Sudhira Hay | Piano Tune | San Francisco & London |

Sauter II

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:35:17 +0000

Yup, it’s summer and same as last year I headed over the ocean to the Sauter factory in Spaichingen, Germany, for some intensive updates of my professional skills. Last week I worked with master o’ regulation Franco De Paola, a great technician and an amiable colleague. We streamlined the process of upright piano regulation, a service which most pianos could use every few years or so. Basically, we take everything apart, make sure all the bits are working as they should be, then put them back together and make sure that all the bits are working together as they should be, too. With an average of 8000 moving parts per piano, (yes, more than a car) it’s quite a job.

adjusting key height

Sauter are famous for their extremely high standards of manufacture and their attention to detail while doing the final preparations on their pianos before they are shipped to the dealers. So you can imagine how lucky I feel to have the opportunity to learn from these people. I’m also thrilled to continue improving my professional skills, so that I can offer my clients the best services possible.

If you are reading this in the Bay Area and would like to know more about Sauter and their line of upright and grand pianos, look in on R. Kassman Piano in Berkeley, the local Sauter dealer. Otherwise, check out www.sauter-pianos.de.

box of paper punchings

What can I say? Sauter does not have an aggressive branding campaign, so they are not as famous as, say, Steinway, or even Bosendorfer, but they are right up there in quality and they should be as famous. As a technician who has seen all sorts of pianos, I fell in love with Sauter and just have to toot their horn a little bit.

Island Tunes

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:31:19 +0000

When my friend Namana called me up last year and asked if i’d like to come out to Curacao to tune pianos, I thought she was kidding. Then I thought perhaps I should look at a map and find out exactly where Curacao is. If any of you know, right now, as you’re reading this, let me know and i’ll electronically tip my hat to you, because a few months ago I had NO idea. Here’s a hint… Dutch people don’t count.

Sunset at the beach

Yup it’s part of the Netherland Antilles, and about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela. This was my first evening on the island.

Hans Sicking is a piano teacher and dealer on the island, and when Namana wasn’t driving me around to clients, Hans was. His car seemed to say something about island mentality… it had no doors, no seatbelts, no windscreen wipers… but it did have drink holders.

I met many interesting people–Antillean, Dutch, American, Venezuelan–and pianos from all other the world, too. One of them was plastic (I kid you not) and I had to tune it very gently because the keys might break! It made a change from tuning gently because the strings might break, I suppose.

plastic piano keys

Every new client I met was very exited to get their piano tuned… for most of them it had been a while… and the first thing they did was offer me something to drink. No, not That kind of drink, the regular, hydrating kind.

In my spare time (translate: the weekends) Namana took me off on several adventures. We went hiking round the north shore with friends; the coastline is desert-like, wild and beautiful and the sea comes crashing into the volcanic rocks. There are lots of sharp edges; you don’t go there to swim, but rather to witness the majesty and power of nature. Then we went to the south side of the island, to hang out at the beach.

new client

I also went scuba diving for the first time ever, it was an hour “expedition” with a diving guide and a lot of prep beforehand, so it just gave me a taste of what it’s like without having to go through a week’s worth of training. If you ever find yourself in a position to try something like that, I fully recommend it! We fed some some stingrays (who liked to slide over us) and we got to meet a massive fish called Herbie, who needed little fish to help him clean his teeth.

Curacao has a complex history of slavery under the spanish and dutch, and finally emancipation. But it is still considered part of dutch territory and antillean people are naturally dutch citizens. It surprised me as a sort of “last outpost” of colonialism, and honestly, it seems to be to the benefit of the island, but politics has never been my thing.

One more thing: on my last day I was fortunate enough to see a beautifully kept french Pleyel piano from the early 1900s, of the type known as a “birdcage”. Those in the know will shudder, but fear not: I was not expected to tune it! The owner just wanted an appraisal. We agreed that it would be great as a purely decorative object for someone’s business: a restaurant, maybe, or a vintage store. I mention it so that if anyone out there is looking for a second-hand piano and you see a really pretty one with an inside that looks like this–

"birdcage" action... to be avoided!

don’t buy it. Unless, of course, you have a vintage clothing store and stuff you want to drape artistically all over it. So you know what I mean, i’ve included a picture of the whole piano below. Some of the most beautiful upright pianos in the world came from this period of time and have this unfortunate action engineering; they are almost impossible to tune and often not so stable because of the exposed pinblock and, these days, because of their venerable age.

