The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-02-24
! THE MUSICAL CORNER ;
K CONDUCTED BY T.. A. THOMPSON, 7
) Violin Maker and Teacher.
Piano Tuning.

GENERALLY speaking, people think
piano tuner must either be great musi-
elan OF have very fine ear for music
Now this is entirely wrong. A man can
be II good piano tuner and also be a
musician, but as Il general rule Il piano
tuner cannot play the piano at all, and
sometimes no instrument. ! have heard
musicians remark: 4 could soon learn
to be piano tuner if | only sit down
and practice" That is, in most cases,
entirely wrong.
First of all. man to be a success full
piano tuner must be a mechanic. as he
must be able to take the instrument
apart in order to adjust any part which
might be out of order. Second he must
nave u quick ear for sound-not tone
a. the piano is tuned by vibrations, not
tone. And last of all. and not least.
he must take lessons from competent
tuner and practice with him in his every
day work 30 a. to be able to tune every
/ Nilt "a i'IiH'' '"@ l'ldHOH ol cheap
grades are more difficult TO tune than the
high grades The reason for this is
that It piano of high grade, such as
the Chickcring. Hobart, NJ Gable, Stein
way and Knahc, are moro carefully put
together and the quality of steel and
felts used TO make up the action are
r-t-claso and do not get out of shape.
ob-truct the vibrations and cause what
i, termed wolf tones
/ Now. after Il man ha, worked with Il
tuner for six months or more he should
either get Il position in a piano factory
or repair shop and do what i called
rough tuning ana from that to finishing.
after which he may 90 out in the world
with the knowledge that when he tunes
ii piano and gets his price he i, not inn
posing on the public. \ wealthy Eng
needed Il tuner as it was a triile out of
tone. Now there CHANGED to come along
Il man who claimed to be a first class
piano tuner and carried recommended
/ tions from number of people in the
vicinity. Thinking ne was all right. he
was set to work on the piano. The first
thing he did was to take the action out
and clean it ana in doing 50 put ii out
OF balance. He then made an attempt
at tuning. but did not move IL pin When
he was through the man tried his piano
and finding ii all out of order Jumped
onto the tuner and beat him to in,en-
sibilitv, The Engli.hman was arrested
and fined 50 and costs The Judge then
told the wouldbe piano tuner he had
better 90 and learn the business. thus
showing the troubles of man who
would humbug the people.
\ would-be piano tuner is the worst
kind of thief He not only obtains
his money under false pretenses but
ruins the piano and takes the value out
of it. | have also heard people say:
DO not employ Mr.. So-andSo. He tuned
my piano two months ago and it is out
/ of tune already" | found out after
ward that the piano was sold to them
| for 5000 and also that the piano tuner
was strictly competent. | would eX
plain that $500 will not buy a piano
| that will stay in tune any length of
time When buying piano, first, 90 to
reliable house and there pick out a
/ piano with good reputation of which
they are too numerous to mention here.
/ The piano tuner of today j, one to
! look out for, and before being employed
should be recommended by some local
piano house that will be responsible for
/ his work. thus ending the career of the
would be-