People could easily change the oil in there own cars, and do
many maintenance jobs. The fact they could do it has not stoped
whole industries from building around these chores.
Piano tuning may not be as messy as some chores such as
changing oils, but it is very labour intensive. The first pianos
I tuned took over three hours, and I was exhausted. Stability
is then a major problem.
I don't mind someone touching up their own instruments.
Wind players are taught to make many minor adjustments to
our instruments, but still need to bring it it for proper overhall
and adjustment periodically. Piano players know relatively little
compared to other musicians about their own instruments.
If they become increasingly informed and competent in the
mainanace of their own instruments, more power to them.
They will appreciate how well we do what we do more,
and see the need for extra regulation/voicing/new parts more.
I welcome a more informed piano playing public.
It would open up there eyes, they would demand better
instruments, and demand more maintenance in the end.
Some of my best clients are musicians that can touch
up there own instruments, and have attempted to
tune it from time to time. Good for them. They really
like me now.
Dave Renaud
RPT
ILEENKM@AOL.COM wrote:
> Mr. Silverman- you make some interesting points- certainly the technology is
> becoming available whereby the average piano owner could conceivably
> learn to tune his/her own piano- I think you give very short shrift,
> however, to the very difficult and time consuming task of learning
> hammer control. Even putting that aside and assuming that has been
> achieved, I can only believe that the average person has so many things
> going on, as I do, that they would be more than happy to pay a professional
> to do the job- I know how to change the oil in my car- it would save me a
> fair amount of money per year to do it myself- but I would rather pay
> someone to do it. And I wouldn't really even begin to compare the two
> jobs in terms of the time energy and focus it takes do them. Just some
> thoughts on the matter. Sincerely, Ileen Kaplan
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC