well as
> 
> >possible for the good of the whole, but unfortunately we sometimes
> end 
> >up competing with each other for limited time in a limited space. 
> I've 
> >even heard organizers say that we don't have to worry about
> scheduling 
> >the piano technician because "he'll just work in the cracks".  There
> may 
> >have been "cracks" in the schedule years ago, but not now.  I've had
> 2 
> >piano events without even as much as 45 minutes open and available
> for 
> >tuning from 7:30am till certain time that evening. What can ya do? 
> 
> >Eventually, with the right people involved, and persistent but
> polite 
> >negotiation- that is improving.  Ultimately, or at some point, we
> have 
> >to be able to wash our hands of an impossible situation.  For our
> own 
> >sanity, if nothing else.
> 
> >I still remember the story F. Mohr told about a certain pianist who
> 
> >would not stop rehearsing to allow for tuning.  Finally 20 minutes 
> >before curtain he stepped aside and told him he could tune now.  
> >Bravely- Mr. Mohr declined.  "I don't do miracles", he said.   The 
> >papers later noted how unfortunate it was that the piano never got
> tuned. 
> 
> >good luck,
> 
> >dennis johnson
> >St. Olaf College
> 


Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA