[pianotech] OFF topic

[Tom Sivak]

It's happening to me.   I'm starting to hear things a half step sharp!  Used to be, after taking out the temperament strip, I'd never look at the keys as I went up or down the keyboard chromatically, because I knew where I was.  Now I find myself reaching for that Db, and then realizing that the C that I just tuned was actually a B!

I used to be able to tell what keys songs on the radio were in.  Now, I have to wonder...did the Beatles really play that in the key of Ab?  Then I think, it's probably in G, and I'm just hearing sharp again.

This is like losing your sight or not being able to walk without a cane any longer.  It's jarring.  It's depressing.  Getting older is no fun.

Tom Sivak
Chicago


--- On Tue, 11/25/08, Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco at luther.edu> wrote:

> From: Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco at luther.edu>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] OFF topic
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 11:13 AM
> Gary Bruce wrote:
> > Never heard of that one before.  How do you know she
> heard an E-flat?
> > 
> > On Mon, November 24, 2008 7:08 pm, Leslie Bartlett
> wrote:
> >> I tuned today for a musician, in her 60's,
> outstanding as pianist,
> >> organist, composer.  She said she had very good
> pitch in younger years,
> >> but now she hears everything a half step flat.
> Playing a few notes on
> >> piano, and sure enough, playing an E she heard
> E-flat, and so forth.
> >>
> >> Anyone had experience with this king of thing?
> >> les bartlett
> >>
> >>
> > 
> > 
> > Gary Bruce, RPT
> > Bruce Musical Services, Inc.
> > a440 at brucemusical.com
> > 
> > 
> 
> What was the actual pitch of the instrument?  Had a
> previous tuner tuned 
> the beastie a half step flat because the pins wouldn't
> hold any higher????
> 
> -- 
> Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
> Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
> 1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076