Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-10

gin with the cataloguing of behavior
responses at birth and shortly there
after. One of the earliest studies of
this kind was the Johns Hopkins series
initiated by Watson. Three emotions
belong to the original equipment of in
fants. They are fear, rage and love.
Or they might better be called x, Y, z.
This may sound abstruse, but we are
coming to the point. Fear. it has been
found, was the startled reaction to loud
sound or lack of support. There is the
point-loud sounds. Don't you see how
that hooks up with piano tuning?
But loud sounds are nct invariably
terrifying. For example, it has been
found impossible to condition a IA
month-old child to an extremely loud
sound because the sound failed to func-
ton as primary stimulus to fear. In
this instance the child was placed in a
high chair and an interesting looking
wooden duck was lowered by a string
from the ceiling. Just as the duck
reached O level with the child's face
and the child WIS reaching for the
duck, a metal bar just back Of the
chilo's head was struck loudly. The
child was not frightened It sh-uld be
said that the child had never before
seen this particular duck.
Music Asked After Tuning.
May it not be concluded easily that
this child or Others of the kind would
be successful as piano tuners? What
would the pink-pankinR and whaneing
day after day mean to them? Nothing.
These conclusions are largely based
on a handbook Of child psychology
edited by Carl Murchison, although Mr.
Murchison probably would not recce-
nise the conclusions II he should see
them.
One other idea should be presented.
II the child's tendency toward being a
plano tuner Is hereditary or subject to
home environment Qather a piano
ttInerl--weA. II the environment be-
comes too strong; in other words, If
there Is too much talk around the home
about piano tuning, then such ccndi-
lions may lead to the childs encapsu-
lating or insulating himself from the
environment, and he becomes stubborn
and negative. A great many boys who
might nave made excellent piano tuners
nave In this way been turned into ether
lines. Some have become milk-waRon
drivers and kept people awake In that
way.
A piano tuner must be strong minded
ana nave lot of endurance. Very
oftsn when the piano has been tuned
there VIII be request from the family
tor musical program by the tuner
Inc wise tuner VIII turn deaf ear 10
all such proposals and will be on to the
next job One Washington tuner who
plays very well tells them he knows
nothing about music. Often, too. the
owner OF the piano has a nervous idea
that the piano has not been properly
tuneu. II Is the same kind OF complex
that leads the driver to think there is
squeak in his ear. In these DAYS. tco
piano tuners lesd a lonely life. They
never md anybody at home They get
the request to come and tune the piano
ano md note that the KEY is in the
mah oox or In the flower box or scme-
where around the premises. They must
olg It out and get into the house and
SIT IN loneliness while they tune. All
members Of the family are away at
work. But, after all. this is much bet
yer ior the piano tuner than to have
some member OF the family present and
interfering Some families treat piano
tuners Just as they do nurses. They
think they know more about the patient
IMAM the professional does.
Ihere Is a lot 70 know about piano
tuning. and undoubtedly q lot win be
leafned when the convention is held
nere next year