It's not at all infrequent that I go to a new (to me) home for a tuning, and during the course of the visit, the customer will ask if I play the piano. I assure them that I do. Invariably, they will express wonderment that their last tuner (or one they have heard of) did not play the piano, and ask how one can tune and not play. My explanation is that playing is performing, while tuning is (merely?) servicing. For instance, they would not expect their TV repair person to stand before the camera and give the weather on their local station; neither would a race car mechanic be expected to do the racing. Despite my surface explanation to the client, I am left with this lingering question: why do not more of us who spend our lives caring for these beautiful instruments have more interest in learning to play? Maybe my observations are not indicative of the wider world out there, and the general percentage of players among tuners/technicians is much higher than I've experienced. Instruct me, someone, please! To me, the benefits of playing are obvious: The opportunity to create and enjoy music on a freshly tuned piano several times a day, as I try out my work. Playing a bit after tuning gives me the opportunity to catch details I might otherwise have missed, such as noisy or malfunctioning pedals; and if I play a bit after reassembling the cabinet I might catch a vibration that would otherwise result in a callback. Since the vigor with which I tune is different from the softer touch of playing, sluggish keys are more likely to show up when playing. I think, too, there is value in showing the customer that the piano sounds better, without their trying it out (and finding something to complain about). What's your opinion? Bill Maxim Bill Maxim, RPT Serving South Carolina from Greer and Columbia Satisfying discriminating musicians since 1955
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