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Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

  • 1.  Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-02-2020 13:09
    I had the privilege of tuning a wurlizer spinet for my old church. I normally tune from a standing position but with the piano being so short, I had to tune sitting.  When I finished I packed up and got in the truck to leave, then noticed a sharp pain in my lower back. 
    Maybe I had poor posture?  I welcome any advice. 
    Thanks.
    -Brian

    ------------------------------
    Brian Graves
    Pflugerville TX
    512-669-0400
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 13:20
    Hi Brian:
    I have found that I need to often straighten up  and take a break during a tuning, whether I"m standing or sitting.  I often rest my back against the edge of a couch and lean back with my hands over my head.  Sometimes I hear/feel my bones crack.  It helps a lot.
    Paul McCLoud
    San Diego





  • 3.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 13:56
    I always sit, even for studio pianos as tall as a U3. But I try very hard to keep my back straight. Once in a while I catch myself slumping, which creates an ache in my lower back. But then I'm 6' tall.

    ------------------------------
    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-02-2020 15:03
    How are you setting.  You need to be working a bit sideways with your back straight. Learn to use both hands so you can switch hands while tuning. It really makes a difference.

    ------------------------------
    Jeffrey Gegner
    Tipton IN
    765-860-5900
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 15:06
    An impact hammer like the Reyburn Cyberhammer will help a lot because you don't have to keep your shoulder raised. Still have to have proper posture, though. Get your back adjusted by a chiropractor if your pain persists.
    Paul McCloud


    How are you setting. You need to be working a bit sideways with your back straight. Learn to use both hands so you can switch hands while tuning.... Please do not forward this message due to Auto Login.

    Pianotech

    Post New Message Re: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back
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    Jeffrey Gegner Jul 2, 2020 3:03 PM
    Jeffrey Gegner
    How are you setting. You need to be working a bit sideways with your back straight. Learn to use both hands so you can switch hands while tuning. It really makes a difference.

    ------------------------------
    Jeffrey Gegner
    Tipton IN
    765-860-5900




  • 6.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-02-2020 16:11
    My systems is to tell prospective spinet customers, that "spinets are not in my service area".  A cynical response which is perfectly suited to these horribly cynical symptoms of "don't give a s..t marketing and production".

    The distance you must reach from the front of the keyboard to the pins is ergonomically impossible. You must maintain a bent stretch to the lever, having only the most inefficient force vectors available to work the lever.  I don't use an impact lever, but this is an instance where the impact lever is probably the closest to minimally ergonomic as it is possible to get.

    ...burn the damn things, or at least tell them they were only meant to be tuned at the factory.

    ------------------------------
    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 16:59

    Hi, Brian

    You might try what works for me. As the years went by, I gradually changed my tuning habits to lessen any strain, enabling me at 74 (despite having a lot of fibromyalgia) to have shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands which are still flexible. And a good back.

    I sit sideways to a spinet, looking left, at about a 45 degree angle. I sometimes have to have a steeper angle if my right leg can't get under the keybed. I sometimes put my right elbow on whatever is handy,, so I don't have to hold it up the whole time.

    I let the tuning pin hold the hammer, which most of them will. Put on a tuning pin it will just hang in air. I have a long extension, which gives leverage. Old spinets usually don't have tight pins, but the newer spinets and consoles can be a pain. Trying a slow pull on a piano like that is an orthopedic nightmare.

    I use a lot of slapping and hitting, out at the end of the extension lever. I put the hammer on a tuning pin at about 2 o'clock, lift my hand (not from the shoulder, not from the elbow), and I give the top of the tuning lever a good whack with a relaxed hand, with most of the power coming from flexing the wrist. You'd think this would hurt my hand, but it doesn't. With experience you can tell how hard a blow will get the pin to move the amount you wish. To lower pitch, usually easier, of course, I take the lever near the end underhanded, and I use a series of nudges pushing it downward in small increments. Sometimes I put my hand right on top of the end of the tuning hammer, and nudge it that way, especially in the top octave.

    Whatever action you take, it is important to instantly relax your hand after it is done. And your arm should never be tight or strained to begin with. Your left hand can make some very firm blows from right on the key, through a wrist motion, with fingers clustered. The arm and shoulder are completely loose and out of the picture.

    To get the tuning lever to the next pin, I pick it up near the head and place it on.

    If you face the spinet, put the tuning lever at 12 o'clock, grasp it at that awkward angle, raise your arm, and hold on tight as you try to get the pin to move without mechanical efficiency, I can well imagine you having a bad back by the end of the tuning.

