At 04:19 PM 9/5/97 +0100, you wrote: >Hello, all! > >I have been asked by the head of the keyboard department to speak at two >Piano Pedagogy classes -- one graduate and one undergrad. Also said he >would like to assign the classes some reading material ahead of time, and >wants to cover funtion, tuning and regulation in these classes. > >Does anybody have any specific enlightenment to offer me as far as what >materials would be best to use -- Reblitz? Fine? and what to cover in >these classes? Have any of you done this before and have anything to offer >me? > >Any inspiration and information is more than welcomed! > >Thank you. > > >Dianne R. Salem, RPT >California State University, Fullerton > > >Greetings Dianne, As for alternate reading material I might suggest Helmholtz works On the Sensation of tone, It covers a great deal of wavelength theory, node points and harmonic series of vibrating strings that should be of interest to music students??????? The node points can also be demonstrated by plucking strings in a grand at its exact centre point and then moving to and past the strike point. Besides the usual action model regulation, demonstation, and general tolerance imformation, I give a dummies check list of grand piano parameters, and stress the importance of consistancy in the following order. 1) Examine the keyboard for level and even spacing. 2) $1.50 Canadian dip check. Pile 6 quarters and check 3 bass notes 3 centre notes and 3 treble notes. Carefully explain dip and after touch again and have a student feel the difference between no dip correct dip and exessive dip, stress the importance of eveness. At this point I pass 4 different sizes of dip blocks and ensure they understand that there is a large variance in the industry. 3) Since we have a lot of Yamaha C3's I pass around samples of heavily grooved worn out hammers, I also pre install some of these worn out hammers on the class room piano to demonstrate hammer reshaping and voicing. At this point it is good to show the difference at ppp mf fff. The purpose of this approach is to educate the class on what is posible, and to develop the idea of a planned maintenance programme, it is suprising how many major regulations and hammer reshape jobs are sold from this scource. 4) Let off drop and back checking can be shown with an action model, but it is important to show the how to peer into the piano and again observe for consistantcy. 5) Unicorda. I always demonstrate half pedalling. It is suprising how little is understood about the full use of this pedal and how it works, re tone color. 6) Ensure the lectures have credits attached, if not the students will treat as a basket weaving course. Hope this helps. Have fun.
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