<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1555" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Robert,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I can certainly sympathize with your situation and your concerns.  I have the same condition (right arm) and have been dealing with it for almost a year now.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I can't advise you on the 'tool pushing the string' technique, but here's something else you might try.  My mentor broke his left wrist years ago and had to change his tuning style.  He plays the note, not very loud, with his left hand while tuning except for the final blow when he takes his right hand off the hammer and hits the key with his right hand.  This does not slow him down at all and his tunings are rock solid.  It may take a little practice.  :-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A word of caution for anyone who has, or thinks they may have, tennis elbow.  <EM>Please </EM>take the time at the onset to let the arm heal completely before aggravating the injury or causing permanent damage.  Here's some excellent info from a physical therapy site  <A href="http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/tennis_elbow">http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/tennis_elbow</A>  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope this helps,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Norma Neufeld</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Saskatoon, SK</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=rfinley@rcn.com href="mailto:rfinley@rcn.com">Robert Finley</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 18, 2007 9:02 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Advice on tuning techniques for recovering tendonitis sufferer</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Since July of last year I have been suffering from lateral epicondylitis in my left arm, or tennis elbow. I am not sure if I got this by practicing the piano, tuning pianos, lifting a heavy suitcase, playing golf or what. I have had a couple of cortisone injections and physical therapy sessions, and now the problem has almost disappeared. After this problem started, I had to severely cut back on my piano tunings because it was painful when I had to hit the keys firmly with the fingers of my left hand to settle the strings. I recently tuned a piano and tried to hit the key with my right hand, then hold the key down with my left finger while I turned the tuning hammer with my right hand. It took longer but I was able to tune the piano, and it reduced the amount of pain I had in my left arm. The last thing I want to happen is to aggravate my arm and for this problem to come back, and then to eventually need surgery. I have heard that surgery is not always successful and can lead to permanent irreversible damage. It's a very scary thought since I am a concert pianist and teacher as well. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have heard that some piano technicians use a technique where they hit the key with a smaller amount of force and gently push the string with a small rod or tool to equalize the tension along the speaking length. This avoids the need to hit the key firmly and achieves the same effect, whilst reducing the chance of getting tendonitis and tinnitus (due to high sound levels that might cause hearing loss unless ear plugs are used). </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My question is, has anyone used this and how successful is it? Do you push the string downwards or horizontally inwards? Does it matter? Is this done after the key had been struck? What is the sequence of actions to use? How long would you expect to complete a piano tuning using this technique? </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you for your help. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert Finley</FONT></DIV> <P> <HR> <P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: 3/15/07 11:27 AM<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>