    Good luck ... of course we are all different, but the whacking and slapping and nudging have worked very well for me, since they greatly lessen the amount of time muscles and joints are under strain, and this approach greatly increases looseness and freedom of motion. Also, a good whack is the easiest way to get a pin to move, especially when it is tight. It breaks static friction, and since letting go of the hammer is instant when you slap it, the tuning pins don't twist or flagpole, which helps stability.






  • 8.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 18:17
    Brian,
    I use the same technique as Susan. Don't get discouraged though, it may well be that you need to stretch those muscles associated with that posture, although there is a possibility you have a genetically bad back.
    Roger





  • 9.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 18:49

    Hi, Roger

    It would be interesting at some point to trace the different routes people took after they ended up at the same destination. Gratifying to hear someone else came to the same conclusions.

    A tuning seminar in Washington State taught by Jim Coleman, Sr. was my first introduction to the idea of tapping or hitting the tuning hammer. He was eloquent about how that eliminated instability by not stressing the tuning pin. This was many years ago. Lots of variations on that theme gradually emerged.

    If I end up doing a slow pull in some situations, once in a while in the bass of a console, I'll usually plant my elbow on something like the half open key cover, after hangiing the hammer on the tuning pin at a convenient angle, and move the tuning hammer by closing my hand very firmly. Shoulder, etc., still completely out of the picture. So, no frozen shoulder, no rotator cuff injuries.






  • 10.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 10:43

    Brian,

    One thing I forgot to mention/ask? Are you planting your left foot (assuming you're tuning right handed) far enough out to provide a good fulcrum point? If, for example, your feet are under the bench while tuning, the fulcrum is located at or near the buttocks, placing a strain on the lower back. If your left foot is planted about 18" away from your buttocks your fulcrum is at the foot, giving you better leverage and less strain on the lower back.

    Roger 






  • 11.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-02-2020 18:40
    A few years back I decided I either needed to make my peace with spinets or...well I don't know...stop tuning them like Jim I guess. But there's sooo many of them out there and there's good money to be made tuning and repairing them. So, I began to work on a good technique for pitch raising them and that led me to changing my hammer technique. I use a jerking motion (as opposed to a slow pull) that others have described here (maybe something like Susan describes), my Fujan tuning hammer with an extension that makes it 17' long (it's also super light and easy to move from pin to pin) and lots of CLP by ProTek. Don't spare the lubrication! Also, I always sit like Wim says. The only exception there is the B.O.U. (Big Old Uprights). So, now I can take a spinet that's 100-150 cents flat up to A440 in under 2 hours, usually with no broken strings. And I charge for it too! At this point I actually LIKE tuning spinets. Some quick voicing with a wire brush to mellow out the sound and everybody's happy. 
    As far as your back is concerned, I try to lean on the piano as much as I can sitting at a 45 degree angle. When I get to the upper range I put my right leg to the side of the piano to sit at a more natural angle.

    ------------------------------
    "That Tuning Guy"
    Scott Kerns
    www.thattuningguy.com
    Tunic OnlyPure, TuneLab & PianoMeter user
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2020 20:05
    You should try tuning uprights left-handed Brian. I was trained to tune upright pianos left-handed and grand pianos right-handed.

    It might take you a few weeks to get used to it. You will be able to tune much longer by equally spreading the tension between your left and right shoulders.

    Paul.

    ------------------------------
    Paul Brown, RPT
    Past President
    Piano Technicians Guild
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Email: ipp@ptg.org
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 04:36
    Yes, this is the best response of all.  Learn to tune uprights left-handed.  Angle the piano bench with the right end of it almost 45 degrees away from the keyboard and the left end somewhat underneath it.  Sit at the left end of it.   With your left hand holding the tuning hammer (lever) between 10 o'clock and 12,  you're not holding your entire right arm up in what looks to me like an extremely uncomfortable, overarching position that certainly can't be good for the shoulder and upper arm muscles and joints.  I was taught to tune verticals left-handed and was thankful for that my entire career, which probably entailed tuning 60 - 75% verticals and  25 - 40% grands.   I tune all pianos sitting down except the very tallest full uprights.  Tuning a spinet standing up and right handed seems totally bass-ackwards to me.  I also learned to be a bit ambidextrous and taught myself to tune the highest octave of grands left-handed when I have to, for those pianos that have the right side (curved side) of the rim right against the wall.  I use a left-handed position which is a modified version of my upright tuning position, holding the tuning lever under-handed.  Good luck! 
    --David Nereson, RPT

    ------------------------------
    David Nereson
    Registered Piano Technician
    Denver CO
    303-355-5770
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 00:51
    I am of course not a doctor, but sharing my own experience:

    I can wind up with pain in my lower back from prolonged sitting on hard surfaces. It feels like it makes my upper leg and butt muscles (like I said, I'm not a doctor) get knotted up, and that in turn puts extra strain on my lower back once I stand up. Ergonomic gel seat pads help me enormously with this. I find I need them in my car too. The "Purple" brand ones seem to be the nicest/sturdiest.

