[CAUT] Piano Storage Room

[John Ross]

Hi Susan,
Unfortunately, the Physical Plant does not check the controlled room  
enough, even when it is suggested.
So I feel that the room is not consistent.
I put one of the registering hygrometer/thermometers in the room, and  
when I checked it, the humidity, had apparently gone to 69%.
I can't remember when I reset it.
It is just a contract where I tune all the pianos (40) twice a year,  
and the 3 concert grands 10 times through the school year.
They only let me do extra, when they have no choice, saying they can't  
afford it.
They are checking the controlled room today.
The D in the box on stage, was really close.
Thank you for the reply, obviously, mine isn't a good controlled room.
Best,
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia

On 15-Mar-10, at 3:28 PM, Susan Kline wrote:

> Hi, John
>
> The University's D sits in a fancy climate-controlled room, while  
> the Newport
> Arts Center's is in a box backstage. Left to my own devices, I'd  
> choose the
> box backstage. The piano moves with the ambient changes, which  
> aren't that
> severe in Oregon, but the changes are slowed by the lack of air  
> exchange in
> the box. There will never be a big fluctuation when the piano is  
> brought
> out to use, unless the lights are cranked way up.
>
> On the other hand, the climate controlled room leaves the piano tuning
> nearly completely unchanged over the summer when the piano never  
> leaves
> However, I'm glad that when the piano is used for several rehearsals
> and a concerto performance, it stays on stage for a few days, with a
> light cover on it, instead of back in the room. I particularly like  
> tuning
> it after the artist has practiced on it for a few hours, with the  
> stage
> lights on. Duplicates the conditions it will have for the performance,
> more or less.
>
> Confession time: <blush> --- there's a short Baldwin kept with the  
> S&S D
> in its storage room, sort of brash but playable, which some groups use
> instead of the elegant piano, also for less money, no doubt. One day
> in early summer I was supposed to tune the Baldwin, but forgot and put
> a very thorough tuning on the Steinway instead -- remembered in a nick
> of time before I left -- went ahead and tuned the Baldwin, somewhat
> faster than usual, shook my head.
>
> The first piano performance in the fall, the artist came and practiced
> on the Steinway ... three months after I'd tuned it in the box.  
> Tuning was still
> immaculate. He was very impressed by the piano's stability! ...  
> <sick grin>
> "Well, we try to keep the tuning close," I said. <blush> That is  
> what a good
> climate-controlled room does well, IMO.
>
> Susan Kline .....................................the absent-minded
>
>
>
> ---------------
>> Sometimes I feel that we should just turn off the climate control,  
>> and
>> we would be better.
>>
>> We had a Steinway D that is stored in a box on stage, and it was  
>> close
>> when tuned.
>>
>> The climate control is at 70F and 45% RH.  The stage was 73F and  
>> 29% RH.
>
>