Do you play piano?

[Annie Grieshop]

Actually, I did mean "tooner" in the derogatory sense of someone who simply
adjusts string tensions on a piano.  I sincerely doubt that term would apply
to anyone on this list, whether they play piano or not (otherwise, they
wouldn't care enough to be on this list).

As for knowing whether the piano plays correctly, and adding in your
perspective about listening to the customer....  I suspect my own
perspective is quite skewed because of the kinds of pianos I tend to work on
(read "not great, usually") and the pianists for whom I work ("not advanced,
usually").

Almost none of my customers can tell me how they want the piano to play or
sound, because they don't know.  I have found all sorts of long-term
problems with pianos in this area -- pianos that were serviced by the same
(non-playing) tuner for years.  His customers just grew accustomed to it and
figured that's how a piano was supposed to act and sound.  And he's the
reason I initially asked the question:  because I'd hate to think that he
knew how badly those instruments played and didn't do anything about it.

I have learned a great deal from my customers:  how to translate their
frustrations into information I can use to find'n'fix a problem; how to help
a piano become a partner to its player; how to educate customers about how
their pianos should work and sound so they'll know when to call for help.
That has been wonderful for me.  But I DO look forward to working in an area
with a larger, more knowledgable population where I can learn other kinds of
lessons from my customers.

Just as I learn all kinds of lessons on this list and thank you all for the
time you put into educating and enlightening me!

Annie
  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]On
Behalf Of JIMRPT at aol.com
  Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 7:42 PM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Subject: Fwd: Do you play piano?



  In a message dated 6/2/07 12:48:55 PM, annie at allthingspiano.com writes:

  "And what I meant was that the difference between a piano technician and a
  piano tooner is exactly that ability to reach beyond personal experience
and
  do extra-ordinatry work."

  Annie there is a difference between a piano 'tuner' and a piano
'tooner'......
  A tuner tunes pianos to acceptable standards whereas a 'tooner' does not,
for whatever reasons. "Tooner" is usually used as a derogatory term but I'm
sure you didn't mean it in that manner.


    "That's the part I don't get:  how do you know whether the piano works
    correctly if you can't play it?  Maybe that's one distinction between a
    "tuner" and a "technician"."


  As a 'tuner' who does 'not' play I'm not sure that I undertand where your
source of confusion comes from about knowing when a piano works correctly or
not.  As the things we listen for while tuning are vastly different than the
things we listen to when the piano is being played I don't see the
connection.

  Is it possible that being a bonafide 'playing' 'technician' is detrimental
to the customer??.....after all don't we bring our own notions of 'correct'
into play when we decide what to do to a certain piano or certain
note...such as sic:' I want it to feel this way when the customer wants
something different but your experience in playing will not let you listen
to the customer. :-)  {that is a generic we/you and not a you Annie}
  Wheras a 'non-playing tuner will listen more closely to the customer
without any preconceived notions as to 'right and wrong' simply because they
need to listen closer ??

  Phil's response was right on target as to the airplane mechanic who works
on your plane while not being able to fly one was right on target. There are
principles involved in flight as well as pianos that do not depend on the
end use of the product...if these principles are adhered to then the end
result will be more than acceptable............
  Some food for thought Annie...we allow our members to reach the highest
recognition level in PTG after having passed at an 80% level on all their
tests...would you feel comfortable flying in an airplane that a mechanic had
performed his/her duties at an 80% level? :-)

  So I suppose what I am saying thar whether we play or not if we listen to
the customer, as Les pointed out, and satisfy their desires as best we can
than isn't that what being a technician/tuner is all about?
  My Thoughts.
  Jim Bryant (FL)



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