other story

[Farrell]

"I'm up there past the 60 year old range..."

When I was in the environmental industry, it was uncommon to find another
professional over 50 years old. In fact, there was a bit of discrimination
with older professionals. Folks got nervous about their jobs when the gray
hairs started poking out.

The opposite is one of the beauties of this industry. If you don't have grey
hair, you will get the occasional question: "Just how long have you been
working on pianos, sonny?" You will be able to tune your first piano for pay
and LOOK like a real pro!

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon Holley" <gordon_holley@hi-techhousing.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 9:06 AM
Subject: RE: other story


> Thank you Terry.  I'm learning to tune aurally and I've recently purchased
> an Accu-Tuner III to check my temperament octave, F to F embracing middle
> C.  Robert Conrad, of Kansas City, MO., has been helping me get through
the
> initial learning curve of the AT III.  Bob is a Inventronics Distributor.
I
> don't seem to have any problems with the unison and octave tuning.  My
> initial problem was hearing the beats on the 5ths, 3 beats in 5 seconds,
> but that is coming around.  I've learned a lot by just reading the posts
on
> the pianotech@prg.org page.  I'm up there past the 60 year old range and
my
> college room mate has been a tuner for the past 18 years.  I've been a
> professional pianist, since '55, jazz mostly, have a 7 piece band, and
> write all the arrangements.  Dick Day (college room mate) lives in
> Marshall, Michigan, and we communicate quite a lot and discuss many of the
> nuances that pop up from time to time.  I thoroughly enjoy this new
> challenge and look forward to adding this to my accomplishments.  Again
> Terry, thank you for your help.
>
> Gordon Holley
> Goshen, IN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Farrell [SMTP:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 9:08 PM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: other story
>
> No sweat Gordon. HT = Historical tuning temperament (a.k.a. non-equal
> tuning
> temperament), VTD = Visual Tuning Device (a.k.a. ETD, or electronic tuning
> device). How are you learning to tune?
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon Holley" <gordon_holley@hi-techhousing.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 12:00 PM
> Subject: RE: other story
>
>
> > Terry, please forgive my ignorance as I'm a beginner in the trade, but
> what do you mean by "HT" and "VTD".
> > Thank you for the help.  Gordon Holley, gholley@hi-techhousing.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Paul [SMTP:tunenbww@clear.lakes.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 8:01 AM
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: other story
> >
> > Terry
> > Sorry for the late reply.........
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Farrell <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 3:51 PM
> > Subject: Re: other story
> >
> >
> > > > ....and because no one else can/will tune this way without an ETD.
> > I speak here for the tech in my area, some who use ETD's but don't tune
> > HT's. Their work is commendable.
> > >
> > > Have you, or anyone else, found that an aurally well-tuned HT
> (Kirnberger
> > > for example, but Vallotti or whatever) is any different from a VTD
> > > well-tuned HT? If so, why? What would be the source for any
significant
> > > difference?
> >
> > I think you'll find a difference because the ETD "listens differently"
or
> > listens to different things than an aural tuner. Just like two
individual
> > tuners will listen differently but get nearly the same results.
> >
> > For example, IMHO, proper use of a SAT III (or RCT, etc.) on a
> > > S&S B tuning ET should result in a very nice tuning - and let's
exclude
> > > individual preferences (which can be accommodated by proper use of the
> SAT
> > > III also). Take that tuning, tune that same piano with the appropriate
> > > offsets for the desired HT. Compare that SAT III HT tuning to an aural
> > > tuning of the same HT on an identical piano (let's assume the pianos
> > perform
> > > with similar characteristics). Will there, or should there, be
> significant
> > > differences?
> >
> > Here again, I'd say there would be differences, how significant I don't
> > know. To the customer they wouldn't matter. Another tuner that can check
