<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The Steinway C&A techs advocate this technique to test stability especially in the capo section.  You can use a hammer shank or something similar.  A slight push deflecting the string just a bit after setting the pin will test to see whether the segments are equalized and stabile.  </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <div> <p><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt; color:navy'>David Love<br> davidlovepianos@comcast.net<br> www.davidlovepianos.com</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Robert Finley<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, March 18, 2007 8:02 PM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> pianotech@ptg.org<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Advice on tuning techniques for recovering tendonitis sufferer</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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. </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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). </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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? </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Thank you for your help. </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Robert Finley</span></font></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>