Marks inside Pianos

[Ron Nossaman]

I don't like mysteries. For many years, I've cursed the people who refuse to
leave a permanent record of service in the pianos they tune. A piano
shouldn't have to be a "black box" with no information other than that which
is immediately observable. I don't give an eighteen-legged damn about who
owned it, slept in it, or played it, but I would like a SERVICE history of
the instrument. A loose piece of paper WILL be removed from the piano by the
first non-tech who lifts the lid, losing the service record for all time. I
request that the old business cards I find in pianos be left there for this
reason. I'm not threatened by the last tech(s) who tuned it. If I can't do
the job to their satisfaction, they SHOULD call someone else next time!
Isn't that how I got here this time? I log all tuning dates, temperature,
and relative humidity info on the KEYS, in INK. Talk about ego problems, I
don't feel that the only valid history info is that which I generated
myself. If the last guy there left an indelible, informative  record, I'm
grateful. That's verticals. In Grands, the underside of the music rack is an
ideal spot for a sticker with the same information. I also leave a business
card under the music rack (with all the other old cards, if any) with the
same information.

PS: Tuning records ain't defacement. Performers signing Grand plates with
Magic Marker... now that's ego, graffiti, and vandalism!  That's my call.

 Ron Nossaman