    I second that the Reyburn Cyberlever is the most comfortable option for really short pianos (and good for all verticals in general). Barring that I sit sideways and try to find somewhere to anchor my elbow, like on the open fallboard. It's often awkward and rickety to do that though.

    ------------------------------
    Nathan Monteleone
    Fort Worth TX
    817-675-9494
    nbmont@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 03:17
    Nathan, 

    I am also not a doctor, but I once taught medical physiology.

    The sitting position is an unnatural position for a human body.  We were designed to stand and our vertebra and disks can naturally take the strain of a standing position for long periods of time.

    When you sit your vertebral disks are stressed unevenly on the inner (belly) side and over time they will begin to protrude backward and into your spinal cord (in the lower lumbar region this is called the cauda equina) where the major nerve roots for the legs begin.  A bulged disk in this area can feel like shooting pain in your buttocks or down the back side of your legs, this is called sciatica and it can be excruciating (AMHIK).

    What every back book and medical doctor I read or consulted with doesn't tell you (or they didn't say back when I had my problem) is that sciatica can be caused by excessive sitting, in my case tuning too many spinets, riding a bike too much and sitting in a chair for hours every day grading papers.

    My doctors recommended drugs, surgery and exercises that I realized was actually making the problem worse.

    I quit sitting.  I got kneeling chairs for my office and kitchen, tuned standing whenever possible, set my car seat back as far as was possible and limited my bicycling to fewer rides per week.  My problem went away and hasn't returned (in any serious fashion) for over 25 years.

    We are not designed to sit for hours every day.  Sitting positions cause sciatica.

    ------------------------------
    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 12:13
    Yes sciatic pain was definitely part of the equation for me. And I agree it's important in general not to stay seated for too much of our lives :)

    ------------------------------
    Nathan Monteleone
    Fort Worth TX
    817-675-9494
    nbmont@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 13:04
    I had sciatica, too, Nathan. I learned how to massage the 4 gluteal muscles to deactivate the trigger points. It worked very well. I still regularly massage those muscles (among many others). I was guided, of course, by Clair Davies and TTW.

    Bob Anderson, RPT
    Tucson




  • 18.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 02:14
    Brian,

    I think the important part of this problem is in your title: "Tuning my first spinet...".

    Conditioning is a part of any job and ergonomics should be everyone's concern.  I am 65 and I can tune three or more spinets in a day without a  problem (physical, financial or emotional), but I have done this for over 45 years and I am fairly fit.  One problem I definitely have with smaller pianos is sciatica that sitting for prolonged periods aggravates; I try to stand or avoid a sitting position as much as possible (including using a kneeling chair at my computer).

    All of the tricks that are being suggested probably work, but you need to accustom your body to the act of tuning and that will take time (and exercise, fitness helps).

    I myself don't like spinets and would never recommend them (OK, Acrosonics are pretty good) but if that is the piano my customer has I would no more criticize it than I would insult their child.  I am there to make a musical instrument play and sound better and get paid... plus I actually like my customers! 

    ------------------------------
    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 17:00
    If you have sciatica and are keeping your wallet in your back pocket -TAKE IT OUT!!!

    John





  • 20.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-04-2020 14:39
    Tuning while seated on a regular piano bench was making my wrench-wielding right arm and shoulder ache, whether spinet, console, or grand. Too much stretching up for good ergonomics. A church client has a folding 24" stool that I could use while tuning their grand. It felt so much better to sit up a bit higher! After years of searching for another folding stool, I finally found them on sale at Walmart. See: Heavy Duty 24" Collapsible Padded Folding Stool with 300lb Capacity by Trademark Home - Walmart.com ($23.95). This has been such a wonderful tool to use. It's lightweight and sturdy, easily collapsible to carry and store. Could use more padding in the cushion top, but it's okay. I carry it in at almost every tuning now. Pretty much the only times I don't use the stool is when tuning 50+" uprights.

    My wrench of choice has been Mother Goose Tools' solid hexagonal shaft, with round rubber ball handgrip. I love the sturdy non-flexing feel of this wrench. The tuning tip is screwed on right at the end of the shaft on a small angle connector. The pins respond very well.

