scientific approach (was light ac.)

[Stephen Birkett]

Someone (?) wrote:
> ......however, it is very hard (if not, practically speaking,
> impossible) to quantitate [inertia] .....
Someone else (?) wrote:
> I agree with you and Ken that it is practically impossible to
> directly quantitate inertia.
>
Don't agree.
Many physical parameters can be measured by round-about methods.
For instance hammer moment of inertia could easily be measured by
removing the hammer, swinging it from its pivot and timing the period
of oscillation of the compound pendulum. No special tools required.

> Those who believe that greater understanding of actions is
> arrived at through more and more detailed quantification should
> take more piano lessons. Three pages of spreadsheets will not
> reveal as much about a piano as three measures of playing by
> educated fingers.
>  .........
>
Pianists are notoriously unpredictable in their responses to an
action (personal experience as a pianist). Of course the bottom line
is customer satisfaction, a pianist trying a piano may feel
uncomfortable with if it is significantly different from previous
experiences, but, after some playing, may grow to love it. Acquired
taste can be unpredictable.

> I also know from extensive experience that graphs of
> spreadsheets provide a great deal of knowledge that we can put
> to practical use.  The value of this scientific method should
> not be put down.  It sounds like your saying, greater
> understanding is NOT arrived at through more detailed
> quantification of the action.

As far a determining design principles, an historical factor which is
over-looked is the heavy reduction in quantity of pianos made.
Whereas a old builder may have had the luxury of determining their
designs by experience with thousands of trials-and-errors, in a
period where so few pianos are made we should not neglect the
important tool of scientific investigation. I agree that a
multi-page spreadsheet is pretty dull stuff and may be quite
unrevealing, but this is merely an indication of the need for further
work in processing and presenting the information, such as computer
simulation. A graphic simulation, into which various parameter
changes can be entered and the effect visualized, is a tool that is
not far off being developed.

Stephen Birkett (Fortepianos)
Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
tel: 519-885-2228
fax: 519-763-4686