Notes from the Berkshires, Day 15
Lenox Coffee, 7.25 a.m.
It’s officially the beginning of the third week of eleven, which means I’m somewhere between the end of the beginning and the beginning of the middle. Still excited at the prospects, and not yet mired in the no-man’s land that is the middle of any process. Helping to smooth the transition is the fact that the string quartet fellows and the opera folks are here starting this week, which will change the dynamic of the grounds a bit. Also, we change regimes from Scott, our supervising tech to this point, to Steve, the boss from here to the end. These last two weeks have been packed with learning opportunities for me, and I have no doubt that will continue, but with a change in leadership always comes a change in focus and energy. A meeting is scheduled this morning, to pass the figurative torch.
Taking the opportunity to assess my own development as a technician over the past two weeks, I find that I have gained a certain amount of confidence in my skills and my ability to assess a situation with any piano, but there are also aspects of my skillset which lag behind and seem not to improve at all. I’m too close to view this with anything approaching objectivity, obviously, so it’s best to not dwell on things that can only improve with time, repetition, and experience. Looking forward, I also realize I need to get on the stick and work on my strategy for re-entering the real world in August. One thing is clear: this is a point of change for me, with a sense of new directions and possibilities unfolding. I continue to work on the ability to recognise opportunities, and making the choice to respond (or not).
Monday, June 15, 2009
Two days in one
Notes from the Berkshires, Day 14
South St, Pittsfield, 8.42 p.m.
A back-posting day, after a busy weekend. Yesterday started with some cleaning detail in the room that will become our home base on the grounds, followed by a different type of cleaning detail: dismantling a home that a mouse had tried to assemble inside the action of the model A in the chamber music hall. This was the second go-around with this rodent; Scott took care of it the first time, but this one fell to me. There was stuff scattered throughout the action cavity, and a number of hammers had been either chewed or scratched for felt. I spent the better part of an hour cleaning things out and then another hour repairing the damage. Not my idea of a good time, and not what I would choose to spend my time as a technician on, but when one is a technician for a facility in the woods, one does what one has to do.
We broke at noon, and went as a group to the Clark art museum in Nearby Williamstown MA. Our technical justification was the two art-case Steinways on display there. One is fairly modest, but the other is extremely elaborate, fully carved and shaped with inlays galore. However, the main attraction for me was the rest of the art collection, which included a very decent selection of French impressionists, Duch and other realists, and a very cool exhibition of Georgia O’Keefe and Arthur Dove oils and watercolors. I don’t get out to museums often, but I’m always in awe of the skill involved in representing three-dimensional scenes on a flat plane. We spent a few hours there, then headed back to Pittsfield, where I allowed myself a nap before dinner, and followed that with a walk to the brewpub for a couple of pints with John.
Today was planned to be a partial day of work, getting caught up on a couple of pianos which only today were able to be placed in rooms, but it didn’t quite work out that way. I started out in the Manor house on a Steinway L which needed complete set-up and tuning; managed to get it into fairly decent shape in about three and a half hours, including a full tuning. Went straight from there to Miss Hall’s School, a girl’s academy which is used for housing and rehearsals. My assignment was a Boston grand, but when I arrived I discovered that it was not on it’s feet yet – nothing to be done there, so I looked around and found an upright which needed tuning and wrestled with that for about 90 minutes. By that time the grand was set up and ready to be unboxed. This is a piano in a reherarsal/classroom, not a performance space, and it was already 3.00 p.m., so I did the minimum to the instrument in terms of set-up and regulation, bedding the keyframe, lubricating the keypins and bushings, and making sure everything functioned at an acceptable level, and then gave it a good tuning. I was finished shortly before 5.00, and called it a day. On my way out I heard a string quartet rehearsing; the performance fellows have begun to arrive, and our time of having the place to ourselves has come to an end.
Even though I really didn’t eat much during the day, I decided to go for a run when I got home – the weather was absolutely perfect with temps in the low 70s, sunshine, and just a bit of a breeze. I was also inspired by V reporting that she went for a 30-mile ride today. I haven’t ridden 30 miles on a bicycle for probably six years, so I was suitably impressed and felt like I needed to do my part to keep pace in my fitness regimen. I was low on energy, but still managed to keep my normal pace, but I was beat afterwards. Had dinner, called V, and pulled out the computer to get the blog entry done. I’ll post tomorrow morning at the coffee shop; tonight I’m dribbling.
South St, Pittsfield, 8.42 p.m.
A back-posting day, after a busy weekend. Yesterday started with some cleaning detail in the room that will become our home base on the grounds, followed by a different type of cleaning detail: dismantling a home that a mouse had tried to assemble inside the action of the model A in the chamber music hall. This was the second go-around with this rodent; Scott took care of it the first time, but this one fell to me. There was stuff scattered throughout the action cavity, and a number of hammers had been either chewed or scratched for felt. I spent the better part of an hour cleaning things out and then another hour repairing the damage. Not my idea of a good time, and not what I would choose to spend my time as a technician on, but when one is a technician for a facility in the woods, one does what one has to do.
