"Feelin' in Tune? (part I)

[Kenneth W. Burton]

	Lance and all,

	I have tinnitus. The sound I hear in my ears, is like the wind
blowing. It never bothers me while I am tuning but I have trouble hearing
high pitched buzzes. It is getting a bit worse as the years go by but the
change is very slow and I anticipate continuing to tune as many pianos as
I wish, until I am 70 or 75. 
	By the way, I have passed the tuning tests of both CAPT and PTG
since 1988, so I know that my tuning is at least decent. During this past
year, I have had sessions with two master tuners to learn more and to
ensure that I am not turning out bad tunings without realizing it. (Aural
tuning only--I do not own an SAT.
	I started tuning in 1967, so I have had a great time over the
years and the piano service business has been very good to me.

	Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta

On Mon, 13 Oct 1997, Lance Lafargue wrote:

> 
> 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   :-)
>