I've been following some of the dialog about pain while tuning. Some have talked about their pounding shoulder and pounding fingers. Might I suggest switching hands for the different tuning operations throughout the course of the tuning. It saves in the joints and muscles. It takes some work to learn this tuning technique, but it works. I have been tuning ambidextrously for six years, and I don't have the pain I once had. As institutional technicians we are presented with situations other technicians don't have: practice room pianos. I know some of you hire yours done, but some of us don't. I started learning ambidextrous tuning in the practice rooms. I do all my tunings this way now. And yes we do have concerts in South Dakota. There are many more advantages besides the pain factor. But the pain and fatigue in tuning pianos seems to be a common point. I have owned and used a ball end tuning hammer for about ten years. Ford Piano Supply was selling them. Mine is just like a regular 9" wooden tuning handle (metal rod in the middle), but has a ball on the end. It doesn't have the flex like the Wonder Wand. It is a very nice hammer, but I'm not sure they are available anymore. Maybe a project for someone. The ball does work for me. It helped stop pain in the elbow. No pain, no gain. Tim Coates University of South Dakota
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