We broke at noon, and went as a group to the Clark art museum in Nearby Williamstown MA. Our technical justification was the two art-case Steinways on display there. One is fairly modest, but the other is extremely elaborate, fully carved and shaped with inlays galore. However, the main attraction for me was the rest of the art collection, which included a very decent selection of French impressionists, Duch and other realists, and a very cool exhibition of Georgia O’Keefe and Arthur Dove oils and watercolors. I don’t get out to museums often, but I’m always in awe of the skill involved in representing three-dimensional scenes on a flat plane. We spent a few hours there, then headed back to Pittsfield, where I allowed myself a nap before dinner, and followed that with a walk to the brewpub for a couple of pints with John.
Today was planned to be a partial day of work, getting caught up on a couple of pianos which only today were able to be placed in rooms, but it didn’t quite work out that way. I started out in the Manor house on a Steinway L which needed complete set-up and tuning; managed to get it into fairly decent shape in about three and a half hours, including a full tuning. Went straight from there to Miss Hall’s School, a girl’s academy which is used for housing and rehearsals. My assignment was a Boston grand, but when I arrived I discovered that it was not on it’s feet yet – nothing to be done there, so I looked around and found an upright which needed tuning and wrestled with that for about 90 minutes. By that time the grand was set up and ready to be unboxed. This is a piano in a reherarsal/classroom, not a performance space, and it was already 3.00 p.m., so I did the minimum to the instrument in terms of set-up and regulation, bedding the keyframe, lubricating the keypins and bushings, and making sure everything functioned at an acceptable level, and then gave it a good tuning. I was finished shortly before 5.00, and called it a day. On my way out I heard a string quartet rehearsing; the performance fellows have begun to arrive, and our time of having the place to ourselves has come to an end.
Even though I really didn’t eat much during the day, I decided to go for a run when I got home – the weather was absolutely perfect with temps in the low 70s, sunshine, and just a bit of a breeze. I was also inspired by V reporting that she went for a 30-mile ride today. I haven’t ridden 30 miles on a bicycle for probably six years, so I was suitably impressed and felt like I needed to do my part to keep pace in my fitness regimen. I was low on energy, but still managed to keep my normal pace, but I was beat afterwards. Had dinner, called V, and pulled out the computer to get the blog entry done. I’ll post tomorrow morning at the coffee shop; tonight I’m dribbling.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A working weekend
Notes from the Berkshires, Day 13
Lenox Coffee, 7.41 a.m.
As I thought might happen, we will be working through the weekend in order to get everything up and running for the arrival of the performance fellows on Monday. We will be working a half-day today, and another (at least) tomorrow, setting up somewhere between 5 and 10 grands in different rooms. No time now for the leisurely pace and attention to detail we’ve been spoiled to have for the past two weeks; it’s get ‘em up, tune ‘em up, and make ‘em playable for the time being. A different kind of challenge.
Yesterday I set a new personal record, servicing six pianos in the day. “Servicing” seems more the appropriate word for what we’re doing right now, as it could involve tuning (full or touch-up), set-up, repair, any number of regulation issues, or all of the above. Towards the end of the day I was getting really tired, and in a moment of lost focus snapped a hammer shank as I pulled the action out of an A I had been regulating. Doh! Fortunately, Scott was in the room as well, and had glue, a replacement shank & flange, and some helpful tips for the repair. After performing the surgery I decided to call it a day, headed home for a run, dinner, and some clearing-the-head time. A nice phone call to V and I was ready to crash.
Storms are in the forecast, but right now it’s a beautiful morning.
Lenox Coffee, 7.41 a.m.
As I thought might happen, we will be working through the weekend in order to get everything up and running for the arrival of the performance fellows on Monday. We will be working a half-day today, and another (at least) tomorrow, setting up somewhere between 5 and 10 grands in different rooms. No time now for the leisurely pace and attention to detail we’ve been spoiled to have for the past two weeks; it’s get ‘em up, tune ‘em up, and make ‘em playable for the time being. A different kind of challenge.
Yesterday I set a new personal record, servicing six pianos in the day. “Servicing” seems more the appropriate word for what we’re doing right now, as it could involve tuning (full or touch-up), set-up, repair, any number of regulation issues, or all of the above. Towards the end of the day I was getting really tired, and in a moment of lost focus snapped a hammer shank as I pulled the action out of an A I had been regulating. Doh! Fortunately, Scott was in the room as well, and had glue, a replacement shank & flange, and some helpful tips for the repair. After performing the surgery I decided to call it a day, headed home for a run, dinner, and some clearing-the-head time. A nice phone call to V and I was ready to crash.
