Pianotech

I have a new client with a grand piano who plays while sitting in a wheelchair. Does anyone know if/how there are adaptive devices available to make the full damper system work ?
Maybe some techs have clients with similar challenges and know of a device(s) mechanical or otherwise that could make the pedals work. I am thinking of some type of solenoid activated system like those used with player systems such as Disklavier, Piano Disc or
QRS/Pianomation. Any inventors out there ?

-------------------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
-------------------------------------------

When I worked at Baldwin, I came up with a devise for an amputee.  The company was not supportive of the project, so I did it on my own time.  Later, when my picture and a write-up appeared on the front page of the Sunday Home and Garden section of the New Orleans Time-Picayune, I received a commendation letter from the company president.

You are on the right track with a PianoDisc-type solenoid.  For the switching function it gets a bit more difficult.  I used a computer joy-stick, for early gaming software.  I attached this to the piano bench.  The customer had both legs amputated below the knee, but could manage to get from a wheel chair to the piano bench.  I believe her husband had built something to help in the transfer, but I don't remember how it was configured.  She had enough mobility of the thigh to move the lever to the right, and allow it to spring back to center.  The greatest problem was that there was too little tactile response from the joy-stick.  You could not tell "by feel" if it were engaged or not.  I had planned to use a garage-door opener remote-control to communicate the signal from the joy-stick to the solenoid controller within the piano, to eliminate the cord dangling between the piano and the bench.  When I encountered problems with this, the customer "blew it off;" she was delighted with the functionality and couldn't care less about the cosmetics.  Of course, this was only for the sustain pedal, but that was all that the customer needed. In you case, perhaps the switch-lever could be temporarily clamped to the front rail of the wheelchair seat, if the customer has mobility of her thigh to operate the lever.

While researching this project, I found a patent for a similar device, which used a mercury-switch (as used in household AC thermostats), mounted on the rim of a hat.  Tilting the head forward activated the sustain pedal, and tilting the head slightly back released the pedal.  This could be reduced to a less obtrusive headband, or possibly even something like a hearing aid, that hangs over the ear.  

Good Luck!  There is nothing more rewarding than resolving such a challenge as this!

-------------------------------------------
George (Frank) Emerson, RPT
Silver Springs FL
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I would think a mouth operated switch would be quite easy to implement and learn. Hold the switch between your teeth and simply bite down when you want to engage the sustain pedal. 

And please forgive me for adding this left turn here, but for amusement sake I can't resist.
In Russia, one Vladimir Jevgenjevich Pliassov has invented a one man string trio. Violin, Viola and Cello. It enables him to play all three instruments, at the same time, all by himself. It's elaborate. It's crazy. It's wacky. It's definitely Rube Goldberg. But he makes it work.

Introduction to the instrument. How it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGqOIOEhz8g&feature=youtu.be

He doesn't claim to be a musician, but he probably plays this thing better than anyone else. Here he is playing  J.S.Bach. Fuga super Allein Gott in der Høh`sei Ehr` ( original is for organ).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ggSQyIN78&feature=youtu.be

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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2013 22:59
From: George Emerson
Subject: Pianists In Wheelchairs


When I worked at Baldwin, I came up with a devise for an amputee.  The company was not supportive of the project, so I did it on my own time.  Later, when my picture and a write-up appeared on the front page of the Sunday Home and Garden section of the New Orleans Time-Picayune, I received a commendation letter from the company president.

You are on the right track with a PianoDisc-type solenoid.  For the switching function it gets a bit more difficult.  I used a computer joy-stick, for early gaming software.  I attached this to the piano bench.  The customer had both legs amputated below the knee, but could manage to get from a wheel chair to the piano bench.  I believe her husband had built something to help in the transfer, but I don't remember how it was configured.  She had enough mobility of the thigh to move the lever to the right, and allow it to spring back to center.  The greatest problem was that there was too little tactile response from the joy-stick.  You could not tell "by feel" if it were engaged or not.  I had planned to use a garage-door opener remote-control to communicate the signal from the joy-stick to the solenoid controller within the piano, to eliminate the cord dangling between the piano and the bench.  When I encountered problems with this, the customer "blew it off;" she was delighted with the functionality and couldn't care less about the cosmetics.  Of course, this was only for the sustain pedal, but that was all that the customer needed. In you case, perhaps the switch-lever could be temporarily clamped to the front rail of the wheelchair seat, if the customer has mobility of her thigh to operate the lever.

