[Dave Bunch]

Larry Fisher designed a sustain system for wheel chair bound pianists using
a pedal solonoid system used in PianoDisc systems. In his model the pianist
would nod their head to activate the sustain. I'm sure a triggering switch
could be adapted for the leg. The biggest advantage would be that it would
take very little effort to opperate because the solenoid would be doing the
actual work of lifting the dampers. The only problem would be that it would
not be easily moved from one piano to another. Most any other adaption would
probably not be very portable either.

Just an idea.

Dave Bunch

----- Original Message -----
From: "Graeme Harvey" <gharvey@netsource.co.nz>
To: "Pianotech@Ptg.Org" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2001 5:15 AM


> Hello All,
>
> This request came to me from another tuner in NZ not on this list.
>
> "I have a client who plays and teaches a lot of piano,
> who has developed an affliction in her feet/ankles
> which means she can't use the pedals on her piano.
> Does anyone know of a system which would allow a
> pianist to operate the pedals by moving a leg from
> side to side. (She has bad knees as well.)  Is there
> something commercially available, or failing that, has
> anyone ever constructed such a device, and have a
> design for one?  Ideally she would like something that
> can be transferred from piano to piano - I don't know
> how feasible that would be.
>
> Any thoughts or ideas would be very, very welcome."
>
> Post any ideas either to the list or to me privately.
> Many thanks.
>
> Regards
> Graeme Harvey
> New Plymouth
> New Zealand