[CAUT] Piano Storage Room

[John Ross]

Good idea, I seem to remember, that the Physical plant might have one.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia


On 17-Mar-10, at 2:46 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:

> John-
> Dampp Chaser Corp. has recording monitors which they sometimes loan  
> to institutional technicians.
> They might be interested in getting some numbers from Nova Scotia.
> Ed Sutton
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ross" <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca 
> >
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 3:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Piano Storage Room
>
>
>> 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.
>>>
>>>
>