Where oh where is the pitch??from Canada--AAA

[John Ross]

Hi David,
I had a similar type situation, in a senior citizens residence. A group
came in to play, and said my tuning of the piano, was off pitch,
according to their guitar tuner.
I checked their guitar tuner, found that it didn't agree with my
Accutuner. I checked the battery of their unit, finding that the 9V
battery was low. When they changed the battery, we were close in pitch.
In a concert, or church situation, I always make a point of requesting
that the piano, be at it's 'operating' temperature, if possible. I
indicate to them that if this is not done, that the piano may drift.
Stage lights play havoc as well, especially with the black ones.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada

David Renaud wrote:
> 
> Here's a new, interesting experience.
>       When tuning for "Semiprofessional" concerts
> perhaps I should always be there till the concert starts???
> 
>        I tune for a rather good community choral group, that
> has done some recording, and has a regular concert series.
> They own a C7 that I rebuilt for them last year.
> 
>       This weekend they have two concerts, tuned the piano
> on Friday morning, the room was very cold, and the instrument,
> was bang on A440( I have been tuning it once a month since
> it was restrung). Cleaned up the tuning, did a little regulation.
> 
>       This morning I get a call to re-tune for tonight's concert,
> because the piano was  "15 cents flat and sounded terrible".
> 
>      They had in 7 brass players who have been playing for
> two years, grade school 7-8 to play with the choir. The school
> music teacher tuned them "exactly" to his machine at 440.
> and when they played with the piano it sounded extremely
> flat. He assures me the machine was calibrated to 440.
>      He then checked the piano with the machine, it reported
> the piano 15 cents flat.
>      I've checked my two forks they are both OK.
>      I know I can set pitch, when I passed RPT exam, not
> only did I have 100% on pitch, the deviation was 0.0-part luck.
>      I've quite a bit of experience tuning for concerts with
> orchestra, choir etc., and have never had a pitch problem.
> 
>      Seeing as I did not even raise the pitch is is unlikely it
> slipped. The outdoor temperature during the day dropped
> radically, and the church did not heat the room. so between
> the tuning and the tuning and the concert room temp.
> had dropped allot and was still cold, but in the process of
> warming up as they "tuned". The cold temp.-hunidity
> would have sent the low tenor area sharp not flat, and dropped
> it back down as it warmed up.
> 
>     I spoke with the music teacher, who tells me that his
> woodwinds at his school  are always very flat,
> but the brass are fine.
> 
>     I suspect his cheap machine is about 15 cents off.
> will find out today.
> 
> Question---- In your experience, how far off, how often
>                    do you find cheaper machines incorrect as
>                    far as defining A440? How much variation
>                    have you seen? Have you run into similar
>                    situations? If I confirm my suspicions, how
>                    do you tell a music teacher tactfully that
>                    he has been trying  to force his woodwinds
>                   15 cents sharp for  several years?.
> 
> Should we get danger pay for concert tuning mixed
> amateur groups??
> HA HA.
> 
>                                         Looking forward to your
> responses
> 
>                                          Dave Renaud
>                                          RPT