List, I've been asked to consider giving a technical for one of our meetings soon. The tech who arranges these keeps mentioning about the different environment of a university setting compared to the "normal" self-employed technician. The only *real* differences I can see is in the amount of concert work I do and perhaps that I service the same pianos over and over a lot more than an independent technician might. Does anyone have any ideas related to the "different environment" comment? The thing I would feel most comfortable doing would be regulation related. In light of the recent outside jobs that have come up, I've been thinking about doing something along the line of what has to be done "before" a piano can be regulated (see my recent post about "Incompetent Technicians"). I don't want to do just another class on turn this screw until that happens, then adjust that spring, etc. Most everyone knows the basic principles involved in that. What seems, in my experience, to be lacking most is laying a solid foundation for a good regulation: hammer travel and burning, jack position(s) in relation to the knuckle, lining up the hammers to the strings, checking for friction, lubrication, replacing key end felt while the action is in the shop in order to make damper regulation easier. That type of thing. Does this sound like a good idea for something a little different? I realize that any good regulation class will cover these things, but maybe this type of "prepping" needs a little more emphasis. Maybe even do some hands-on work with anyone who would like to. Especially traveling & burning! It's amazing how much of the hammer spacing problems (especially on a Steinway rail) can be corrected just by doing that correctly. I know I have enough older grands around here to use for examples! Now if I could just get the guy who screwed up the action I've been working on to come to that class...... <G> Any ideas/comments would be appreciated. Avery _____________________________________ Avery Todd, RPT Moores School of Music University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4893 713-743-3226 atodd@uh.edu _____________________________________
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