All of my tools (some pictured below) were donated to a college piano tech degree program.

A lost treasure found!

Almost 20 years ago I was given a cassette tape of the ASO performing the Mozart concerto for two pianos and orchestra. I had asked for it to evaluate the hall acoustics at Robinson Center from the piano perspective. I listened to it once, made a determination and then promptly lost the thing. I have turned more than one house upside down many times each trying to locate it. Such is the only ASO performance extant (out of dozens) wherein we prepped (in this case) two pianos for both rehearsals and performance - an S&S D and a Baldwin SD10 - voicing, regulation, tuning et al. 

A couple of days ago while roaming about the attic, I looked down and staring straight at me, there it was, on the floor. Needless to say I was elated to hear this once again. The recording was for archival purposes only, and so the repro is not RCA. But was good. Now virtually no bass. The names of the two pianist I do have - again lost somewhere.The late Bill Vickery scheduled them. The duo pianist were called upon when the scheduled pianist for that weekend had to cancel at the last minute. It seems that they were friends of his from former

Listen here

Cleaning out the old files and look what turned up. Thought I'd lost it.

Lost and Found: Compliments from Ouachita Baptist University: David Allen Wehr (2002)

About 3 years before I retired. This email was misfiled and found yesterday.

David Allen Wehr.
Piano: Fazioli

http://www.davidallenwehr.com/

Virginia Queen is a former piano professor at Ouachita Baptist University.

Piano tuning in 1981

Click on image area to  enlarge and read.

From a fragile full page story in the Arkansas statewide daily newspaper.

Voicing (Baldwin)

Baldwin Hammer Voicing Guide

Pre-Gibson

Key Bushing Tightener: One of the most misused tools in the piano tech's case.

The key bushing tightener

In the hands of a tech who knows how and when to use it, such can work miracles. In the hands of a novice, it can ruin keysticks.  It is not meant for wood crushing*; instead, with a light tap to move glued felt in toward the front rail pin to eliminate too much side motion. If this does not do the job, then the keys need to be rebushed with the proper size bushing cloth.

Never should the front rail pins be turned by a tech in the field to eliminate too much side motion! Why not?

Keysticks are not cut, routed and bushed perfectly at the factory. Therefore, the front rail pins are set to allow for even alightment via turning. The rectangular or oval front rail pins afford adequate surface-to-bushing area to stabilize evenly the key during performance.

Since the pins are turned into keybed, and in time, expansion and contraction of wood in tandem with vibration from playing the instrument ensues, pins can (and do) move. The shape of the pin provides an easy way for the tech to turn to the proper position during a regulation with the correct tool.. Wouldn't do so well with a round pin. A flat pin - especially one that's moved - would catch on the bushing.

In virtually all regulations - both uprights and grands - varying numbers of front rail pins have moved - in my experience. The tech can turn the pins to factory specs. If these become loose, then repair is effected. However, if  the tech turns the pins to compensate for too much side-to-side play, the "corners" thereof will wear the bushings away more quickly. Moreover, some pianists have complained that a turned pin creates a rather odd imbalance to the feel or touch. (I concur.) With newer oval plated and polished pins the result may not be quite as bad, however, when turned even these will create enough reduced surface area - in effect, "corners" - that will wear the bushing away faster. Best to bush with correct size cloth and not turn pins to eliminate side-play.

As Ed (RPT) points out: "When the pin is turned, say 10 degrees clockwise, the surface area that touches the felt is reduced since the right side of the felt is only in contact with the rear face of the oblong pin, and the left side is only touching the forward face. This is simple geometry. The wear increases..."

I wholehearted;y agree. The larger issue is the imbalance created by the change in where the pin is contacting the bushing after the pin turn. Many piano players may not notice a change in feel or touch. Some of the really fine pianist might (and have).

A variety of common front rail pins: Various photographic angles.











Piano Service 101

"The front rail pins are
shorter and oval in cross section, and extend
only part way up into the front ends of the
keys...

"Never turn a front rail pin to take up side
play in the bushing. If you turn it, the corner
will wear the bushing away even faster,
aggravating the condition. If the bushing is
bad, replace it."

Reblitz, pp 34, 120. 1993 ed.

*I have seen wood crushed by this tool to such an extent that the wood has fallen out!

Breakthrough for the disabled: Play the piano without the use of the hands or arms!

Eye Play the Piano is a universal piano system that allows one to play the piano without the use of the hands or arms but simply through the use of sight using the eye tracking head mount device, FOVE.

So you want to be a concert piano technician? (2)

A great performance by Yuja Wang, but something is amiss. Can you hear it? 

The best time to give your business a boost is last year. The second best time is today!

Piano Promos by Chuck Behm may be just the tool you need to bring some extra shop work your business!

Putting Piano Promos to work for you will:

1. Help you to secure contracts on more of the jobs that you propose!
2. Lead to greater customer satisfaction!
3. Enhance your bottom line, putting your business on a more solid footing!

Contact: Piano Promos

Is there a translator in the house? (2)

Is there a translator in the house?

How to build a six-figure piano tuning and repair business.

What's My Line? - Helen Traubel (1954)

(at 18.00)

What's My Line? Andre Kostelanetz (1954)

(at 16.16)

What's My Line? (1957) Marian Anderson

Scroll down for more "musical" What's My Line?"