My original comment: 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. David Stanwood wrote: It sounds like your saying, greater understanding is NOT arrived at through more detailed quantification of the action. Bill Ballard wrote: More important than the proof being in the pudding, the pudding is so delicious that we would be fools not to snitch a taste of the piano's qualities ( and hopefully that of our own work, also). Comment: My intent was to suggest playing the piano as >the< primary diagnostic tool. Yes, I am saying that (IMO) one can learn more about a piano (of which the action is only part) by playing it than by any system of quantification. Here I am not referring to "snitch(ing) a taste of the piano's qualities" but putting the piano through its paces; working the piano directly for the purpose of discovering what it is and is not capable of. This involves mixing a certain amount of playing skill with technical understanding in order to relate cause and effect to what you hear and feel from the instrument. David, your system is very complex. By the time you take your measurements, plug them into your computer, and analyze the output, you have created a >secondary< source on the instrument. I can see the value of this if you must analyze a piano to which you do not have personal access. But why use a secondary source if the primary source is right in front of you? The best guages we have are attached to the sides of our heads and the ends of our arms. We should learn to use them; they are the ultimate yard-sticks by which pianos are measured. Don't get me wrong, I take plenty of measurements. I have a scale and shelves full of devices to use on actions. But all of this follows first hand evaluation. Bob Hohf Back in skiing (rock skiis) The Kettle Moraine
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