> the
> > accuracy of these tunings may find some discrepencies. My point is that
> in
> > my area, I don't know of any tuner using any temperament other than ET
> > whether they tune aurally or with an ETD. Someday maybe I'll own one,
but
> > for now I tune aurally and am very excited to finally break into HT's
> which
> > I've wanted to do for years but was unsure how or where to turn. The
LIST
> > has been very helpful and encouraging and provides  plenty of resources.
> My
> > thanks to all who have taken the time to reply with answers and
> additional
> > materials. I've known these temperaments were out there and were/are
> being
> > tuned by aural tuners. It's just taken me some time to find my starting
> > point. I encourage anyone who's never tried HT's to go ahead; use the
> > mentoring available.
> > >
> > > Very curious for some good info on this one. Thanks.
> > >
> > > Terry Farrell
> > > Piano Tuning & Service
> > > Tampa, Florida
> > > mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Paul" <tunenbww@clear.lakes.com>
> > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 9:21 AM
> > > Subject: Re: other story
> > >
> > >
> > > > Ed
> > > > I did charge a higher rate for these tunings, because of reasons you
> > > stated
> > > > and because no one else can/will tune this way without an ETD. Floor
> > > tunings
> > > > never do pay well, but something exclusive, especially with
> impressive
> > > > results justifies the extra charges.
> > > > I followed the instructions you handed out quite literally, and came
> up
> > > with
> > > > tunings that, I'm guessing, would be Kirnberger. For more practice,
I
> > > tuned
> > > > a Story & Clark console with the instructions, and again came up
with
> a
> > > very
> > > > nice, full sound. I'm just beginning to get a sense of latitude so I
> can
> > > > work towards a temperament that is more "Victorian." At this point I
> > find
> > > it
> > > > hard to relate what's developing for lack of experience. But IT IS
> > > EXCITING!
> > > > The reactions so far have been very positive and supportive. I'll be
> > > trying
> > > > it on a Steinway L, Kawai RX 5 and a Boston 196. I have a couple of
> > > clients
> > > > that are very open minded and will offer an alternative to them.
I'll
> > keep
> > > > you posted.
> > > > And thanks for your support!
> > > >
> > > > Paul Chick
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: <A440A@AOL.COM>
> > > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 11:12 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: other story
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Greetings,
> > > > >      Paul Chick was asked about his initial venture into non-ET in
> a
> > > > > commercial venue:
> > > > > <<Here's what they said:
> > > > >
> > > > >     "Oh!!! This is different. The piano sounds bigger. How did you
> > voice
> > > > it
> > > > >
> > > > > like this?...I just happen to know something in F#...ah it's a
> little
> > > > >
> > > > > harsh.(Elton John piece)."
> > > > >
> > > > >     "Oh man!!! If you can make a Kohler & Campbell (SKG600 Grand)
> > sound
> > > > like
> > > > >
> > > > > this, what can you do with a Boston or Steinway (grand)? Man!!! It
> > > sounds
> > > > so
> > > > >
> > > > > opened up."
> > > > >
> > > > >     "Oh my, you made this thing sound bigger! You said you did
what
> to
> > > it?
> > > > >
> > > > > Can you make my piano at home sound like this!?!>>
> > > > >
> > > > >      This is really good news, and I hope Paul is able to extract
a
> > > > premium
> > > > > price for his additional expertise.  He went to some trouble and
> > expense
> > > > to
> > > > > get it, and he took some extra risk in its introduction, so his
> > returns
> > > > > should increase to justify his initiative.   Money is a major
> impetus
> > in
> > > > > expanding ones abilities to a multi-temperament status.
> Temperaments
> > > are
> > > > > tools.
> > > > >     Perhaps Paul could give us some idea of what strength
> temperament
> > he
> > > > > tuned, since I believe that the instructions I passed out were
> "Tuning
> > > to
> > > > > Taste" and allowed a great deal of lattitude for the tuner to make
> > their
> > > > own
> > > > > decisions. Paul??, (I feel like a fellow fisherman asking,"What
are
> > they
> > > > > hitting on, today?" )
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > > ED Foote RPT
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>