Richard Brekne wrote: > I dont think we are talking absolutes here John. The question as to > whether players benifit from any momentum is more a matter of whether or > not the amount of acelleration after the initial movement requires > enough force in itself to be significant. If not, then it is surely that > initial acelleration and ensueing momentum that is the reason. If the > degree of key acelleration after say the first mm of key travel is very > high, and continues to be very high then perhaps this is important. On > the other hand, if the finger gets the key moving within say 90 % of its > end speed right off the bat... then it is perhaps much less important. Excuse me if am not understanding what you have written. You keep talking about momentum and I don't see much in the way of momentum taking place in the action. Things are accelerating and decelerating they are not just smoothy coasting along with constant speed. You are now bringing impulse into the discussion. Yes I do see that there is impulse taking place in the action with the key hitting the front punchings or the hammer hitting the string. And yes a player can strike the key with a short impulse in such a way that he does not apply force through the key dip. This can accelerate the action just the same as a force applied steadily through to dip. I would think that it would take the same amount of force either way. Maybe I have this wrong but it seams like you are saying above that there is a difference in the end result between accelerating the key by a steady force or applying an impulsive force. That this impulsive force could be less (in force) and still give the key and action the same acceleration? The impulse (initial acceleration) causes the key and action to travel with momentum. And this is somehow a work around for high inertia? I think your momentum still has to pay the price of acceleration first. So I don't thing players benefit from momentum however they play the key. John Hartman RPT John Hartman Pianos [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015] Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin Grand Pianos Since 1979 Piano Technicians Journal Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
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