Is a crutch a tool?

[Sy Zabrocki]

>From Sy--Not to Pianotech

The debate on aural tuning and electronic tuning continues. Years ago =
this topic was actually settled at convention classes conducted by Jim =
Coleman and George Defebaugh. For years Jim would tune with SOT or SAT =
and George would tune aurally. It was proven the result was the same. Of =
course the aural tuner had to be good.=20

I use the SAT daily but stiltune unisons by ear. Also tune the bass by =
year. It bugs me when the aural tuners get up tight when SAT tuning =
topics are discussed. Yet before I bought a SAT in 1990 I also was =
critical of electronic tuning. I asked Ceasar L. several times why he =
used the Sight-O-Tuner. I never once found any errors in his tuning but =
thought it was unnecessary. Turns out he was actually more accurate in =
octave 7 than me.

I even admitted on Pianotech once that I was embarrassed I had opposed =
electronic tuning.
It is true you should tune aurally frequently to keep up your aural =
skills. I usually tune aurally on good pianos once or twice a week. It's =
even fun on a good piano.=20

I dissappointed with many of the topics on Pianotech. Many are too =
petty. I have some ideas in mind but am reluctant to post. What if I'm =
wrong or what if I get blasted. I've already experienced unexpected =
response from some topics I've posted. I have a belief the Schwander =
grand type repetition spring is better than the Steinway butterfly type. =
Most disagreed with me and most were polite but a few put me down. Maybe =
that's because on this media we are mostly anonymous.=20

I have a 68-year-old brother in Omaha who came on line recently. We =
e-mail often. He's still afraid of the computer but learning bit by bit. =


I liked your topic "Is a crutch a tool."

Sy Zabrocki--RPT
only4zab@imt.net

----------
From: 	B. H. Waller[SMTP:papabruski@juno.com]
Sent: 	Thursday, November 14, 1996 9:29 AM
To: 	pianotech@byu.edu
Subject: 	Is a crutch a tool?

A tool is not necessarily a crutch; but a crutch is definately a tool.
I've had RPT's tell me they couldn't do an aural tuning if their life
depended on it.  Yet they are doing concert work and getting around =
quite
well with their crutch.
Their tunings turn out different than mine and I also use a "crutch".  I
like my tunings better.  An electronic tuning device is a complex tool
designed to aid in completing a complex job.  I think our ability to
manipulate such a tool to gain our reward is as important as the tool
itself.  (Same goes for crutches!)

Bruce Waller, RPT
papabruski@juno.com

Re a Hale Sight-o-Tuner, Greg wrote:

I'm somewhat interested in this unit but I confess to not
know much about it. I have been an aural tuner for some 12
years now and am now comfortable with my skills. I'm
concerned that using one of these devices will produce the
"canned" or "compressed" tuning I always seem to be following
up out in the field. What I am looking for is a tool not a
crutch as soo many seem to use these devices for. Can you
help me understand just what this items capabilities are?
			Greg
Greg & Mary Ellen Newell=09
gnewell@en.com
dt945@cleveland.freenet.edu
gnewell@juno.com