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FIRST AID IN PIANO REPAIRS
By ALEXANDER HART
Instructor in Piano Tuning,
Teachers College, Columbia
University, New York
that the "ear" alone decides the tun-
er's final work.
Because a tuner is not able to give
facts and figures, does not implicate
his good clean cut tuning that a num-
ber can qualify in this direction.
Registered Member of the National Association of P-iano Tuners
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dealers and tuners can pick up some
extra practical training by addressing Mr. Hart, c/o
Music TRADE REVIEW, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York 20, N.Y.
The Piano Tuner's Ability
Versus Dependability
T H E writer is not able to fictionalize
the trials and tribulations of serv-
icemen that work on pianos, but I do
know from my own experience that
they all have their troubles at times.
This also is the time of the year,
when resolutions are in order, broken
immediately, picked up and used to fit
the need.
If I may say a few words on the
subject of dependability that might
fit in here, and not hurt the most sen-
sitive.
The Daily Prayer
Accuracy in my work (tuning) and
neatness,
thoroughness,
willingness
and last of all punctuality.
These few solid qualities will take
any serviceman all over the country
and will be rewarded for carrying
these with him.
Neatness in attire, doth not alter a
man's integrity, but is a sort of habit
formed, towards; toeing particular, that
leads one to thoroughness, i.e., not just
being satisfied, but always striving to
improve on your work, letting the light
shine by watchfulness and carefulness.
Thorotighness is vitally important,
and will go a long way in this direc-
tion and bring your daily habits formed
into harmony.
We now come to the final habit for-
mation, Punctuality, a solid quality of
thought, for without it, the tuner loses
a lot of ground, especially when he
travels in far off communities, where
his self-respect is taken for granted
. . . besides keeping his appointments
on the dot.
The piano tuner above all as I have
often said is a messenger of music and
the music industries. Here is a con-
crete example. There are undoubtedly
many competent and thoroughly ex-
perienced servicemen but not at all
dependable. This is in itself a short-
coming if it is allowed to grow, and
will catch up with the capable, indus-
trious, honest worker who begins to
wonder why he does not advance.
Not every tuner can get along with
customers. This is important to watch
especially when one is working for a
dealer.
It must not be forgotten that many
dealers were once piano tuners, and
as the old saying goes, know the ropes.
All the tuners who have gained recog-
nition by manufacturers and dealers
are those who could be depended upon.
Items of Interest for Tuners
When the judge sums up a case in
court, his task is to be sure he is
right. In order to make his charge
clear to the jurors, a judge usually
cites from some well known authori-
ties on the law. As piano tuners, we
look to our old Greek friends and
philosophers who gave us the law of
strings we keep plucking at since the
invention of the monochord.
Information About Pianos
For the Dealer
It's quite proper to start and consi-
der the one who manufactures the
piano.
His interest first and always is for
his representative. Let us take a spe-
cific case, that would make a call upon
the dealer, to be ready, in an emer-
gency, to go over the regulating and
ease up the keys, besides giving the
piano a thorough inspection before it
leaves the salon.
The Self Aid
At this point it should be of inter-
est to every dealer entering into the
piano business to know (if ever so
little) something about the instrument
he represents in a practical sense; by
this I mean, to be able to jump in, at
a moments notice, and rectify a
troublesome complaint.
Self Aid for the Dealer
When a key sticks, or will not res-
pond to the touch, a dealer could set
the trouble right without much diffi-
When we are not quite sure of our- culty. It often happens that the tuner,
selves as to the pitch, we pick up a
who can attend to this, or immediate
tuning fork marked 440 V.P.S., in-
calls of this nature may be on the sick
vented by John Shore, the English Lut-
list, or delayed by some slow down
ist which decides for all time, the ques-
service, but whatever it is, the cus-
tion of pitch.
tomer must be taken care of, even, as
We are also fortunate to have with
I have just said, the dealer could very
us technical experts and consultants
readily satisfy the customer for the
like Dr. William Braid White, of Chi- time being at least.
cago, Illinois. I can speak of this can-
The Cause
didly, because J. C. Deagen, the maker
A piano let us say, is shipped to the
of chimes, tuning forks, bells, etc.,
residence of Mrs. John J. instead of
told me that Dr. White had made spe-
going directly to the piano wareroom
cial experiments for them.
or salon, and give the instrument a
Another consulting authority is a
chance to be again inspected, and may-
book on, "The History of the Piano-
be regulated and another tuning before
forte," by A. J. Hipkins. On page 46,
being
delivered to the new customer.
this is what se says:
Here it is sometimes unavoidable, be-
"A piano tuner can come very near
cause many customers are in a great
the theoretical division of this tem-
hurry, and this double cartage is not
perament near enough for all practical
(Turn to column 3 , page 30)
purposes."
This statement alludes solely to the
system of equal temperament.
"It should be remembered that ma-
thematical statements of tuning, car-
ried to several places of decimals only
exist on paper."
The "average ear" does not distin-
guish small differences than .2 a fifth
of a complete vibration a second, in
any part of the scale, more often .3 or
a third; and in musical problems the
ear alone is the arbiter without appeal
to intellectual subtleties."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 1946
Here we have it, from a scientist,
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•
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