>...This lady pushed her foot down, and kept it there. She even commented >that >she had never lifted her foot during playing for as long as she had been >playing. That is why it was hard for me to tell her she'd been doing it >wrong >for 80 years. > >Willem Wim, LIst, She never was doing it wrong, Wim. She was doing what the piano caused her to do before the previous tech changed the damper pads and did who knows whatever else. 80 years ... same piano ... same pedal technique ... 90 years old ... gotta like you and your delivery, Wim (just funning, friend) Just regulate the damper system where it needs it, puts lots of lost motion in the sustain pedal travel down near to the end, and I bet you'll find you'll have a happy 90 year old camper. True story follows: I can certainly sympathize with this kind of situation, however. I had a situation where some tech removed the remains of the worn out leather pad under the rod in the sustain pedal system on old cherished Steinway grand, and put something new in. Not a big deal, right? Simple enough, yes? Wrong !!! The customer was *distraught* when I arrived. I was requested to undue what the other person did, and to put the remains (that they salvaged from the trashcan and saved in an envelope) back in and make it like it was. Tall order, my friend, and one that I never adequately was able to fulfill. They have never been happy since, and feel the piano, and their playing time on it, has been injured for life. The lesson I learned here is, don't go doing unnecessary service work, however minor, on someone else's property, thinking you're going to be a hero and appreciated, until you clear it with the owner/player. Otherwise, it could very well be a huge disservice. Keith McGavern Registered Piano Technician Oklahoma Chapter 731 Piano Technicians Guild USA
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