Whole Pleyel piano

Well, I think that pretty much sums up my trip! Apologies for the “hodge-podge” approach to this blog… the only subject that threaded all these little things together was the island. If you are thinking of travelling in the caribbean and haven’t picked an island yet, I strongly recommend Curacao, for its beauty, its character and its inhabitants. You’ll have a great time. Take bug spray with you and you’ll have a stupendously unparalleled time.

buying an upright…

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:02:30 +0000

If you’re on your way to buying your first piano, you might feel a little lost. they’re big, they’re expensive, and unlike cars, you can’t do research by looking at other people’s on your way to work.
This article is intended to be a quick, informal guide to get you started. pianos are like apples–each different brand has a different flavour, so to speak–so picking the right piano for you is a very subjective process. Therefore, don’t take what I say as gospel and blindly follow it, just use these suggestions to dip your toe into piano world.
This time i’m just going to talk about new upright pianos. Right off, i’m going to recommend you read “The piano book” by Larry Fine. It’s a guide to all the brands out there, who makes them, where, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. He’s been writing and updating this book since 19–um, something (at least 20 years, anyway) and he puts out a new update every year.
One of the first things to think about is your price-range. new uprights range from $4000 to $50000 (yes, 50) and everywhere in between. If you’re around the $4000 and under you might want to consider the best used piano you can find. In new piano world this is around the bottom of the totem pole so to speak, and if you can go to $5500 or $6000 and higher, you’ll be a lot (A LOT!) better off. That’s the minimum.
Alright, on to brands. Again, just take this as me writing from my own experience.
Of course, my personal favourite uprights are from Sauter. I’ve tuned many, in the dealership and in customers’ homes, and i’ve seen them being finished in the factory. Someone once called them “the best uprights in the world,” and i’m inclined to agree. Usually the kind of detail-oriented, careful and precise regulation, tuning and voicing that these pianos undergo is reserved for higher-priced grand pianos in a brand’s line. Sauter treats all their pianos with the same high standard, from their smallest upright to their concert grands. Of course, they’re also the most expensive, apart from Steingraeber, which i’m not familliar with.
The recommended price for Sauter uprights starts at $31800 for their smallest upright (48 inches), and tops out at about $45400 for their tallest (51 inches). Of course, what kind of finish and design will factor into the price as well. For this price you are getting absolutely top quality instruments, and if you can afford it, it’s worth it.
Sauter, and Steingraeber are made in Germany, 100 percent. Most pianos cheaper than those are at least partially made in China or Indonesia. This brings down the price considerably. I have come to know Yamaha, Kawai, Ritmuller and Story and Clark, all of which are at least partly made in China or Indonesia.
I have worked extensively with Kawai, and the more I worked with them, the more I like them. They are reliable and well-made. They start at around $4500 for a 44-inch vertical, and go up to $15000 for their 52-inch vertical. Yamahas tend to be a little more expensive, and in my opinion that is more to do with “brand-name fame” than an actual difference in quality.
My current favorite for the lower-priced pianos is Ritmuller. This is a brand I’ve just discovered, and the more I see them the more I love them. they have a wonderful, rich sound and although they are made in China the scale design is German (the same designer as for Bechstein) and all the parts are German. The smallest start at around $4000 for a 43-inch, and go to $12000 for a 52-inch.
OK! after drowning you in details, i’d like to add a couple of things. One: these prices are usually negotiable, and there’s a great chapter in Larry Fine’s book about entering negotiations with dealers. Do remember though that piano shopping isn’t about chasing the lowest price. It’s about finding a quality instrument that resonates with you. Also most dealers provide pretty good follow-up and warranty service, and for that it’s worth paying a little more.
The last thing is simple. Some people think that if they have a small house they should get a small piano, but a tall upright takes up the SAME amount of floor-space as a tiny spinet! So, if you can afford to, look at the taller pianos. their sound is often better and longer strings help the tuning.
Once again, this is not intended to be the “bible” of piano-buying advice. Do some research, check out “The Piano Book”, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Good Luck.

fun piano links… for everyone!

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:16:16 +0000

In my love of music and the piano in particular, i’ve come across some pretty cool and fun videos on youtube. At times they have been inspiring, seriously beautiful, funny, and all of the above. Many of the videos remind me that music should be fun first and foremost, especially if you have a child who is learning and you want them to be inspired to practise!
When I was young my mum at times had to use blackmail to get me to practise–”if you don’t, we’re getting rid of the piano!” Now i’m really grateful that she didn’t just let it slide. Check out these links and see if you and the kids can get some additional inspiration and joy….

Stu and Sniper from the UK morph from classical into funk in this fun vid. I wish I could play like that… classical music education doesn’t limit you to just one type of music…
Piano Lesson with a Difference

Igudesman and Joo: the new musical comedians in the wake of Victor Borge. They are also incredibly talented musicians who met while they were both studying at the Yehudi Menuhin school in London, UK.
Mozart Bond Here they seamlessly merge Mozart with a slightly more…modern… theme…
Rachmaninov had big hands Another fave Igudesman and Joo moment, but there are many more.. check out their version of “I will survive”. On second thoughts, i’ll just put it in here for you.
I will survive

Lang Lang: You gotta love his awesome talent, his superfine touch and his complete enthusiasm and love for music and the piano. He has done so much for the advancement of music education, and he brings a fresh, irreverent voice to the world of classical piano. What can I say? i’m a fan!
Lang Lang plays Nocturne in D Flat
And another glorious Lang Lang moment, giving a master class…
Lang Lang goes crazy
this vid excited quite a few comments, some people love him, others say “too much”… to me it illustrates his love and complete identification with the music.

