Susan, Just so I understand: Your concert tuning service includes the following: Tuning before rehearsal, after rehearsal, mid concert touchup...on call during the performance.? Please tell you're being paid for all this time? David Ilvedson ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Susan Kline" <skline@peak.org> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Received: 9/13/2005 9:42:07 AM Subject: Re: President's message >Timothy, thanks for coming forward. I think we needed to >hear some of this. ><< Here's a >question for you: I've seen local techs who don't set pins >properly, then when the pins slip after a rehearsal, they >want to charge more to fix unisons before the >performance.>> >I never _ever_ _ever_ _ever_ would do this! They hire me to >tune for a concert, I tune for the concert, pre- or mid- >added in as needed. I do insist on free admission. I consider >it a perk that goes with the job. The job, for me, is to >get the piano right (and keep it right) to the greatest of >my ability, and that includes listening to it being played. >I can't understand technicians tuning for concerts and then >not going to them -- like painting a picture wearing a >blindfold. And once there, what more natural than to touch >up whatever needs touching up? Would I prefer to sit there >listening to even slightly unhappy unisons, saying "I did >that, I wonder if anybody else is noticing?" >Susan (Conrad's latest-model flamesuit casually slung over >shoulder, ready if needed ...) >At 10:52 AM 9/12/2005 -0500, you wrote: >>List, >> >>As mainly a "reader," I appreciate learning so much from >>your conversations and archives. As a Steinway artist >>and university prof. who enjoys working on his own >>pianos, my perspective might be a bit different from a >>typical customer. Both sides of this discussion make >>valid points, but my only concern is an attitude that "my >>work is always perfect since I'm the pro." I can't afford >>that view of myself as a musician or teacher: as a >>teacher, much of it involves seeing and respecting the >>perspective of other people (even when I also see their >>sophomorism); as a musician, a self-critical attitude >>promotes growth, improvement, work, etc. BTW, even >>though I'm the "expert," I'm always learning from my >>students. >> >>A list of my experience with technicians could go on and >>on, and most of them are very positive, but when they're >>not so positive, it is often due to this attitude. Here's a >>question for you: I've seen local techs who don't set pins >>properly, then when the pins slip after a rehearsal, they >>want to charge more to fix unisons before the >>performance. Who's to know who's "right" here? >>Perhaps it's the piano, perhaps the player is being too >>picky, yes--but there's also the possibility the technician >>isn't setting the strings and pins properly and doesn't >>realize this. Is it just a question of the technician's time? >>I don't know the answer to this, but wouldn't you agree >>that if a piano goes out of tune after 1/2 hour of playing, >>there's probably a problem with the technician's >>technique (I'm not talking about old PSO's)? >> >>On one occasion, I saw a store technician voice a >>hammer past the point of deadness in the attempt to >>eliminate a buzz, when the actual problem was a damper >>wire touching the string. Then there were the leather key >>bushings that squeaked and stuck, that a technician at a >>major university did not notice. OK--you get the point--I'm >>not trying to pick on technicians. Technicians are skilled >>professionals, and, yes, some are artists. >> >>Anyone can miss something--a pianist can misread a >>note or harmony, and when this happens to me, I'm >>grateful if someone tells me. I don't want to spend time >>practicing a misreading. That's a clear-cut case, and >>most situations aren't that clear. Still, I think no matter >>how much of an expert you are, it's good to be responsive >>to people's perceptions, and to realize that there's always >>the chance that you might have missed something. >> >>Just my 2 cents worth. >> >>Tim >> >>Timothy Ehlen >>U of Illinois >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>---- Original message ---- >> >Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 07:30:39 -0400 >> >From: Phil Bondi <phil@philbondi.com> >> >Subject: Re: President's message >> >To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >> > >> > >> > >> >Ric Brekne wrote: >> > >> >I don't think I'll regret this: >> > >> >> Many non tuners read the journal and indeed this list. >>And very many >> >> indeed are going to react as myself and obviously >>significant numbers >> >> of other techs. >> > >> >If there are people out there reading this to support this >>allegation, I >> >would hope that those people would come forward and >>express the same >> >displeasure/disturbing feeling that has been made >>here. >> > >> >I am more than just a little tired of allegations without >>numbers being >> >put into text..being made public on a world-wide list of >>respected >> >professionals..which is what I am losing when I read >>stuff like >> >this..respect. >> > >> >no flame suit required. >> > >> >-Phil Bondi(Fl) >> > >> > >> >___________________________________________ >>____ >> >pianotech list info: >>https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >>_______________________________________________ >>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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