my ears, my honor

[oorebeek]

Hi bill Springer and all of you,
I did not have time yet to write to you but I wanted to exchange my =
experience with
the tuning machine PT-100 and tuning by ear.

you wrote:
"I personally did not care for the Yamaha approach in tuning testing =
mostly
because of its narrow view.  Perhaps things have changed in 15 years, =
but at
the time the graphs were pretty restrictive, meaning there was only =
one right
answer, and the person I worked with tried to fit all makes of pianos =
into
these graphs.  I personally belive there are many ways to make a =
piano sound
in tune, and depending on how you feel, and the customers needs, we =
can
adjust our tuning accordingly.  Dean Reyburn's Cybertuner (which I saw
demonstrated in Dearborn), has all kinds of graphs generated and this =
would
be ideal for learning (www.reyburn.com).  I'm sure the training at =
Yamaha for
the regulation was excellent".

What I would like to tell you is that at the Piano Technical Academy =
they have different tuning graphs for different grands, and they are =
extremely strict about whether it's a small grand or a concert grand.
They (the Japanese techn.) taught me to listen to several new (to me) =
intervals and after each tuning I received new lessons with the help =
of my result on the graph (why is this e so row and that c so high? =
etc.)
I must say that I got home totally changed, my tuning (by ear) is =
much more precise and has become very regular.
Yet, since I started working for Yamaha I have a PT-100 with me every =
day and I make use of it often, especially for double tuning (two =
grands or more), raising pitch and tuning very difficult instruments =
like old Bechsteins!(oh my!)
This machine is a true blessing and I can assure all of you that for =
sure in Holland, where the tuning machine has become very popular, =
piano's do sound a lot better than before.
On the other hand, I insist on training the ear till you drop.
I am convinced that one must first of all learn tuning the hard old =
fashioned way. I have tuned a zillion piano's during 25 years by my =
own ears and a tuning machine did not even exist here.
Therefore my principle is that a tuner could work with both, but for =
special occasions like concerts and in general beautiful instruments =
the ears are most accurate.
Actually, I got to know the machine through visiting an american =
colleague (Richard Davenport) in LA. He showed me how incredibly easy =
it was to work with plus the general result, I was astounded.
At the time it seemed typically American, very handy and easy, I was =
impressed, as most europeans are by many American ways of doing =
things and their tools, wow.
(on the other hand, in Hamamatsu kept screaming about my europa made =
BIG screwdriver, hey!)
When I got home, I had to immediately start tuning for a big Yamaha =
show and then I decided to ask them (Yamaha) if they could provide me =
with a PT-100.
What a relieve pff...




friendly greetings from:

Andr=E9 Oorebeek
Hartenstraat 6'' - 1016 CB Amsterdam
the Netherlands
Tel/Fax: 020-6237357
email: oorebeek@euronet.nl