The Judge said, “Get a job or go to Jail!”…
That’s what I say when people ask how I got into the piano service business…a joke of course.
Truth is, I started with my Uncle Pete, on my mother’s side of the family, who was a technician back in the early ‘60’s. He would take me around with him on his runs in the summer. It really isn’t what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a music educator. Piano was my instrument.
The main problem was my choice was limited to my physical ailment of arthritis that I got from the Marine Corps in 1969. I went in rather heavy, and instead of putting me in the “fat boy” platoon to get me into shape for regular boot camp, they kept me with the regular platoon and put me on a diet of raw carrots and raw celery and coffee for 12 weeks. So malnourished and physically punished, I developed osteoarthritis at a surprising young age. And to that, pushups on my knuckles completely destroyed my hands.
The other influence in my life was Uncle Frank on my father’s side of the family. He was an educator and a big deal in the Philadelphia Public School System.
So what do I do now…I service and rebuild pianos and teach!…go figure. Never give the finger to the witch doctor.
I have been doing this as a result of the deterioration of my joints, especially my hands, knees and shoulders. In music education you have to have the main instrument, and piano was it. So, I went to the State of Pennsylvania Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. After a full examination, both physical and intellectual, they saw the I deserved a full pass to the Philadelphia Musical Academy.
I tried. I was Dean’s list, but my hands refused to let me play anything! So, music education was not in the cards for me. Back to piano service for me… hated it.
I service pianos in homes, in studios, on the concert stage. I’ve taught for the Piano Technicians Guild, The Master Piano Technicians of America, retailers, and at Temple University. I’ve done, and still do, consultations for technicians, rebuilders, and manufacturers. And, I still hate it…but I love the people.
The truth is that in spite of my ailment, I could do piano technology through the pain. My doctors told me the best I could do was to keep moving and improve my muscle strength. I did was I was told and was able to work. There was no medication for my problem, just perseverance!
The musicians in my life think that their schedule is my schedule…and…they are correct. They know I’ll do anything for them if humanly, and sometimes inhumanly possible.
It seems I’ve worked for just about everyone in the biz.
So why am I blogging…something else I said I wouldn’t do?!
Many times I would go to an appointment, service the piano, be my personable self, tell stories, and people would say, “You need to write a book”. Well, “I don’t think there is a book in there.” I would reply. But they kept saying it and I kept refusing. However, I decided that if one thousand people asked me to write that book, I would consider it.
I went years ago, to purchase one of those hard over, marbleized copy books. In it a put a stroke for every person who said, “You need to write a book”. I never really took it seriously.
A few months ago I went to an appointment, tuned the piano, told my stories, and the client said…you guessed it…”You need to write a book”. When I said I didn’t think there was a book in there…he said, “Think Blog!”
That evening, I dutifully went to my little copy book to give him his deserved “stroke”, and what do you know…he was number one thousand.
Welcome to, “The Other Side of the Keyboard”. This blog is named after a lecture I do for audiences filled with piano owners, pianists, teachers, etc who want to know more about their rather complicated instrument.
This is my first entry, and I will do my level best to be diligent in keeping it up. I’m not very technical with blogs yet, but I do plan to cover humorous stories, technical issues, and anything that comes to mind, mine or yours.
Welcome to this new venture and adventure…let’s see where it goes, shall we?
To learn more about me, you can go to:
theothersideofthekeyboard http://theothersideofthekeyboard.onestipiano.com
On here…you can read, and comment, ask questions, anything you like. This is here for the individual piano owner, the serious musician, the hobbyist, and technician…if you like pianos…come on in…the water’s just fine.
Ciao and wish me (us) luck,
RJ
June 2nd, 2024 at 11:22 am Here is another request. Write a book. People will love it.
June 2nd, 2024 at 11:29 am Please keep the blogs coming. They are fascinating reading.