ears and electricity

[Oorebeek A.]

Dear List,
When I read all the messages about the pro's and contra's of ears and =
machines, the thought came to me about how japanese tuners are =
trained at the Yamaha Academy.
I may have told this before, in that case I'm sorry to bother you but =
some people may be new to the list.
At the Piano technical Academy, first year students start their =
training with a machine.
They get lessons in  handling the tuning hammer and manipulating the =
tuning pins. Every day starts with raising pitch (5 hz), a tuning =
graph follows for a score, and then they lower pitch (5 hz). This =
goes on all day long and three months long, up and down and up and =
down till they drop.
After three months they have nearly mastered the technique. (with the =
help of a MACHINE!)
Then follows a long time (the rest of the year) with learning =
temperament and octaves aurally.
What struck me every time I met a fully professional (concert grand =
trained) japanese technician, was the fact that they refuse to make =
use of machines afterwards.
Under the worst possible conditions or the best, it does not matter =
to them. They seem indifferent.
They make very good tunings and they sometimes let me know =
(specifially) that I should not use (their) tuning machine.
This advise was given to me by several very professional concert =
tuners amongst who was the famous Tsuji-San and the concert =
technician who works for the Mr Richter himself.
I tell you this just as an afterthought in regard to all the latest =
discussions.
My little story is not meant as advise, nor is it a form of =
criticism, only to remind you of just another side of the chest full =
of coins.
Through my daily contact with the list over the the past months, I =
have learned many new things and I have acqainted many new =
colleagues. One of the many interesting things I learned, was the =
difference in tuning techniques in different countries. I noticed =
that in the US developments have gone much further and faster than =
for instance in old Europa.
In some ways America always has been more modern and advanced.
Also because of that reason, it is interesting to read the email from =
colleagues from both sides, it gives an extra dimension and ads spice.
Because this discussion about several ways of making a tuning is such =
a topic, I am fascinated to learn what tuners in America, Europa >and =
other parts of the world< think about this.


Friendly Greetings from:

CONCERT PIANO SERVICE
Andr=E9 Oorebeek
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
email address: oorebeek@euronet.nl

=89 Where Music is no harm can be =89