Supposedly, at least that's the impression I was given, problems with humidity and piano tuning changes were a major concern and would be addressed with a new HVAC system. As the work progressed, I was told that because of the added expense, "certain things were eliminated." Then more things were eliminated. Then I was told that not all of the rooms that have pianos, have humidity control available to them which to me makes no sense. I suspect, either they all have it available, or none of them do. I don't know. Maybe the person that told me this doesn't really know which is probably closer to the real truth. I am doing further research on it. Last night, I sent the powers that be, including many of the music professors' a nice lengthy email regarding humidity, its effects on pianos and a lot of other information about it in the hopes that it helps them to understand why they are going out of tune like they are. We all tire of having to constantly explain to one person at a time the causes and effects of humidity changes. And then, in the meantime having to continually listen to the complaining about it instead. I find Often while explaining it to them that their eyes become glossed over. Maybe a letter form will do more. I also asked for contact information to the person responsible for caring for the HVAC system. We'll see what happens next week I guess... I find it interesting and maddening too, that almost everyone expects and understands that the instruments in an orchestra are tuned prior to their performance, after any breaks and again after intermission and again, the following evening. They understand that guitars or violins change tuning too and sometimes, why. Yet, these same individuals expect that a piano should stay in tune for months or years sometimes. My point being; that they expect pianos to stay in tune for much longer periods of time than they were built and designed for. Sheer ignorance. But yet, it becomes our responsibility to educate them because no one else will. It becomes a frustrating venture. Jer -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ron Nossaman Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 12:23 PM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Building humidity now, GREAT! On 1/8/2011 9:43 AM, joel a. jones wrote: > Ron, & list > > Champion humidity. It's definitely worth the effort. That's exactly what I did, every single tuning round for at least ten years prior to the HVAC "upgrade", and what I do at every opportunity. I consider it to be absolutely stupid to chase 30¢ pitch changes in 20 or 120 pianos twice a year or more, year after year for lack of humidity control, and then not to include humidity control in a million dollar upgrade of the HVAC system. I'm always on good terms with the maintenance folks. They get me in to places where the administration scheduled tunings, but made no attempt to arrange physical access. Taking George to lunch, or to Europe for that matter won't get a non existent humidification system turned on. Their climate control is not a bit better now than it was before the upgrade, but their pianos continue to age and deteriorate. There was money for the new HVAC system that didn't address the problem for which it was installed, and for last years new track and football field, but their fleet of untunable pianos isn't getting badly needed rebuilds (they passed beyond repair potential a good 20 years ago) for lack of money. Ron N
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