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<DIV> These same teachers are sometimes asked to evaluate a piano for possible purchase. They are generally clueless and give mostly invalid advice. They are also the ones who have their pianos tuned once every five years and have little clue as to what is or is not in tune. The only thing they do recognize is a unison with one of the pins completely slipped and the other two beating furiously.</DIV>
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<DIV>As far as what we can do: not very much, I am afraid. Just try to be patient and professional when you are finally brought into the scene. Having an ETD to graphically show pitch discrepancies is a big help. </DIV>
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<DIV>Educating the public in general will continue to be a major difficult task.</DIV>
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<DIV>Bob Bergantino, RPT</DIV>
<DIV>Willoughby Hills, Ohio</DIV> <BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: piannaman@aol.com<BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 10:36:21 -0500<BR>Subject: Teacher's Advice<BR><BR>
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<DIV> This is an old topic, but it resurfaces every once in a while.</DIV><BR>
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<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_0f7621cc-03d6-4106-9e5c-5dbb5406026a>I have a client who bought a Kawai Petite grand with a player system in it. I tuned it about a year ago--and replaced a hammer shank broken by the movers, who had removed the action.<BR><BR>I sent a postcard and followed up with a phone call 6 months later, and they said the piano didn't need tuning. Last week, a year later, I knew I was going to be in their neighborhood with time for an appointment, so I called to see if they wanted me to come out. The woman said yes, so we scheduled a time and day.<BR><BR>The day before the job, I got a call from the husband, who informed me that "the teacher thinks only a few notes are out of tune. She says that sometimes tuners will come out to touch up the piano for a lesser fee than a regular tuning."<BR><BR>I held my tongue, but guaranteed him, based on the state of the piano at the previous appointment, that not only would it need tuning, but a fair-sized pitch adjustment! was likely. He's quite a nice guy, and he accepted my explanation, but I was a bit miffed at the teacher.<BR><BR>Sure enough, the piano was 10 cents flat and some unisons had gone very out of tune. I played a few notes, and he heard the beating unisons and octaves. I adjusted the pitch and tuned it. I made it clear that it should be done again in 6 months. <BR><BR>How do YOU feel about teachers (who probably have their pianos tuned every 5 years) who offer this kind of advice? I get a bit peeved.<BR><BR>Just because someone knows how to "operate" a piece of equipment doesn't mean they have a clue as to how it operates or whether it needs service.<BR><BR>Whose opinion would you trust if asking about servicing a car, your mechanic's or your taxi driver's?<BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>Dave Stahl</DIV>
<DIV>Dave Stahl Piano Service</DIV>
<DIV>650-224-3560</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://dstahlpiano.net" target=_blank>Dstahlpiano.net</A></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><!-- end of AOLMsgPart_3_759e687b-c8ce-40cd-952f-43a453c7d15b -->
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