[pianotech] [Pianotek] the big discussion

[Malinda Dobrins]

Re: [pianotech] [Pianotek] the big discussion
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: rufy at rcn.com 
  To: pmc033 at earthlink.net ; pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:26 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] [Pianotek] the big discussion




  Looks like I missed the Big Discussion, but here are a few related thoughts:

  1) I love the feeling of approaching a wildly out-of-tune piano with just a tuning lever, some mutes, a tuning fork (often optional) and my own little brain and body-- to come away some little time later having brought order out of the chaos. Extremely gratifying, in a way that the use of any electronic aid would only detract from.

  2) I love dealing with the tuning process in the arena of sound and careful physical response to the sound, the give-and-take among ear, hand and piano. A visual "aid" would bring into it an extraneous (if not distracting) modality, that of sight.

  3) . . . not to mention the plain hassle of introducing another piece of hardware into this little party.

  4) Accuracy, schmaccuracy-- is it important to be more "accurate" than the human ears that will be listening to the MUSIC ??  I place at least as much emphasis on effecting a tuning that is STABLE.

  5) Of course, being a proud artisan, I believe I DO produce a tuning of accuracy and musicality, tailored to the instrument at hand. Am I mistaken? Who knows, but people, even very musical ones, seem to like my tunings.

  6) Speaking of people: my customers tend to be very impressed that I tune aurally. People around here-- though certainly tech savvy-- seem to be less than awed by electronic doodads when applied to their pianos-- which stand unapologetically as fond testament to the highest achievements of the Machine Age.

  7) Aural tuning says: Artistry. Electronic tuning aid says: Nerd.

  8) So there.

  Joseph G., RPT 
  Conway, MA




    From: "Paul McCloud" <pmc033 at earthlink.net>
    Reply-To: pmc033 at earthlink.net, pianotech at ptg.org
    Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 09:03:49 -0800
    To: pianotech at ptg.org
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] [Pianotek] the big discussion




     This discussion reminds me of a dilemma my mother had as she ran her
    business, California Speech and Therapy.  She was an audiologist, and she
    had an advanced degree in Audiology.  She fitted hearing aids.  There was
    this ongoing feud between the hearing aid fitters, and those like my mom
    who did the same thing but knew far more about it than just fitting aids. 
    They both made a living doing the same thing.  Or, opthamologists and
    optometrists.  Who are you going to get your glasses from?  Those of us who
    use an ETD, without understanding the underlying process of tuning, are
    like the hearing aid fitters.  
     One aspect of the whole argument is the customer's perspective of us.  I
    remember when I was new in the business, and one of the local tuners had
    just passed the RPT exam.  He told me he felt more confident in his skills,
    and that the customer could sense this.  When I passed the test, after
    spending loads of time studying for it, I had the same experience.  I had
    PROVED that I knew more and when I talked to my customers, they picked up
    on it.  They could tell that I knew what I was talking about.  When it
    comes to getting a referral, that makes a big difference.  If you're just
    there to tune the piano, and then leave with no explanation, grab the check
    and go, nothing to show except a receipt, they don't feel connected to you
    personally.  And likely they'll just call anybody next time.  Piano tuners
    are all the same, right?  If you go through the program, take the test, get
    that RPT badge, it makes a difference.  It may be subtle, but it is real. 
    Whether Susan's tunings are all over the map, perfect, sloppy, whatever,
    she knows what she's talking about and makes the customer confident in her
    skills.  That impresses people, and they will put a high value on her
    skill.  Now of course, she's not sloppy or they'd just laugh her out the
    door.  Whether they know she's an RPT or not really doesn't matter if they
    are impressed by her.  Being able to tune AND understand what you're doing
    in depth give you (sorry!) the "aura".
     Paul McCloud, RPT
     San Diego  


    > [Original Message]
    > From: Mr. Mac's <tune-repair at allegiance.tv>
    > To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
    > Date: 02/01/2011 7:34:14 AM
    > Subject: Re: [pianotech] [Pianotek] the big discussion
    >
    >
    > On Feb 1, 2011, at 9:22 AM, David Love wrote:
    >
    > > Yes, as I read back through the thread I realize things have gotten
    somewhat
    > > convoluted.  If I were to distill it down to a central point I would say
    > > this.  The ugly little truth is that most aural tuners don't tune as
    > > accurately as they think they do.  I think the exam points that out. 
    That's
    > > not to say that they don't produce acceptable, even high quality musical
    > > results.  There is evidently some leeway in this thing that we do.  But
    to
    > > suggest that using a device which produces on average a more accurate
    result
    > > also produces a less musical result doesn't really make much sense,
    unless
    > > you would argue that a less accurate aural tuning is still more musical
    than
    > > a more accurate etd tuning.  It would seem that there's some resistance
    > > among some to accept the state of the art technology. .
    >
    > Yep.
    >
    > > . OK, now I'm done. 
    >
    > You wish  :-)
    >
    > Thanks for all the level headed input, David,
    >    however convoluted at times it became.
    >
    > Keith





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