Making the Transition

[Martin Dubow]

An interesting question.

I played cello professionally for years in N.Y.(my main claim to fame being that
I played with the American Symphony under Leopold Stokowski) and then
moved to L.A. to play in the studios. I did that for a number of years and for
reasons too sordid to go into here, I gave it up. And now, after about 15
years as a furniture manufacturer, I think I've finally found my calling in our
illustrious industry.

I still play chamber music for fun, but I now listen to the piano in a whole
different way. Which is another question. Do you guys notice how much
differently you listen to a piano now than you did before becoming a
tuner? I sure do.

Martin



ROBOTUNER@AOL.COM wrote:

>        I guess I maybe shouldn't be replying to this since I have allways
> been a piano tuner.And I have worked for the same dealer for 20 years.But
> here is my story.
>         I learned piano technology at Shenandoah Conservatory.I started in my
> junior year.Prior to that I was a trombone performance major.It was in my
> junior year that a former classmate returned to school a year after he had
> graduated to teach piano tech.His name was Jerry Rhoads and he had been a
> Bass Trombone player in the Orchestra with me.This was in 1977.
>         Piano tuning had been a career option for me as early as 8th grade
> when my trombone teacher James Crowe was also a tuner and I loved watching
> him tune the family spinet.
>         I started my career as a tuner still hopeing to get a break as a
> professional trombone player.Tuneing was to be a side line.That was back in
> 1980 and I am now a part time trombonist and full time Concert and Artist
> Technician.I even get to see my trombone teacher that I had after college
> when I tune for the National Symphony(that's a name drop...I really only tune
> for the National Symphony when they are playing outdoor concerts)Funny
> thing..a former trombone teacher of mine,who is principle trombone in the
> National Symphony, is a part time piano tuner.My piano tech teacher after
> college was Rick Butler who is the full time Tuner for the National Symphony
> at the Kennedy Center...He doesn't play trombone.
>         Another guestion for the group is,since many of us our musicians,what
> is your primary instrument other than the tuning hammer? I wonder if there is
> a prodominace of trombone players.