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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Welcome to the group! Alan's comments are
perfect. Best to you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Debbie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=tune4u@earthlink.net href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan
Barnard</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 01, 2006 1:30 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Newbe question</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Comments interspersed:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>Anyway, I thought the American School of
Piano Tuning program was pretty good. There was a link to it off the RTP Web
site, so I didn't think that it could be all that bad. However, I don't feel
like I have all the skills I need. I feel like I know just enough to be
dangerous. So to practice, I bought myself an old Kimball grand piano
(built in the 30s) that was in horrible shape with the intent to fix it
up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>You are just beginning a long and steep learning curve.
I DON'T say this to discourage, but it's the truth. Most of what you learn
from books, tapes, courses, and PTG classes (ahem!) is just background to the
necessary SKILLS you need to acquire. And these skills can ONLY be developed
by consistent, carefully evaluated practice, practice, practice. Tune is no
different from learning to play an instrument, in this sense, you can learn
"things" from books, mentors, etc., but in the end it is a skill that
coordinates your ears, your brain, your muscles, etc. Example: You will find
that you do not "turn a pin" to tune a string--rather you finesse, cajole,
nudge, and tweak it in order to bring it to pitch and stable. The ear
training, alone, takes a lot of practice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Even if you purchase a quality electronic tuning device,
i.e., ETD (TuneLab, Verituner, Accutuner, or Cybertuner--all excellent) to
assist you, you still must tune, tune, tune to "get it". </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Can you do it without attending a two-year school? Yes.
I did and many, many do. But what I'm trying to say is, don't assume that
because you've got the basics in your head that you are ready to go out and
earn a full-time living. Step One: Join the PTG (by the way, what the heck is
the "RTP Web site"?). Call Sandy Roady at 1-913-432-9975. She (or someone,
she's a little busy these days) will send you a packet of information and how
to contact the local chapter. Now you may feel that you can't afford to join
yet, but the truth is, you can't afford not to! Get involved immediately.
Hopefully you live near a really active chapter with a PACE program happening
and regular meetings with technical training.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Where do you live?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>The sound board is cracked, the ivories are
cracked, the hammers are deeply grooved, and it needs to be restrung. In the
action, it looks like a lot of the felts are worn and should be replaced. And
it needs to be refinished. </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>At worse, I think
that this will be a good education, at best, if I do good job refurbishing it,
I could at least get my money back if not make some. </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Did any of you do anything like this?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Yes. Excellent thing to do. But tuning is better
practiced on the highest quality and largest instruments you can
find.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>Also, sorry if this is an old question, but
is liquid hide glue as good as the hide glue you have to mix in a heating
pot?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Maybe for furniture work, but it is slow setting. Hot
pot regular hide glue is an excellent material to use in the shop. In the
field, please discover the many joys (and cautions) of PVC-E, carpenter's
yellow glue, and CA (super glues, thin and thick)--and what is
appropriate for what application.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Didn't mean this as a downer in any sense, just a little
reality check: You don't become a concert pianist by reading books, nor can
you tune, regulate, repair, and voice concert pianos without similar
dedication and practice, practice, practice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Alan Barnard</DIV>
<DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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