While researching this project, I found a patent for a similar device, which used a mercury-switch (as used in household AC thermostats), mounted on the rim of a hat.  Tilting the head forward activated the sustain pedal, and tilting the head slightly back released the pedal.  This could be reduced to a less obtrusive headband, or possibly even something like a hearing aid, that hangs over the ear.  

Good Luck!  There is nothing more rewarding than resolving such a challenge as this!

-------------------------------------------
George (Frank) Emerson, RPT
Silver Springs FL
-------------------------------------------

Thank you all for some possible ideas and solutions. This is such a new area to explore but I am sure it can be done. I did a little research last evening and it seems like a mercury switch of some type is the way to activate the damper solenoid. As to the physical placement and placement I will have to work with an engineer type. Fortunately my family is filled with a few mechanical and electrical engineers who may come to the rescue. Maybe I can get some help from the Piano Disc folks seeing that I just obtained my certification. I will be doing some work on the piano this weekend and will run some ideas by the client. One thing she mentioned is that the lyre gets in the way when she sits at the piano . I am not sure if she has any ability to move her legs but a mercury switch or system based on head movement definitely sounds like it has potential.  I will continue to do some on-line research since maybe there is a device that has already been built.
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2013 00:25
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Pianists In Wheelchairs

I would think a mouth operated switch would be quite easy to implement and learn. Hold the switch between your teeth and simply bite down when you want to engage the sustain pedal. 

And please forgive me for adding this left turn here, but for amusement sake I can't resist.
In Russia, one Vladimir Jevgenjevich Pliassov has invented a one man string trio. Violin, Viola and Cello. It enables him to play all three instruments, at the same time, all by himself. It's elaborate. It's crazy. It's wacky. It's definitely Rube Goldberg. But he makes it work.

Introduction to the instrument. How it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGqOIOEhz8g&feature=youtu.be

He doesn't claim to be a musician, but he probably plays this thing better than anyone else. Here he is playing  J.S.Bach. Fuga super Allein Gott in der Høh`sei Ehr` ( original is for organ).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ggSQyIN78&feature=youtu.be

-------------------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2013 22:59
From: George Emerson
Subject: Pianists In Wheelchairs


When I worked at Baldwin, I came up with a devise for an amputee.  The company was not supportive of the project, so I did it on my own time.  Later, when my picture and a write-up appeared on the front page of the Sunday Home and Garden section of the New Orleans Time-Picayune, I received a commendation letter from the company president.

You are on the right track with a PianoDisc-type solenoid.  For the switching function it gets a bit more difficult.  I used a computer joy-stick, for early gaming software.  I attached this to the piano bench.  The customer had both legs amputated below the knee, but could manage to get from a wheel chair to the piano bench.  I believe her husband had built something to help in the transfer, but I don't remember how it was configured.  She had enough mobility of the thigh to move the lever to the right, and allow it to spring back to center.  The greatest problem was that there was too little tactile response from the joy-stick.  You could not tell "by feel" if it were engaged or not.  I had planned to use a garage-door opener remote-control to communicate the signal from the joy-stick to the solenoid controller within the piano, to eliminate the cord dangling between the piano and the bench.  When I encountered problems with this, the customer "blew it off;" she was delighted with the functionality and couldn't care less about the cosmetics.  Of course, this was only for the sustain pedal, but that was all that the customer needed. In you case, perhaps the switch-lever could be temporarily clamped to the front rail of the wheelchair seat, if the customer has mobility of her thigh to operate the lever.

While researching this project, I found a patent for a similar device, which used a mercury-switch (as used in household AC thermostats), mounted on the rim of a hat.  Tilting the head forward activated the sustain pedal, and tilting the head slightly back released the pedal.  This could be reduced to a less obtrusive headband, or possibly even something like a hearing aid, that hangs over the ear.  

Good Luck!  There is nothing more rewarding than resolving such a challenge as this!

-------------------------------------------
George (Frank) Emerson, RPT
Silver Springs FL
-------------------------------------------

Frank,
Do you still have that article from the paper?

-------------------------------------------
John Parham, RPT
Hickory, NC
828-244-2487
johnparham@piano88.com
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2013 22:59
From: George Emerson
Subject: Pianists In Wheelchairs


When I worked at Baldwin, I came up with a devise for an amputee.  The company was not supportive of the project, so I did it on my own time.  Later, when my picture and a write-up appeared on the front page of the Sunday Home and Garden section of the New Orleans Time-Picayune, I received a commendation letter from the company president.