And finally, for now at least, Tawainese virtuoso Jung Li and her rendition of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody. Rock on, girl!
Jung Li, Hungarian Rhapsody

These are just a few of the great piano vids out there. i’ll post more as i find them, if you find some, let me know!

What to do? worn out hammers…

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:35:36 +0000

Pianos are built to last a long time… but like a car, parts get worn out and then no longer perform as they should. If a piano is well-loved (and well used), the hammers will wear down from repetitively striking the strings. Over the years the strings will gouge out grooves in the hammers. The increased surface area of the strike point changes the “voice” of the piano, and it also puts greater stress on the strings, increasing the probability of breakage.
But! there are solutions. Before shelling out at least $1000 for a new set of hammers, you can get almost the same result for a lot less by having the hammers reshaped by a piano technician. Aside from shaping the hammers to a smooth, even shape, the technician will then match each hammer to the strings it strikes, to get a pure, even tone. This is a picture of some hammers I reshaped recently for a client. It was amazing what a difference it made to the tone of his grand old upright, giving it many more years of life.

concerts and artists…

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:37:32 +0000

Some of the musicians and bands I have tuned for…
Sri Chinmoy
Roberta Flack
Norah Jones
Van Morrison
Keane
Sigur Ros
The Gotan Project
Smokey Robinson
Diana Krall
Cindy Lauper
Guns and Roses
Lenny Kravitz
John Legend
Jamie Callum
Dana Carvey

Inspiration

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:56:19 +0000

Inspiration.

The piano has been part of my life since I was a child, but my tuning career didn’t start until a few jobs into my working life. My main source of inspiration and encouragement for this new (at the time) career was my meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy. I was fortunate to tune pianos for him to play in performance a few times.

Sri Chinmoy is a spiritual teacher who dedicated his life to serving humanity. He has been my teacher for many years. He was born in Bengal, India, in 1931, and he passed away in 2007.
Sri Chinmoy’s life was dedicated to inspiring people in different ways. He was an author, poet, musician, artist and athlete.
He gave over 700 free concerts for harmony around the world. In these concerts, he would play about 20 different instruments, including the esraj, harmonium, cello, flute and piano.
In the mid-1990s during his travels, Sri Chinmoy would also play the pipe organ of a church or cathedral where he happened to be. His style was improvisational, and very powerful. One of my favourite performances was at St. John’s Riverside Church in Manhattan, USA.
Sri Chinmoy loved to play the piano, mixing improvisation and melodies of different songs that he had composed. His improvisations had such depth and musical range, from very gentle and ethereal melodies to highly energised explosions of power.

The First Cirque…

admin — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:19:55 +0000

Magical World: Jean-Baptiste Thierrée and Victoria Chaplin’s “Cirque Invisible”, now playing at the South Bank Centre, London through August. They re-invented circus almost four decades ago with their first show “Cirque Bonjour”, moved on to “Cirque Imaginaire,” and now “Cirque Invisible”, which they have been performing, and improving on, since 1990.

Fantastic clowning! Acrobatic feats! various other things that I can’t even explain in writing! and of course, the animals! in their case, several ducks and a few rabbits that never do what they’re told.
This pair have performed their circus all over the world, (I last saw them in La Jolla, California) so keep a look out. If you want to set foot in a magical world for an evening, they have the keys…

Piano Tuning

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:06:45 +0000

The first piano I tuned, from beginning to end and all the notes in the middle, took me five and a half hours. Then, exhausted, I played the piano and realised that… it needed tuning. 220 strings! (at least). All those intervals, frequencies, and partials, overtones! I felt utterly defeated.
Skip forward 8 years, and my tuning time average is about an hour. I have tuned over a thousand pianos, for families with children just starting to learn, for music professionals and teachers, and for concerts and music festivals. My tuning is literally a thousand times better than it was at the beginning, and still I know that I can continue to improve and refine my tuning. Every piano technician I know says the same thing: that with this job, you can improve until you retire, or kick the bucket.
This job gives me a different experience every time I tune a piano, even if it’s one I’ve been seeing regularly for 6 years. Seasonal changes affect it, or whether the client is playing it more or less often. In one day I might start with a quiet suburban family home, and finish with a rock concert tuning, stopping off at the Opera House on the way. The variety, the people I meet, the opportunity to work with musicians, and for music, and to hone my skill – these are all things that make me grateful, that I get to practise this craft.

About Sauter

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:00:42 +0000

The Sauter piano company was started about 200 years ago by Johann Grimm, who learned his craft from Beethoven’s piano maker in Vienna, Austria. Today, Sauter is one of the very few factories that make every part of their pianos in Germany. As well as keeping an incredibly high standard of craftsmanship in the traditional piano designs that they produce, Sauter joined forces with designer Peter Maly, to produce modern piano designs that fit perfectly into today’s homes. If you want to take a look at the innovative and imaginative designs, visit the Sauter Website.