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<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>Actually, I did mean "tooner" in the derogatory sense of someone
who simply adjusts string tensions on a piano. I sincerely doubt
that term would apply to anyone on this list, whether they play piano or
not (otherwise, they wouldn't care enough to be on this
list).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>As for knowing whether the piano plays correctly, and adding in your
perspective about listening to the customer.... I suspect my own
perspective is quite skewed because of the kinds of pianos I tend to work on
(read "not great, usually") and the pianists for whom I work ("not advanced,
usually"). </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007></SPAN><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>Almost none of my customers can tell me how they want the piano to play
or sound, because they don't know. I have found all sorts of long-term
problems with pianos in this area -- pianos that were serviced by the same
(non-playing) tuner for years. His customers just grew accustomed to it
and figured that's how a piano was supposed to act and sound. And he's the
reason I initially asked the question: because I'd hate to think that he
knew how badly those instruments played and didn't do anything about
it.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>I have learned a great deal from my customers: how to translate
their frustrations into information I can use to find'n'fix a problem; how to
help a piano become a partner to its player; how to educate customers about how
their pianos should work and sound so they'll know when to call for help.
That has been wonderful for me. But I DO look forward to working in an
area with a larger, more knowledgable population where I can learn other
kinds of lessons from my customers.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>Just as I learn all kinds of lessons on this list and thank you
all for the time you put into educating and enlightening
me!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968091701-03062007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff
size=2>Annie </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of
</B>JIMRPT@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 02, 2007 7:42
PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Fwd: Do you play
piano?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT face=Geneva
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR>In a message dated 6/2/07 12:48:55
PM, annie@allthingspiano.com writes:<BR><BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">"And what I meant was that the
difference between a piano technician and a<BR>piano tooner is exactly that
ability to reach beyond personal experience and<BR>do extra-ordinatry
work."<BR><BR>Annie there is a difference between a piano 'tuner' and a piano
'tooner'......<BR>A tuner tunes pianos to acceptable standards whereas a
'tooner' does not, for whatever reasons. "Tooner" is usually used as a
derogatory term but I'm sure you didn't mean it in that manner.</FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
cite="" TYPE="CITE"></FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">"That's the part I don't get: how do you know
whether the piano works<BR>correctly if you can't play it? Maybe
that's one distinction between a<BR>"tuner" and a
"technician"."<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR>As a 'tuner' who does 'not' play I'm not sure that I
undertand where your source of confusion comes from about knowing when a piano
works correctly or not. As the things we listen for while tuning are
vastly different than the things we listen to when the piano is being played I
don't see the connection.<BR><BR>Is it possible that being a bonafide
'playing' 'technician' is detrimental to the customer??.....after all don't we
bring our own notions of 'correct' into play when we decide what to do to a
certain piano or certain note...such as sic:' I want it to feel this way when
the customer wants something different but your experience in playing will not
let you listen to the customer. :-) {that is a generic we/you and not a
you Annie}<BR>Wheras a 'non-playing tuner will listen more closely to the
customer without any preconceived notions as to 'right and wrong' simply
because they need to listen closer ??<BR><BR>Phil's response was right on
target as to the airplane mechanic who works on your plane while not being
able to fly one was right on target. There are principles involved in flight
as well as pianos that do not depend on the end use of the product...if these
principles are adhered to then the end result will be more than
acceptable............<BR>Some food for thought Annie...we allow our members
to reach the highest recognition level in PTG after having passed at an 80%
level on all their tests...would you feel comfortable flying in an airplane
that a mechanic had performed his/her duties at an 80% level? :-)<BR><BR>So I
suppose what I am saying thar whether we play or not if we listen to the
customer, as Les pointed out, and satisfy their desires as best we can than
isn't that what being a technician/tuner is all about?<BR>My Thoughts.<BR>Jim
Bryant (FL)<BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></FONT><BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR>See
what's free at http://www.aol.com. </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>