You are on the right track with a PianoDisc-type solenoid.  For the switching function it gets a bit more difficult.  I used a computer joy-stick, for early gaming software.  I attached this to the piano bench.  The customer had both legs amputated below the knee, but could manage to get from a wheel chair to the piano bench.  I believe her husband had built something to help in the transfer, but I don't remember how it was configured.  She had enough mobility of the thigh to move the lever to the right, and allow it to spring back to center.  The greatest problem was that there was too little tactile response from the joy-stick.  You could not tell "by feel" if it were engaged or not.  I had planned to use a garage-door opener remote-control to communicate the signal from the joy-stick to the solenoid controller within the piano, to eliminate the cord dangling between the piano and the bench.  When I encountered problems with this, the customer "blew it off;" she was delighted with the functionality and couldn't care less about the cosmetics.  Of course, this was only for the sustain pedal, but that was all that the customer needed. In you case, perhaps the switch-lever could be temporarily clamped to the front rail of the wheelchair seat, if the customer has mobility of her thigh to operate the lever.

While researching this project, I found a patent for a similar device, which used a mercury-switch (as used in household AC thermostats), mounted on the rim of a hat.  Tilting the head forward activated the sustain pedal, and tilting the head slightly back released the pedal.  This could be reduced to a less obtrusive headband, or possibly even something like a hearing aid, that hangs over the ear.  

Good Luck!  There is nothing more rewarding than resolving such a challenge as this!

-------------------------------------------
George (Frank) Emerson, RPT
Silver Springs FL
-------------------------------------------

Hi guys, I've done this twice in my career.  I used a Pianocorder pedal solenoid the first time and a PianoDisc solenoid the second time.  Each time I devised a mercury switch in a head band.  With the latest one the customer wrapped the hairband with yarn to conceal the switch.  I mounted a small disconnect on the under side of the keybed near the bass end.  The power was supplied by a very simple circuit I built on one of them and the latest one was a power supply from PianoDisc modified to accommodate.  That's all been so long ago I don't remember any detail and some parts are no longer available.  The mercury switch is at the top of the list of things difficult to find.

The player adapted to the device like a fish takes to water in each case.  A simple tilt of the head flowing with the music achieved the results they needed.

I enjoyed seeing and hearing the player play the piano afterwards.  They both played very well and I was happy to get them back to enjoying their pianos again. 

-------------------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
360-256-2999
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 While researching this project, I found a patent for a similar device, which used a mercury-switch (as used in household AC thermostats), mounted on the rim of a hat.  Tilting the head forward activated the sustain pedal, and tilting the head slightly back released the pedal.  This could be reduced to a less obtrusive headband, or possibly even something like a hearing aid, that hangs over the ear.  

Good Luck!  There is nothing more rewarding than resolving such a challenge as this!

-------------------------------------------
George (Frank) Emerson, RPT
Silver Springs FL
-------------------------------------------

On 11/6/2013 8:52 AM, Larry Fisher wrote: > > Hi guys, I've done this twice in my career. I used a Pianocorder > pedal solenoid the first time and a PianoDisc solenoid the second > time. Each time I devised a mercury switch in a head band. With the > latest one the customer wrapped the hairband with yarn to conceal the > switch. I mounted a small disconnect on the under side of the keybed > near the bass end. The power was supplied by a very simple circuit I > built on one of them and the latest one was a power supply from > PianoDisc modified to accommodate. That's all been so long ago I > don't remember any detail and some parts are no longer available. > The mercury switch is at the top of the list of things difficult to > find. Good approach. There were a few discussions of this back in the early days of pianotech, with Newton Hunt looking to make something. The mercury switch seemed like the way to go back then too. They're still out there in low amperage and voltage versions. Apologies to Will, as he'll surely find this offensive. Ron N

About 15 years ago a popular cocktail lounge pianist here in Palo Alto, CA ultimately lost both legs.
When he died, the special-made lyre came into the possession of his cousin.

If you will read the email exchange I had with her, the rest will be self explanatory.

Thanks for the reply, Sherry.

