Concert prep help

[walter sikora]

John,

I can't answer all your questions, but I did a tuning etc. for this group a
couple of years ago at University of North Carolina.  

Piano was a Steinway D.  I left it pretty bright.  The entire group was a
laid back bunch and there was no discussion about the piano.

I remember the piano player really liked to wail on the upper two octaves. 
Unfortunately, a poor amplification system (which had been outsourced by
UNC) dulled and distorted  the sound of the piano.  Still, it was a great
concert.

Walter Sikora, RPT
Chapel Hill, NC

----------
> From: John McKone <mckonejw@SKYPOINT.COM>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Concert prep help
> Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 11:17 PM
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I will be tuning for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz Ensemble next
> week, and I have some questions and concerns about the prep situation.
> 
> Here's the deal: the piano is what I would consider an unremarkable or
> possibly adequate Steinway D that is the house piano at the hall where
the
> concert is to take place.  I tune this piano once or twice a year and
each
> time remind the staff that it is no where near concert ready for a high
> level artist.  The regulation is ok for a home piano, but nothing like
what
> would be expected by a real pro.  Ditto for the voicing.  Of course the
> have never come up with the funds to bring the piano up to concert level.
> 
> I will have about 3 hours at the piano the day before the show, and then
am
> required to be there for the sound check, and on call for the
performance.
> I assume a fairly substantial pitch raise to get the piano stable - so
call
> that an hour and a half.
> 
> Here come the questions...
> 
> 1. What is the best use of the approximately 1 1/2 hours I have available
> for voicing/regulating this instrument?  I need to do piano triage here,
> and would like advice.
> 
> 2. What would be the best diplomatic approach to explaining the situation
> to the pianist if, as I fear will happen, the pianist is not happy with
the
> instrument?
> 
> 3.  Has anybody worked with this group before? If so, what are the
> idiosyncrasies of the pianist?
> 
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> 
> John McKone, RPT
> St. louis Park, Minnesota
> (612) 280-8375
> mckonejw@skypoint.com
> 
> 
>