Customer Complaint on Tuning

[Ed Sutton]

Will-

Yes, this is rather common with musicians.

Another condition is Diplacusis binauralis. The ears "go out of tune." A tuning fork will seem to change pitch as you move it from one ear to the other, and within each ear octaves will sound out of tune. The second and third partials will sound like they come from other instruments, out of tune. Music is impossible with this condition. It may explain what's happening when a customer complains that notes in octave 5 and 6 are out-of-tune. It may effect a broad range of hearing, or just a few pitches.

Ed
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Will Truitt 
  To: 'Ed Sutton' 
  Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 6:46 PM
  Subject: RE: Customer Complaint on Tuning


  Check out Pat Draine's comment on Hyperacusis.   

   

  I won't be seeing the customer again until about November.

   

  Will

   

  From: Ed Sutton [mailto:ed440 at mindspring.com] 
  Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 10:47 AM
  To: Will Truitt; 'Pianotech List'
  Subject: Re: Customer Complaint on Tuning

   

  Will-

   

  Perhaps if you take it to the point where the strings are obviously muted, she'll accept it's not a problem with the piano.

   

  My customer had reached a point of transposing pieces lower on the piano, but eventually there just weren't enough octaves left.

  Interestingly, she said "When I hear you play from the next room I can tell the piano is o.k."

   

  A friend with hearing distortions can still play violin quite well by wearing earplugs. I find that musician's earplugs give the effect of being a few feet away when I'm tuning. Earplugs might help.

   

  It takes incredible communication skills. One of my friends, a piano teacher, is showing signs of hearing distortion. She says it hurts to sit by the piano during lessons, and has gradually moved her chair to the far side of the room. My suggestion she see an audiologist or at least try earplugs is so far unheeded.

   

  Please let us know how it goes. 

   

  Ed 

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Will Truitt 

    To: 'Ed Sutton' ; 'Pianotech List' 

    Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 7:34 AM

    Subject: RE: Customer Complaint on Tuning

     

    Hi Ed:

     

    That's just the point - I can't ever get it to the place where it sounds good for her.  I've all but killed the hammers in the treble I have needled them down so much, and her response has changed little along the way.  Balancing the extremely voiced down treble with my friend Laura's observation about high frequency hypersensitivity amongst some of the elderly, along with my sessions at the piano with my customer - all very friendly, workmanlike, and non confrontational;  brings me to my admittedly layman's conclusion that my customer has this condition.  Short of removing the hammers from the rail, I don't think I can satisfy her need.  I have very developed voicing skills which I take pride in and believe I am good at.  It is not a failure of technique or lack of effort on my part.  I would very much like to meet her need if I could, but I have arrived at the conclusion that is not possible.  

     

    Whether your suggestions would moderate her sensitivities, I don't know.

     

    Will

     

    terry at farrellpiano.com
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