> Dear Dianne, Greg, David, Paul, Wally and Craig. > > Since So many asked for a copy of my Pedagogy class notes I thought I > would > post them to everyone. > > The following material is intended for a 40 minute class and is not > intended > to be anything other than a quick coverage of material all pianists > should but > rarely know. > > First, I have a hand out which is a 11" x 14" copy of the drawing of a > cut > away piano from Steinway on one side and copies of the following on the > reverse side. This is partly informative and partly self defense in > respect > to the Piano Scroll > > Second I have an upright and a grand action model that I can use to > point out > the parts and their functions. > > Third I have the book "THE PIANO" by Philip Gurlik, RPT in Houston for > the > students to purchase. It would be best if it were required reading > before > the class. > > Thirdly leave enough time to answer questions by the students or cover a > subject suggested by the pedagogy instructor. > > Feel free to use this material in whole or in part and certainly feel > free to > modify portion to suit you particular needs. > > Newton J. Hunt > nhunt@jagat.com > New Brunswick, NJ > > A Few Definitions > > Regulation is a mechanical procedure to establish the optimum > performance of a > piano action. Silence, repetition, power, dynamic range and evenness > are > primary concerns. > > Voicing is the process of modifying the tone, power, sustain and > dynamics of > piano hammers through softening and hardening the felt. "If I take a > piano > with a softer voice - one that's born on a smaller scale, lovely for a > smaller > hall or for chamber music - and if I force that piano and build it up to > make > the tone more brilliant, there comes a level where the piano would fight > back! > That is the tone becomes ugly, glassy, very harsh, unacceptable...the > tone > breaks." Franz Mohr, senior concert technician Steinway & Sons, Piano > Quarterly Fall 1991, p22. > > Tuning "We must deal with our ears' hearing and our brain's processing > and our > arms and hands; making changes in what is really a very complicated > scheme of > adjusting a large number of strings to very exacting standards of > accuracy." > Ben McKlveen, Cincinnati piano technician, Piano Technicians Journal > 2/92 p22. > > Rebuilding is the process of replacing all perishable parts necessary to > provide an as new piano with all parts having an equivalent life > expectancy. > > Restoration is the preparation of existing parts, only replacing > unusable > parts, to afford best possible performance. > > The Piano Scroll > > Thou shalt suffer this epistle to remain properly posted. > > Thou shalt treat any piano as thou wouldst have thine own tapes, > records and CDs treated. > > Thou shalt place thy gum under thine own chin before under a piano > or bench. > > Thou shalt advise The Technician IMMEDIATELY of any problems. > Such as broken strings, keys, hammers, benches or mistreatment. > > Thou shalt not attempt repairs thyself, but pray help from > The Technician. > > Thou shalt not take any case parts, or broken parts away from any > piano. Place such offerings where The Technician can find them easily. > > Thou shalt NEVER put anything into any piano without first receiving > safety instructions from The Technician. No stickers or prepared piano > without first being prepared. > > Thy sinful indulgences of drink, food, smoke or frustration may not be > visited upon any part of any piano at any time. If you cannot undo it > then > do not do it. > > ALL thy possessions, except thine own fingers and music in use, belong > OFF ALL the pianos all the time. > > Thou shalt not use teaching pianos for practicing, practice pianos for > teaching nor performance pianos ever. > > Thou shalt honor The Technician with obeisance and cheerful > greetings to keep him wholly. > > Speak to The Technician If you have any piano problem, question or > curiosity. Careful, he is known to bite on the Tuesday before a full > moon. > > The Technician, Newton Hunt, can be reached at 932-6686. The > Keyboard Cubby (shop and office) is in Nicholas Music Center > #030N. > > The pink prayer sheets are hung in the OMB mailroom, left wall. > > Areas of Concern When Buying A Piano > Get a Piano Technician! > > Make Braces Bass strings Wippens > Model Trapwork Tuning pins Flanges > Serial Ribs Key tops Backchecks > Case wood Rim Key bushings Dampers, timing > Finish Crown Key felts, frame Damper guide bush. > Lid or top Soundboard Key pins end felt Regulation > Fall board Bridges Action rails Hardware > Music desk Bearing Hammers Pitch and tuning > Legs Plate Shanks Voicing > Casters Pinblock Knuckles Bench > Lyre and pedals Treble strings Butts > General > > Discussion Notes > > A brief history of the evaluation of the piano > > Difference between 18th, 19th and 20th Century pianos > > Body Parts, Wippens ,Butts, Jack and let-off, > Hammers, Dampers, Keys, Strings, Case Finishes > > Stage Defense: > 1. Get there early! > 1. Learn your instrument and its language. > 2. Learn string removal > 3. Test before the tuner leaves > 4. Check the pedals > 5. Be nice to the technician > > How to select a piano > How to select a tuner > How to ruin a piano > How to ruin a tuner
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