Hawkeye Harriet-Theme & Variation

[Kenneth W. Burton]

	Zen,

	Good for you! I have a routine of entertainment which I use for
kids and, if you don't mind, I'll add the bit about the jack kicking the
hammer in the butt.
	You probably do this already but--One trick I have is to say,
"I'll show you some of the sounds the piano can make." Then, stepping on
the sustain pedal, I strum the strings in the centre section with my
fingernail, a few at a time, then up the whole high treble section. Their
eyes get big and they say, "Cool!" Then I say, "Would you like to hear the
piano sound like thunder?" They nod their heads in the affirmative. I ask,
"Will you be scared?" They say they won't. Then, again stepping on the
sustain pedal, I strum the bass string really hard. The sound is so loud
and aggressive that it is a bit scary.
	I do some things with my tuning fork for them, ending up with
buzzing their noses. Then, I find when I am finished, if they still want
to fool with the keys, I just say, "It's my turn!" They back off and soon
leave because the excitement is over.

	Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta

On Sat, 12 Jul 1997, Zen Reinhardt wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> ----------
> > From: EugeniaCar@aol.com
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Hawkeye Harriet-Theme & Variation
> > Date: Saturday, July 12, 1997 7:43 AM
> > 
> > In a message dated 97-07-12 06:51:12 EDT, PDtek@aol.com writes:
> > 
> > << Of course there are times when we have to make
> >  requests in order to do the best possible job for them, but we are most
> >  likely to be welcome back into their home if we are willing to go with
> the
> >  family flow as much as possible.
> >   >>
> > 
> > Dave and all,
> > 
> > I certainly agree. We all have at one time or another found some very
> > "interesting" situations. How do we cope with the kids at home? After
> trial
> > and error what works best for me follows:
> > 
> > Mom and I have chatted pleasantly for a few minutes while the kids are
> > running wild. I tell Mom as much as I'm enjoying talking I'd better get
> to
> > work. She says she'll take the kids out. Now these kids are Mom's pride
> and
> > joy, so I say no, let them stay, which usually startles Mom. 
> 
> ... and the beats go on ...
> 
> Hi Eugenia!
> 
> Let's face it -- there are as many different ways to handle kids as there
> are kids, just like there are as many different ways of performing a
> technical feat as there are technicians.
> 
> My usual approach is to get the kids involved as something more than casual
> by-standers.  I'll invite them to "play" a few notes on the action and
> describe what they see as causing the hammer to move.  (Kids love hearing
> about the jacks kicking the hammers in the butts.)  Then when it comes to
> tuning, I'll tell them that the piano is going to tell me a story, but that
> I wouldn't be able to hear all of the details unless they are super-quiet. 
> Perhaps I'll ask them to take turns delivering the test blows.  Or, perhaps
> I'll ask them to tip-toe out of the room.
> 
> The bottom line here is to get the kids to interact with the piano in such
> a way that it comes to life for them.  Then I get all the respect in the
> world from them.
> 
> "OK everybody -- who wants to be first to play a tuned piano?"
> 
> ZR!  RPT
> Ann Arbor
> diskladame@provide.net
>