John, I can't answer all your questions, but I did a tuning etc. for this group a couple of years ago at University of North Carolina. Piano was a Steinway D. I left it pretty bright. The entire group was a laid back bunch and there was no discussion about the piano. I remember the piano player really liked to wail on the upper two octaves. Unfortunately, a poor amplification system (which had been outsourced by UNC) dulled and distorted the sound of the piano. Still, it was a great concert. Walter Sikora, RPT Chapel Hill, NC ---------- > From: John McKone <mckonejw@SKYPOINT.COM> > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: Concert prep help > Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 11:17 PM > > Hi all, > > I will be tuning for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz Ensemble next > week, and I have some questions and concerns about the prep situation. > > Here's the deal: the piano is what I would consider an unremarkable or > possibly adequate Steinway D that is the house piano at the hall where the > concert is to take place. I tune this piano once or twice a year and each > time remind the staff that it is no where near concert ready for a high > level artist. The regulation is ok for a home piano, but nothing like what > would be expected by a real pro. Ditto for the voicing. Of course the > have never come up with the funds to bring the piano up to concert level. > > I will have about 3 hours at the piano the day before the show, and then am > required to be there for the sound check, and on call for the performance. > I assume a fairly substantial pitch raise to get the piano stable - so call > that an hour and a half. > > Here come the questions... > > 1. What is the best use of the approximately 1 1/2 hours I have available > for voicing/regulating this instrument? I need to do piano triage here, > and would like advice. > > 2. What would be the best diplomatic approach to explaining the situation > to the pianist if, as I fear will happen, the pianist is not happy with the > instrument? > > 3. Has anybody worked with this group before? If so, what are the > idiosyncrasies of the pianist? > > Thanks in advance for your help. > > John McKone, RPT > St. louis Park, Minnesota > (612) 280-8375 > mckonejw@skypoint.com > > >
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