Storms are in the forecast, but right now it’s a beautiful morning.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Foggy Friday
Notes from the Berkshires, Day 12
Lenox Coffee, 7.24 a.m.
I’m working on fewer hours of sleep than normal this morning, as last night’s dinner hang went into the wee hours, or at least what pass as wee hours for me anymore. Lots of talk on a variety of subjects including movies, food, parenting, and shared experiences. A very nice hang, which followed a pretty long day. We compared notes last night and figured that we got 14 pianos up and running between the four of us, including a bunch in Miss Hall’s School, a girl’s academy which houses a number of fellow and some rehearsal space; a place aptly named “the barn”, and some faculty homes off campus. I managed three pianos myself, one of which was a set-up out of the box and included a significant pitch-raise. By the end of the day my hands and ears were tired, and I was ready to relax a bit. Today we’re starting a bit earlier, in an attempt to knock out as many pianos as possible in order to make tomorrow a lighter day with the possibility of an early release.
I had a very unusual experience at the auto garage I patronized yesterday: I was in and out in less than ten minutes, and was charged all of $5. True, it was only a bulb which needed to be replaced, but still – I’m not sure I’ve ever spent that little time and money getting my car fixed. A very pleasant surprise, courtesy of Lou at Fortune Automotive in Lenox.
It’s gray again outside. Funny – we’re fast approaching the longest day of the year, but because of the overcast mornings it’s seemed as if the sun is coming up later, and it’s darker for the morning sitting. Warmer weather is on the way, evidently; the 10-day forecast has the first 80-degree day coming up by the end of next week.
Lenox Coffee, 7.24 a.m.
I’m working on fewer hours of sleep than normal this morning, as last night’s dinner hang went into the wee hours, or at least what pass as wee hours for me anymore. Lots of talk on a variety of subjects including movies, food, parenting, and shared experiences. A very nice hang, which followed a pretty long day. We compared notes last night and figured that we got 14 pianos up and running between the four of us, including a bunch in Miss Hall’s School, a girl’s academy which houses a number of fellow and some rehearsal space; a place aptly named “the barn”, and some faculty homes off campus. I managed three pianos myself, one of which was a set-up out of the box and included a significant pitch-raise. By the end of the day my hands and ears were tired, and I was ready to relax a bit. Today we’re starting a bit earlier, in an attempt to knock out as many pianos as possible in order to make tomorrow a lighter day with the possibility of an early release.
I had a very unusual experience at the auto garage I patronized yesterday: I was in and out in less than ten minutes, and was charged all of $5. True, it was only a bulb which needed to be replaced, but still – I’m not sure I’ve ever spent that little time and money getting my car fixed. A very pleasant surprise, courtesy of Lou at Fortune Automotive in Lenox.
It’s gray again outside. Funny – we’re fast approaching the longest day of the year, but because of the overcast mornings it’s seemed as if the sun is coming up later, and it’s darker for the morning sitting. Warmer weather is on the way, evidently; the 10-day forecast has the first 80-degree day coming up by the end of next week.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
In the Summertime?
Notes from the Berkshires, Day 11
Lenox Coffee, 7.17 a.m.
This has been an unusually long spring, both here and in the Midwest, it seems; it simply refuses to get truly warm. I’m not sure they’ve had a day above 80 here, and I know it’s only happened once in Gurnee and that was back in April, I think. Not complaining too much – it’ll end soon, no doubt (summers' official beginning is only ten days off) – but I find myself longing for a morning when I don’t take a jacket to work with me.
I put some more pieces of the regulation puzzle together yesterday, I think. However, it still seems like every time out I either forget to perform one crucial step or do things in an order that creates more work for me. Had a bit of a forehead-slapping “of course” moment when it was explained to me why the particular procedure Scott espouses actually works. The more times something is presented to me the more likely it is to actually stick in my tiny brain.
There was also a cool moment yesterday when I was walking down the trail from one venue to another, and just started grinning like a fool, with the realization of where I was and what I was doing there. I’m a lucky so-and-so.
Today we get into another space which houses 12 pianos, and we need to get them all set up and ready to go by the end of the day, so we’re free to get to the next spaces available on Friday and Saturday. I think it’s going to be hectic from here on out. I also made an appointment at a garage on the way to the grounds to have my taillight examined; I’m hopeful it’s a simple fix and that I won’t be charged resort-level prices for the work. This evening the three of us tech fellows will host dinner at our apartment for Scott, our supervisor, as he passes the baton to the supervising tech for the remainder of the summer on Sunday. Lasagna is the entrée, crème brulee for desert, and my contribution will be a spinach salad of some sort to be determined by what I find at the grocery on the way home.
Lenox Coffee, 7.17 a.m.
