Tuning Softly - was Re: Sanderson Accu-tuner

[John Formsma]

I use fairly hard test blows for all pianos. I'm talking about playing
softly while manipulating the lever.

I'm a believer in making a piano stable. Just not a believer that it has to
be done by hurting my ears, hands, and other joints. :-)  The way I see it,
if I'm standing up at a piano, and smacking it from that position, it's
reasonable to assume that no pianist is going to hit harder than that. If
they do, that's piano abuse, and they can have their unstable piano then. I
just don't see how they can routinely play harder than most tuners do for
test blows, and still have any finger dexterity left.

Therefore, I'm adopting the view that my hands, elbows, and shoulders are
more important than murderously ferocious test blows. It just ain't worth
it. Particularly when stability comes from lever technique, based on how
close the piano was to pitch before the fine tuning. Soft, rapid playing
while tuning will cause the string to move just as well as moderately hard
or hard playing while tuning. IMO, of course. YMMV, as they say.  :-)

I have also used that hammershank technique I mentioned a while back. It
never felt so natural, and wasn't as quick as a test blow, but I probably
wasn't completely used to it. Works, though, and I might try it again.

JF

On 6/9/07, David M. Porritt <dporritt at smu.edu> wrote:
>
> Tuning softly is usually fine for the home console used by the 9-year-old.
> It is easier to hear.  However, if you do concert work or tune for some of
> the "heavy hitters" that can get you in to trouble.  I used to be an
> evangelist for soft tuning until I was quite embarrassed at a recital
> given
> by a HH and some unisons came unglued.
>
> Musicians Hearing Protectors (pick your brand and/or supplier) should be
> packed in your tools before the tuning hammer.  They are more important to
> your career than your tuning lever, your ETD or any other tools you think
> are essential.
>
> This same goes for the pianists.  I'm trying to convince our students to
> get
> hearing protection before they have advance tinnitus and hearing loss.
> Practicing on a Steinway "L" or "B" in a 10' x 12' room for 5 hours will
> do
> damage.  One student was starting to hear buzzes after long practice
> sessions so he finally went to an audiologist and got the hearing
> protectors.  His ears have recovered.  Some are not so fortunate.
>
> dave
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070609/ca24e514/attachment.html