outside tuning on July 4--hopefully without fireworks

[David Ilvedson]

Mark, 

If you are an accomplished aural tuner, then it is time to add a EDT to tool kit.   Use it like the tool it is and it will improve your work.   
For the task at hand:   I'd have the piano moved to the outdoor stage well before the performance.   Make sure it is covered LOOSELY...i.e. lots of air flow, mainly to keep the sun off the piano.   If it is a covered stage, keep in mind where the sun will sneak through.  A few hours before the performance, I'd run through the tuning with my SAT III to rough it in.   If it really went sharp, I'd go through it a couple of times.   THERE IS NO SENSE IN TRYING TO FINE TUNE THE PIANO BY EAR IF YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF 3 CENTS OR MORE.   Sorry for shouting...it's just a waste of your time and energy.   Rough tune for an hour and fine tune for how ever long it takes you...personally, I fine tune with the machine.   It will tell you immediately if something is changing.   Finally:   Just before the performance, touch up the unisons and go enjoy the concert.

Good Luck

David Ilvedson, RPT



----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Mark Ultsch <multsch@jvlnet.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Sat, 19 Jun 2004 20:50:02 -0500
Subject: outside tuning on July 4--hopefully without fireworks

>I'm going to be tuning a "D" on an upcoming outdoor orchestral concert
>on July 4--my first outdoor one.  It'll be near a river at a park in
>humid Wisconsin in late afternoon.  I predict a "bit" of noise, but I
>hope not too many speedboats.

>I am a reasonably slow (right Baoli??) aural tuner; but I'll be given
>a fair amount of time to tune.

>I've searched some archives (enough to feel that it is "mission
>impossible") but still have questions about the best ways to proceed.

>If I have a say in the matter, how far in advance should I ask the
>piano be brought outside before tuning?
>Should I tune it well in it's normal air-conditioned environment
>first, get it outside and try to tune it or touch it up admist the
>noise and leave it?  Can I have any clue as to how much the pitch will
>raise?  How much of a pitch raise should I try to compensate for?

>Anyway, your expert ideas on a good procedure and recommendations will
>be greatly appreciated.

>Thanks from a novice.

>Mark Ultsch
>Assoc., Madison Chapter


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