This has been an unusually long spring, both here and in the Midwest, it seems; it simply refuses to get truly warm. I’m not sure they’ve had a day above 80 here, and I know it’s only happened once in Gurnee and that was back in April, I think. Not complaining too much – it’ll end soon, no doubt (summers' official beginning is only ten days off) – but I find myself longing for a morning when I don’t take a jacket to work with me.
I put some more pieces of the regulation puzzle together yesterday, I think. However, it still seems like every time out I either forget to perform one crucial step or do things in an order that creates more work for me. Had a bit of a forehead-slapping “of course” moment when it was explained to me why the particular procedure Scott espouses actually works. The more times something is presented to me the more likely it is to actually stick in my tiny brain.
There was also a cool moment yesterday when I was walking down the trail from one venue to another, and just started grinning like a fool, with the realization of where I was and what I was doing there. I’m a lucky so-and-so.
Today we get into another space which houses 12 pianos, and we need to get them all set up and ready to go by the end of the day, so we’re free to get to the next spaces available on Friday and Saturday. I think it’s going to be hectic from here on out. I also made an appointment at a garage on the way to the grounds to have my taillight examined; I’m hopeful it’s a simple fix and that I won’t be charged resort-level prices for the work. This evening the three of us tech fellows will host dinner at our apartment for Scott, our supervisor, as he passes the baton to the supervising tech for the remainder of the summer on Sunday. Lasagna is the entrée, crème brulee for desert, and my contribution will be a spinach salad of some sort to be determined by what I find at the grocery on the way home.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
I'm glad there is - III
Harlan EllisonI watched the new documentary "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" shortly before I left for Tanglewood, and it prompted me to bring some of his stuff with me for the trip. It's an excellent account of the man, amusing and informative. The original music is written and performed by the great Richard Thompson. HE's writing is by turns eloquent and coarse, shocking and elegant, and it always demands that the reader engage with the ideas on the page. One of the authors I discovered early who has stuck with me.
Five in four
Notes from the Berkshires, Day 10
Lenox Coffee, 7.17 a.m.
There are a couple of regular baristas here, and I’ve been here enough in the past two weeks to get to know their habits a bit. The one who works more and seems to be here first thing most mornings appears to have it together with his job and the clientele. The Wednesday morning opener, alternatively, tends to sit out on the front porch smoking until a customer arrives to interrupt his morning inhalations. He also sets the Noise Pollution Unit to ‘stun’ while he’s outside. This morning it’s music-appropriate-to-dance-clubs-but-at-lower-volume. But the coffee is good; wi-fi and proximity to the Tanglewood grounds seals the deal for me.
Yesterday I had my hands on five different pianos in four different buildings. One full tuning plus keyframe bedding, a couple of touchups, one full regulation, and various acts of violence on hammers with needles and emery cloth. I felt like an actual, working piano technician, and the day passed remarkably quickly. We are starting to button up the pianos we’ve been working on for the past week, and getting ready to start going out to off-campus sites with pianos for tuning work. There are also pianos waiting to go to their final destinations which are not ready to accept them for various reasons mostly having to do with work of the construction and maintenance type. Next week the string quartet and opera fellows arrive, and our access will become much more limited.
It’s a grey morning, with fog rolling across the mountains. Quite beautiful, but it feels like one of those days when it never quite becomes as warm as the forecast temperature. In another month, a day starting like this will probably turn into a real steamer. As long as it doesn’t storm, I’m hoping to get a run in after work.
Lenox Coffee, 7.17 a.m.
There are a couple of regular baristas here, and I’ve been here enough in the past two weeks to get to know their habits a bit. The one who works more and seems to be here first thing most mornings appears to have it together with his job and the clientele. The Wednesday morning opener, alternatively, tends to sit out on the front porch smoking until a customer arrives to interrupt his morning inhalations. He also sets the Noise Pollution Unit to ‘stun’ while he’s outside. This morning it’s music-appropriate-to-dance-clubs-but-at-lower-volume. But the coffee is good; wi-fi and proximity to the Tanglewood grounds seals the deal for me.
Yesterday I had my hands on five different pianos in four different buildings. One full tuning plus keyframe bedding, a couple of touchups, one full regulation, and various acts of violence on hammers with needles and emery cloth. I felt like an actual, working piano technician, and the day passed remarkably quickly. We are starting to button up the pianos we’ve been working on for the past week, and getting ready to start going out to off-campus sites with pianos for tuning work. There are also pianos waiting to go to their final destinations which are not ready to accept them for various reasons mostly having to do with work of the construction and maintenance type. Next week the string quartet and opera fellows arrive, and our access will become much more limited.
It’s a grey morning, with fog rolling across the mountains. Quite beautiful, but it feels like one of those days when it never quite becomes as warm as the forecast temperature. In another month, a day starting like this will probably turn into a real steamer. As long as it doesn’t storm, I’m hoping to get a run in after work.
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