[pianotech] pitch correction dilemma

[Arlie Rauch]

This is not a dogmatic answer, but one that reflects my experience  
only.  I would normally do a pitch adjustment on a piano the first  
time I see it, if it is necessary for a stable tuning, but with  
repeated visits that may change.  I would also do whatever is  
necessary to leave a piano exactly at 440 if a concert is near.

In some of the schools that I service, the pianos tend to go sharp  
over summer and flat over winter.  I have discovered that I  
exacerbate the swing by doing a pitch adjustment with the result at  
exactly 440.  So I usually tune to 440 (aurally) and leave it.  After  
summer that means the sharp piano will end up being slightly above  
440, but it will come down later.  After winter that means the flat  
piano will end up being slightly below 440, but it will rise later.   
The average is closer to 440.

Arlie Rauch

On Sep 24, 2009, at 8:09 AM, pianotech-request at ptg.org wrote:

>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:21:55 -0700
> From: Marshall Gisondi <pianotune05 at hotmail.com>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: [pianotech] pitch correction dilemma
> Message-ID: <BLU107-W784321976AC430A9A66B2B9DA0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> When I approach a piano tha tis too sharp or flat instinct kicks in  
> and I'm ready to correct it, but my problem is this. The school  
> district has to have it approved before they'll pay for it.  The  
> thing is then , should I just tune it to itself and then go back  
> and correct it later?  I've already had to fix two and yesterday a  
> third one that was a half tone sharp roughly.  I only have time for  
> two passes since there are so many pianos to get doe by next  
> month.  So any of you out there who tune for school, what is yoru  
> approach?  It was so engrained in us to correct pitch at the Piano  
> Hospital, that I cannot think any othe way.  each time we'd tue a  
> pinao we were asked, "Was it on pitch?"  "Well. no" "Did you do a  
> pitch raise?" Ahh "if a piano is not at pitch alwas do a pitch  
> raise or lowering."  well not those exact words but you get the  
> picture.  So here I am at a slight dilemma. When I get the check  
> after these tunings, I'llbe happy I had the dilemma. :-)  Thanks  
> everyone.
>
> Marshall
>
> Marshall Gisondi Piano Technician
> Marshall's Piano Service
> pianotune05 at hotmail.com
> 215-510-9400
> Graduate of The School of Piano Technology for the Blind  
> www.pianotuningschool.org Vancouver, WA
>