Test blows

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends,

Taking this conversation in a slightly different direction, I have noticed that
we seem to have two schools of thought when it comes to test blows -- those who
believe hard test blows are a necessary part of tuning and those who do not.

I believe that in addition to our concern for stable tunings should be a concern
for our own health.  Which is better, to use heavy test blows and have
hand-arm-shoulder problems in a short time, or to go lighter and preserve the
length of time you can provide piano tuning to your clients?

I rarely use heavy test blows because my tunings are stable without them.  I
believe good hammer technique is a more important part of the equation, although,
not having done research as such, I may be wrong.  It has happened before!  :-)

Clyde

Ron Nossaman wrote:

> >Dr. Ron and others,
> >
> >I've developed a sore thumb this past week. The pain is at the base of my
> >left thumb. Being a right-handed tuner it sure makes it difficult to check
> >my work with tenths as the stretch is a bit much.
> >
> >Has anyone in the 59 plus age group experienced this? Could it be arthritis?
> >
> >I had a rotater problem in my right shoulder a year ago, but it seems to
> >have mended on its own.
> >
> >Don't tell me it's time to retire just yet. I won't even be out of debt
> >until 65!!
> >
> >John Lillico, RPT,
> >Oakville, Ontario
>
> Pending such time as this mysterious 59+ Dr. Ron guy shows up, I get the
> same thing periodically at a mere 52. Mine tends to come on some time in
> mid December, and last through April. In my case it's overenthusiastic
> octave striking. If I remember to come out of auto pilot once in a while
> and pay attention to varying hand position every now and then throughout
> the day, and not try to hit keys too hard at full hand extension, I can
> keep ahead of it. So far. At the moment, it's not a problem, but I'm
> spending a lot of time in the shop this time of year, abusing different
> muscles and joints, and not doing an awful lot of tuning. It's when I'm
> doing 20+ a week that it starts to be a nuisance. I don't think it's
> arthritis, just chronic abuse. It's something that moves from the
> inconsequential, through annoying to critical as your joints age and your
> immortality fades. This is where it would be handy to be able to tune with
> either hand, like I will run a drill, screwdriver, hammer, chisel, or air
> conditioner with either hand. It halves the concentrated abuse, and should
> theoretically double your mileage.
>
> Other folks have resorted to strap on hardware of various sorts,
> anti-inflammatories, massage, and acupuncture. Whatever helps.
>
> Ron N