techicians or tooners

[Annie Grieshop]

When I received Michael Spreeman's email, I was just about to sit down and
write an addendum to my previous posting because I never meant to imply that
non-playing technicians are inferior (and I was pretty sure somebody was
going to take it that way).  Obviously, I should've been more clear the
first time around. <g>

My question referred to the recognition of non-tuning issues by those who
don't play the piano.  I know wonderful technicians who have a very limited
repertoire on the piano, so I certainly know it's possible.  Observant,
careful, and conscientious craftspeople can diagnose and correct problems
without being pianists (sort of like male gynecologists <g>).

And what I meant was that the difference between a piano technician and a
piano tooner is exactly that ability to reach beyond personal experience and
do extra-ordinatry work.

I do wonder what it's like to work on an instrument you don't play.  I
wonder how that changes the relationship.  Guess I should try repairing some
band instruments, as the whole blow-air-to-play-tunes thing (without reeds)
just bamboozles me.

Annie Grieshop