ambidextrous tuning

[Tcoates@aol.com]

I've been following some of the dialog about pain while tuning.  Some have
talked about their pounding shoulder and pounding fingers.  Might I suggest
switching hands for the different tuning operations throughout the course of
the tuning.  It saves in the joints and muscles.  It takes some work to learn
this tuning technique, but it works.  I have been tuning ambidextrously for
six years, and I don't have the pain I once had.

As institutional technicians we are presented with situations other
technicians don't have:  practice room pianos.  I know some of you hire yours
done, but some of us don't.  I started learning ambidextrous tuning in the
practice rooms.  I do all my tunings this way now.  And yes we do have
concerts in South Dakota.  There are many more advantages besides the pain
factor.  But the pain and fatigue in tuning pianos seems to be a common
point.

I have owned and used a ball end tuning hammer for about ten years.  Ford
Piano Supply  was selling them.  Mine is just like a regular 9" wooden tuning
handle (metal rod in the middle), but has a ball on the end.  It doesn't have
the flex like the Wonder Wand.  It is a very nice hammer, but I'm not sure
they are available anymore.  Maybe a project for someone.  The ball does work
for me.  It helped stop pain in the elbow.

No pain, no gain.

Tim Coates
University of South Dakota