[pianotech] re. Voicing Client

[Ron Nossaman]

A440A at aol.com wrote:
> Ed  writes:
> 
> << I was arranging for measurements of Marc's tuning to be made so we could 
> 
> publish them when Perri Knize informed me that Marc doesn't always get it 
> 
> right, it is only The Temperament if she hears it and approves. >>
> 
>       After reading the book, what strikes me is that Perri Knize is being 
> given seemingly unquestioned credibilty for constancy, ie, that she is a 
> validly consistant judge of what is in front of her. 
>     It is entirely possible that her perception changes daily and whether 
> the tuning is "it" or not depends as much on where she is coming from at that 
> particular time as it does on what is actually on the piano.  

That has been my take from the first description. I'm not in 
any hurry to read the book, being on the other end of the 
process too often to still find it endearing. A cup of coffee, 
or an hour's sleep either way will make all the difference at 
this level of subjective evaluation.


>Marc's tuning 
> could easily be more constant than her perception of what she is hearing, 
> and the "success" depends more on her being in a particular emotional place 
> than his stretch being at a particular level at any given time.  
>     It makes for an interesting book, but doesn't necessarily have anything 
> to do with tuning.  

I think it very likely has a lot to do with tuning, voicing, 
regulation, piano design, undefined random standards, 
subjective impression du jour, and the expectation of the 
customer having it their way no matter what. I've run into the 
attitude often enough, just rarely with someone willing to pay 
what it costs to chase the endorphin rush. Most want it with a 
free glass and car wash. You never really know which thing on 
the list that you likely don't think of as anything other than 
your day to day job will prove to be the 90lb wart on the 
process, or the magic elixir. Then, next time, you get to roll 
the dice again.

Rarely, so very rarely, someone actually has a definable high 
level criteria that makes the process worthwhile, and is 
willing to fund the quest. Then it actually gets to be fun.
Ron N