Betsy Ross Spinet

[Thomas Cole]

Given the widely-pervading lack of knowledge about pianos and such, it 
becomes the job of the piano technician to be aware of the level of 
playing ability vis-a-vis the quality of the instrument, and to advise 
the owner/parent when the mismatch becomes too great.

This month I tuned for a 30-ish woman who was shocked at the sound of 
her new Yamaha upright. She has perfect pitch and did not realize until 
now that the old thing she practiced on as a child was tuned a half step 
flat. :-(

Tom Cole

Richard Brekne wrote:

> Barbara Richmond wrote:
>
>> Well, it *could* be that budding musicians would have been turned 
>> off, but if there is really that drive or passion to play, even a 
>> spinet in reasonable repair would do--for a while, anyway.  No, it's 
>> not ideal, but talent combined with the passion to play is hard to stop.
>
>
> Yes true true... but even that has a flip side sword issue.  Often 
> enough such a person gets really good at playing one of these 
> things... because of that passion for playing.... so good that when 
> confronted with a truely fine instrument they cant stand the thing... 
> and end up having to re-learn much of what they have come to 
> understand about touch and tone.  As so much of that functions on th 
> intuitive level,,, this can (and is) a second difficult process.
> All in all they no doubt do far more damage then good.