"Feelin' in Tune? (part I)

[Lance Lafargue]

After reading the outline I wondered how many technicians out there have
some ringing in their ears and still tune.  I have some tinnitus in one of
my ears, I use db reduction plugs now, and still tune.  Anyone out there
have ringing and still tune??
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: cpstout <cpstout@henge.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: "Feelin' in Tune?  (part I)
> Date: Sunday, October 12, 1997 4:51 PM
> 
> To Pianotech List:
> 
> 	Fourteen years ago, PTG advance publicity stated "Noted 
> 	New Orleans jazz pianist by night turns into Professor 
> 	of Otolaryngology, School of medicine, Louisiana State
> 	University, New Orleans", by day.   Sounds like a dull,
> 	technical class, right?
> 
> 	At convention, 'dull' is what most technicans evident-
> 	ally also concluded.  All the publicity failed to att-
> 	ract very many to the said class.   Then word-of-mouth
> 	advertising hit the scene and - PRESTO--the second and
> 	last standing room only was presented, of which I was
> 	a member.  I can truthfully say that this 'dull' class
> 	on 'How we Hear' was one to be remembered.  All tuners
> 	use HEARING daily and hence this post may be important!
> 
> 	It seems that Dr.  Berlin actually took tuning lessons
> 	to try utilizing "sophisticated, audio-visual equipment
> 	to demonstrate the difference between electronic tuning
> 	and 'ear' tuning". All this in addition to playing piano
> 	jazz plus his Otolaryngology background!!  Dr. Berlin's
> 	actual tuning was soon finished because, as we all too
> 	well know, hammer technique is required. For me, the demo
> 	using visual vs audio tuning was not as important as the
> 	"How We Hear" portion of his presentation, parts of which
> 	I still use to this day.
>  
> 				OUTLINE
> 
> 	1)  Tuner used partials are 35/40 dbs lower in volume vs
> 	    fundamentals resulting in sounds 10,000 times softer.
> 
> 	2)  Hearing problems.  Various diseases cause hair cells
> 	    to be lost including high blood pressure, viral pne-
> 	    umonia, fevers, meningitis, scarlet fever, etc.
> 
> 	3)  Warning!  When getting a prescription from a physic-
> 	    ian, ask about known hearing loss problems!  Many of
> 	    the 'mycin' drugs are bad for hair cells.
> 
> 	4)  Noise dangers.
> 		
> 		a.  If noise levels make you shout.	
> 
> 		b.  Ears have a dullness or fullness feeling.
> 
> 		c.  Ringing in ears (time to quit tuning today).
> 
> 		d.  Safety levels are:
> 
> 		    1. 90 dbs max levels for 8 hour duration
> 
> 		    2. 95  "   "    "     "  4   "      "
> 
> 		    3. 100 "   "    "     "  2   "      "
> 
> 		    4. 105 "   "    "     "  1   "      "
> 		       
> 		       (cps note - 'R/Roll bands notwithstanding
> 		        - to wit:  President Clinton!)
> 
> 		    5.  Hearing tips:
> 
> 			a. Avoid high 'amino-glycide' foods like
> 			   chinese food before tuning.
> 
> 			b. Do critical work in the a.m.
> 
> 			c. Carry ear muffs and/or ear plugs
> 
> 			d. Try placing the ear on the piano for 
> 			   hearing problem notes.  (cps - akin
> 			   to "Feelin' in Tune")
> 
> 			e. Rest hearing 5 minutes between jobs.
> 
> 		6.  On occasion the ear actually PRODUCES sounds,
> 		    adding a strange beat or even a double beat.
> 		    If puzzled by certain beat(s), check out by 
> 		    holding your hand over each ear alternatively.
> 
> 		7. 'In phase' partials create amplitude, thus
> 		   indicating the note is in better in tune.
> 
> 		8. BONE TRANSMISSION of sounds is a valuable
> 		   assist in hearing tuning easier; thus creating
> 		   the Subject of this posting "Feelin' in Tune?"
> 
> 	Rather than risk turning people off with too lengthy a post, 
> 	(if not already!) I will divide this topic into two segments.
> 	"Feelin' in Tune", Part II, will be posted following comments.
> 	
> 
> 	(cps note - After the temperament, some technicians tune
> 	either all the way up or all the way down.  I prefer to
> 	tune the whole piano in the 'both ways from the middle'
> 	temperament method, i.e. up and down alternately.  Dr. 
> 	Berlin concurred this method also 'saves on the hearing'.
> 
> Clarence (Clancy) Stout 	...the only tuner 'in captivity'
> R.P.T. - 35 years 		   who has tuned a piano in the
> Holyoke, Colorado	  		   now extinct town of - 'Flats
> Nebraska Chapter, PTG				   Nebraska! FWIW   :-)