    I tune right handed, using lots of small jerky movements. Strictly aural tuning except to measure and set initial A440 using Da Tuner app. I strip mute the whole piano, set A440 and a temperament, then do plain wire octaves all the way up, pull upper 2 strips and tune unisons (right string, move rubber mute, left string, then right string of next note, etc. And mind the trichord dampers! Remember, only _you_ can prevent elongated damper felt wedges!), tune octaves down through bass, then pull that strip and tune wound unisons (by whole steps). Always reference the midsection while tuning octaves. My left hand plays the keys, octaves, and intervals within top octave, with right hand checking further distant octaves and intervals. I play the key being tuned many times to get all segments of the string vibrating. This definitely helps the stability of the tunings. Rarely do I strike the key with a hard blow; many medium-soft blows (~10-15) works wonders for me. I use two fingers together to play keys as I tune unisons, rotating through the finger choices as I go. 

    Over 20 years ago I consulted with a yoga instructor about piano work positions and body aches. She helped me become straighter and taller as I sit to tune, encouraging me to sit at the front edge of the bench with legs slightly angled open (45-60 degrees), and feet planted on the floor. I angle my body towards the left as I tune octaves, but face forward for unisons. (The 24" stool compromises this a bit, but the principles are still good, and your mileage may vary depending on how tall one is.)  She advised the use of low stools for grand regulation adjustments inside the piano. There is a great little folding stepstool that is only about 9" tall, putting one's eyes at good height for sighting the hammer blow adjustment.

    A great ache reducer is to stand facing a wall or counter at bent-arms' distance out to start. Place hands on the wall or counter, then move feet back/away from wall until back is flat and straight out from hands. Hands also move down the wall to facilitate this. Then walk your way back upright with little steps. One can roll/twist the back from side to side while bent forward as well. Another yoga move is mindfully rolling the shoulders slowly forward and backward in big circles. I also like intertwining the fingers with hands at the small of my back, then lifting the arms while keeping them straight and further rolling back and down of the shoulders. A foot of arm movement is plenty, and stop if there is any pain!

    I'll second losing the wallet from back pocket, whether fat or slim! And don't weigh down one side of your body by carrying heavy briefcases or toolkits. It's not unusual for a technician's toolkit to weigh over 25 pounds, which is a lot of strain on our shoulders and arms. Use a backpack or rolling cart/toolkit. My main toolkit is a rolling book backpack that Plano plastic boxes fit nicely in, but if I was rebuilding the kit I'd look into Zuca carts. See: Buy Sport Business, Stealth/Black Frame Non-Flashing Wheels Bag - ZÜCA.

    Sorry for the ramble. Hope something of this helps!



    ------------------------------
    [Dwight][Denzer][RPT]
    [Dwight's Piano Works]
    [Springfield][IL]
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-04-2020 16:39

    I've found the "Versacart" to be an indispensable aid for hauling gear or anything else. Folds narrower to get tossed into the back seat. I bought a spare because I never want to be without one. For those with mobility problems, it is as good as a walker. The only thing it doesn't do well is a flight of stairs.

    https://smile.amazon.com/Folding-Shopping-Cart-VersaCart-Water-Resistant/dp/B07JFTTBZG/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Versacart&qid=1593894773&sr=8-2&th=1







  • 22.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Member
    Posted 07-03-2020 06:55
    Hi Brian,
    I have been servicing spinets for years. Of late, I have found a spike in requests for bringing many of them, which were sitting unused in someone's home for a generation; back into playable service. This has resulted in one or two pitch adjustments followed by a fine tuning. So you can understand, through trial and error in finding the right approach to accomplish each mission, I currently wear the "Good Feet" ortthodic inserts in my shoes when I have to stand for periods of time to tune the taller pianos, and use the Levitan "C" hammer (Pianotec Supply) designed for uprights when tuning uprights as much as possible. This hammer's grip is horizontal vice the traditional vertical position which allows me to sit at all times while tuning. It took me about a year's worth of use to find the location on each spinet to support a part of my arm, elbow or wrist which act as the fulcrum for fine tunings. With the low spinets, usually the top of the fallboards on spinets provide this support for my elbow while gently rotating each pin from this position. I have no issues anymore with back issues. I do have to lean the lids of the spinets back against the wall to use this tool in order to clear the tool. I find by placing a soft cloth on the part of the lid where it taps against the walls will prevent any damage to paint or picture frames the lid might lean against. When I tune the tall pianos, the "Good Feet" orthodics have solved all lower back or let/thigh issues I used to have from those "imposible" posture positions in effective, solid tunings. Although I am probably one-of-a- kind in my methods and tools I use (using the Levitan longer "C' hammer from a sitting position in all grands), when you ask for advice to this forum, expect to get answers from many worthwhile paths that will lead you to the same desired results, all through centuries of combined experience.

