JET #33 (2005 May)
METROPOP #163 (2009.07.23) p.82
METROPOP #163 (2009.07.23) p.82
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JET #33 (2005 May)
Tuning up the Flavour of Piano: Chan Kam Por
Age 49, Piano Tuner of Eddy Piano, 32 years of piano tuning experience
Text: 涼粉松 / Edit & Translation: Rhyme Professional Piano & Harp Services Limited
How do you become a Piano Tuner?
I was once a sewing machine technician. But later I found my strong passion and inclination to music, and then I became a Piano Tuner. There were limited approaches to learn piano tuning in Hong Kong, only The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) had conducted one session of professional piano tuning course. Therefore, I could only learn from my mentors in apprenticeship. At first, I learned how to repair a piano, and then I moved forward to learn how to tune the pitches. It takes 3 years to master the fundamental skills. I had been taught by two mentors, and I furthered my study in piano manufacture. 30 years has passed, and up to now, I am still learning.
What are the responsibilities of a Piano Tuner?
The most important is to maintain the peak performance of pianos, which enable pianists concentrate on the piece of music without distraction. It takes great effort to take good care of a piano, with the effects of gravity, weather, relocation process and repetitious usage, even a change of a tiny component could affect the tone and performance of the piano. Pianos are like cars, the performance of an expensive sports car can be easily influenced by the tiny spark plug. In fact, even the thinnest string in piano can produce nearly 300 pounds tension!
And when the piano is out of tone, the problem does not confined to a single pitch but actually all the pitches go wrong; however, it is hard to be noticed by general users. Although many families in Hong Kong owned a piano, only a few understood the importance of regular piano tuning and most doubted its necessity. Normally, a piano should be tuned three to six times a year to maintain its standard condition; the regularity of tuning will also depends on frequencies of usage. After all, Piano Tuners are like the doctors of pianos.
What are the steps of piano tuning? How do we know it is well-tuned?
Every Piano Tuner will have a heavy tool chest with them when they are out for work. There are two types of tools, the first type able to dismember the whole set of piano and the second type is tuning tools like turning fork. We will first repair hardware like keyboard fist, and then we will tune the piano. Before tuning, we will use turning fork to get a standard scale, and adjust the 13 chromatic scales accordingly. We use tools to tighten the strings and rectify the harmonic between 88 tones. Up to this stage, we have completed the basic stage of piano tuning. But for a good Piano Turner, the more important is to tune up the flavor of pianos. As we all knew, pianos have different prices and origins, and can be categorized into vertical and horizontal pianos. The tone and characteristics of each piano is unique, therefore, Piano Tuners is the both doctors and chefs of piano, tuning up the flavor of pianos is always our ultimate goal.
What are the differences between vertical and horizontal pianos?
The formal name of horizontal piano is called grand piano. It not only looks bigger than vertical pianos (also called as upright pianos), its piano soundboard is also larger and face to ground, and so the reflected sounds will be more surround and acoustic than vertical pianos.
Do you agree Piano Tuners have better hearing abilities than average?
Agree, but not only people with natural gifts could become Piano Tuners, hearing abilities can also be enhanced by efforts. Keeping your mind calm during piano tuning is actually more important, it helps to detect problems more accurately. From my experience, the tip to keep calm is simple: be content and loyal to your profession, ignore other’s disrespect or impolite attitudes toward piano tuning. The process of piano tuning can not only train up our hearing abilities, but also cultivate our personalities.
What kind of sounds do you like? Will you have higher requirements for audio equipments?
I love classic music, and also natural and harmonic sounds like bird tweet. Although I am not quite familiar with the specs of audio equipments, but I do have expectations to sounds. -
METROPOP #163 (2009.07.23) p.82
PEOPLE
PIANO DOCTOR
Text: Nok / Photo: Willis / Desing: Nick
Translation: Rhyme Professional Piano & Harp Services Limited
CHAN KAM POR Profession: Piano Tuner
Q Except turning piano, what are the other duties of Piano Tuners?
A We are like the doctor of piano. There must be a reason behind if the piano is out of tune. Affected by the humid weather in Hong Kong, piano strings will easily rust and malformed. We will check and replace parts according to piano’s condition, and tune the pitch back to international standard. Also, Piano Tuners are usually familiar to dismantling and assembling piano. For senior Piano Tuner with more experience, will even invent and make use of different materials and tools for piano repairing.
Q Does every Piano Tuner know how to play piano?
A In fact, people do not know how to play piano can also become a Piano Tuner if they have basic knowledge of piano, such as the distribution of 8 basic tones. Instead, hearing ability of Piano Tuners is far more important than knowing how to play piano. As piano’s pitch should be tuned to the international standard (also called Concert Pitch, e.g. A=440Hz). We may use the turning fork for pitch identification, but also extremely rely on accumulated experience.
Q Will the raise of electronic pianos affect the industry ecology of Piano Tuner?
A Indeed. As the volume of electronic piano is smaller and suitable for the tight living space in Hong Kong, all of a sudden, electronic piano become popular. However, traditional Piano Tuners still have their own market, as the tones of electronic piano and traditional piano are completely different. I can say, it is impossible for electronic pianos to imitate the perception and the soft or strong characteristics performed by traditional pianos.
Q Have you come across any special working experiences?
A Piano Tuners usually work door-to-door. Some clients are very kind, they will provide drinks for us. But some will try to repudiate consented price after services completed; in fact, the fee is usually agreed before we arrive the service point. Of course, the most heartbroken case is, people may not willing to repair their old piano as replacing its components will be more expensive than buying a new one.
Q How to enter the industry?
A 30 years ago, Piano Tuners are educated in apprenticeship. Nowadays, many piano stores have their own certificate courses for piano turning and repairing. Sizable stores will even send employees to overseas for advanced studies, like Japan, where is extremely mature and experienced in piano manufacturing. -
METROPOP #163 (2009.07.23) p.82