Homer the singing dog

[piannaman at aol.com]

As with humans, some animals have a greater affinity for music than others.
 
There is one piano I service where a cockatiel resides.  The bird is often out of the cage, as was the case when I tuned the piano a year ago.  He's a nice bird, but he gets a bit hyped-up as I approach the upper registers of the piano.  Last appointment, he got on my shoulder and perched for quite awhile.  He was talking quietly in my ear, but as I got further up the scale, he gave me a polite little nip on the ear.  I guess he became amorous.  I finally had to persuade the owners to move him along back to his cage.
 
Dave Stahl



 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: dlawson at davidlawsonspianos.com.au
To: chchristus at earthlink.net; pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 4:38 AM
Subject: Re: Homer the singing dog


Mike I love this story, I have had many experiences of customers who insist on whistling the note I am tuning. Then there are the canaries and budgerigars who get louder and louder the more you tune. I have on many occasions had to put the caged birds outside so I can hear.  However, my worst nightmare are jazz drummers and bass players who feel it is absolutely imperative to tune their gear whilst I am in the middle of a tune on the same stage. When it is pointed out to them that I am tuning they look at you with this strange look of disbelief that someone else has to tune too. The trouble is we have just a few more strings to cope with than they do!!
David Lawson Wangaratta Australia.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: chuck c 
To: Pianotech List 
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: Homer the singing dog


Yea, Mike, make a video for the $10,000 grand prize you're sure to win from Funniest Home Videos.
 
By the way, have you ever wondered why so many dogs like to be under grand pianos when you tune?  It's loud enough down there even at medium loudness, let alone repeated test blows!  Maybe they're trying to learn pitches?
 
As bad as your singing dog, for me,  was one customer who whistled and hummed each of the notes I was tuning, loud enough for me to hear clearly from the next room, as if they were trying to prove to me or themselves that they can match a selected pitch.  Guess they were trying to show by their audition they were as smart as some dogs, just not as humble.
 
Chuck



-----Original Message----- 
From: ed440 at mindspring.com 
Sent: Sep 27, 2006 8:12 PM 
To: Pianotech List 
Subject: Re: Homer the singing dog 


Mike-
Please make a video of this!
(I recall a janitor who behaved similarly.)
Ed


-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Kurta 
Sent: Sep 27, 2006 7:51 PM 
To: Pianotech 
Subject: Homer the singing dog 


    Every few years I run across a dog that likes to sing while I tune.  I'm not sure if they are in pain or they really enjoy it.  Today was unique.  Homer, a black lab would howl a note at the pitch I was tuning.  He would usually start out on a different note and slide up or down until he hit it.  It wasn't dead on, but close enough.  He would even adjust an octave up or down to stay in his vocal range. Homer's owner wasn't aware of her pet's talent, but  it became distracting so we put him outside where he continued to accompany.
    Any other singalong stories ??
    Mike Kurta  
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