---Tom Gorley RPT

Begin forwarded message:

> From: sherryh <sherryh2910@sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: [PTG Pianotech]: Pianists In Wheelchairs
> Date: November 29, 2013 2:47:01 PM PST
> To: Tom Gorley <tomgorley88@sonic.net>, "noreply@egroups.ptg.org" <noreply@egroups.ptg.org>
> Cc: "ptgpianotechne@egroups.ptg.org" <ptgpianotechne@egroups.ptg.org>
> Reply-To: sherryh <sherryh2910@sbcglobal.net>
>
> Hi Tom,
>
> We donated Rog's piano to Valley Medical Center in San Jose so the device could be seen there and encourage other wheeel-chair-bound pianists. It was designed by engineering students at Stanford. Rog's brother, Ron, had a connection with someone in the Engineering Dept. and that's how the whole thing started.
>
> If you google Roger Cowger there is an article that describes the device and tells his story.
>
> Let me know if I can be of further help.
>
> Sherry
> From: Tom Gorley <tomgorley88@sonic.net>
> To: Haiflich Sherry <sherryh2910@sbcglobal.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 10:20 PM
> Subject: Fwd: [PTG Pianotech]: Pianists In Wheelchairs
>
> Hi Sherry,
>
> When I saw this email, I thought of you, and that you might have Rogers specially-made pedal lyre.
> Is this request something you can chime in on? Another email forward follows.
>
> Tom and Beverly Gorley
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: James Kelnoly <reply@egroups.ptg.org>
>> Subject: [PTG Pianotech]: Pianists In Wheelchairs
>> Date: November 5, 2013 6:03:53 PM PST
>> To: Thomas Gorley <tomgorley88@sonic.net>
>> Reply-To: ptg_pianotechne@egroups.ptg.org
>>
>>
>> I have a new client with a grand piano who plays while sitting in a wheelchair. Does anyone know if/how there are adaptive devices available to make the full damper system work ?
>> Maybe some techs have clients with similar challenges and know of a device(s) mechanical or otherwise that could make the pedals work. I am thinking of some type of solenoid activated system like those used with player systems such as Disklavier, Piano Disc or
>> QRS/Pianomation. Any inventors out there ?
>>
>> -------------------------------------------
>> James Kelly
>> Pawleys Island SC
>> 843-325-4357
>> -------------------------------------------
>>
>> Reply to Sender : http://my.ptg.org/Go.aspx?c=PostReply&GroupId=43&SenderKey=09022649-8c6a-4e2f-8001-83940a215900&MID=630421&MDATE=664%3a47568&UserKey=faf95e36-3217-4b2e-96e4-e92be4ba8dec&sKey=KeyRemoved
>>
>> Reply to Discussion : http://my.ptg.org/Go.aspx?c=PostReply&GroupId=43&MID=630421&MDATE=664%3a47568&UserKey=faf95e36-3217-4b2e-96e4-e92be4ba8dec&sKey=KeyRemoved
>>
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>> You are subscribed to "ptg_pianotechbb" as tomgorley88@sonic.net. To change your subscriptions, go to http://my.ptg.org/MySubscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://my.ptg.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=faf95e36-3217-4b2e-96e4-e92be4ba8dec&sKey=KeyRemoved&GroupKey=ptg_pianotechbb.
>>
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>
>
>


Original Message------

I have a new client with a grand piano who plays while sitting in a wheelchair. Does anyone know if/how there are adaptive devices available to make the full damper system work ?
Maybe some techs have clients with similar challenges and know of a device(s) mechanical or otherwise that could make the pedals work. I am thinking of some type of solenoid activated system like those used with player systems such as Disklavier, Piano Disc or
QRS/Pianomation. Any inventors out there ?

-------------------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
-------------------------------------------

Hi, my name is Peter, and I have developed an app called MouthPedal. It allows you to control the sustain pedal in real time using your mouth. You don't need to open your mouth too much. I was amazed to see that it actually works even when I move my head around, so I decided to publish it on the App Store for FREE :) I should mention that it only works with Mac (any DAW like GarageBand) and an iPhone with a FaceID camera. You can use Wi-Fi or a cable to connect it to your Mac. A detailed tutorial is available within the app. I am interested in any feedback.

------------------------------
Peter Hafner
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2013 21:03
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pianists In Wheelchairs

I have a new client with a grand piano who plays while sitting in a wheelchair. Does anyone know if/how there are adaptive devices available to make the full damper system work ?
Maybe some techs have clients with similar challenges and know of a device(s) mechanical or otherwise that could make the pedals work. I am thinking of some type of solenoid activated system like those used with player systems such as Disklavier, Piano Disc or
QRS/Pianomation. Any inventors out there ?

-------------------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
-------------------------------------------