    I tell most of my new "spinet" owners to look at their new inherited or "give-away-for-free" spinets that their piano has added life to it from so many years of non-use. They are grateful to have a musical instrument that meets their minimalist or family inherited instrument. I also make sure I am amply compensated for my time and skills to breath life back into these instruments.

    Sent from my iPad

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Magill
    Williamsburg VA
    757-220-2420
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 07:35
    All piano techs should at least be aware of Clair Davies’ excellent book THE TRIGGER POINT THERAPY WORKBOOK, Brian. It originated as a series of articles in the PTJ years ago and Davies gave some classes at PTG conventions before his death. Not all pain problems are muscle problems but many are and it is valuable to us to be able to diagnose them and, in many cases, treat them ourselves. Among the common misconceptions about muscle pain is that stretching is the solution whereas stretching can damage muscle tissue if done before deactivating trigger points by muscle massage.

    Bob Anderson, RPT
    Tucson




  • 24.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-03-2020 08:56
    1) Do not work through pain. It will not get better as you grow older.

    2) Pay attention to your body as you work. Adjust quickly when you feel discomfort.

    3) Learn continually about tools, techniques and body modalities. Adapt.

    4) Work within the limits of your body. Develop approaches that give more income for less wear and tear. 

    5) Plan for retirement so that continuing to work is a choice.

    ------------------------------
    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
    ------------------------------



  • 25.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2020 11:12
    Brian,

    To build on what Bob Anderson wrote I would like to add the following:

    Many years ago (I believe it was 1997 or 1998) I developed a series of symptoms that, when put together) I thought I was literally falling apart or going to have a heart attack. For the moment we'll forget about the heart HA symptoms. I gradually developed intense pain in first my right knee and then my left knee (following a very challenging climb up and down Mt. Katahdin in ME and some other very intense physical work) to the point where one Saturday morning I was mowing the lawn and I got to a point where I literally could not walk. I stumbled into the house and sat down wondering what I was going to do. This was serious. Was I going to need knee replacement? Was it that bad?

    I knew of Clair and had been in one of his classes. I decided to call him on the phone out of sheer desperation. He picked up and I explained what was happening and could he help. He said that what I was experiencing was commonly misdiagnosed as knee injury needing surgery. Within approximately 5 minutes he directed me to a spot on my hip (extremely painful...he warned me) which I massaged as he directed, and within this 5 minute period the pain was GONE! It was very much like experiencing a miracle. I was dumbfounded and very appreciative. I was able to get back out and finish mowing the lawn as if nothing had happened.

    Yes, I had to continue massaging these points (both legs) whenever the pain would return, but gradually everything subsided never having to do it again and no problem since. 

    So the question is...WHAT was actually causing my pain? Had I injured my knees? Obviously not. Did I need surgery? Obviously not. I did figure it out though eventually...

    At that particular period in time my family and I were experiencing a gradually increasing amount of emotional stress coming from one particularly manipulative person (and yes, that person was also on the Mt. Katahdin hike). At that time you could not have convinced me that the two situations were related and that the emotional stress was the root CAUSE of my symptoms. However, we soon moved from the area to DC (largely so as to get away from this person) and soon all the rest of my symptoms also cleared up.  It was while we were living in DC that we got exposed to Dr. John Sarno and the mind-body connection. Although initially skeptical, I gradually proved to myself that he was on to something (and that this was ultimately connected with Clair Davies diagnosis and treatment AND an accupunturist I knew for a different issue, who I then realized knew all about this but didn't explicitly tell me other than: "You don't need me anymore, you know how to control it yourself" [chronic neck and shoulder pain]). 

    I am not going to go on a diatribe here about this. However I will say that since learning of this I have successfully traced every neck, back, arm, hand, wrist, shoulder, leg and other pain issue (even the healed broken big toe on my right foot caused by a SS A plate falling on it...NOT THE BREAK, but what happened after it healed, is what is important) even some that I was initially convinced was directly related to physical piano work stress (it was not) as being emotionally generated rather than physically. 

    I am slightly hesitant to discuss this here since it is usually at this point that people's alarm bells start clanging away and are quick to condemn anything that does not connect pain with physical activity or physical deterioration, etc. Suffice it to say though that I have PROVEN to myself that the mind-body connection is real, and is stronger than most people (including most doctors)  will admit to. I strongly suggest getting a copy of Dr. John Sarno' s last book "The Divided Mind" or even one of his previous books and doing your own research. (A few on this list have taken me up on this and have expressed to me privately that they benefited from it).  I'm not going to tell you it is miraculous, nor even easy...it takes work...but it does work like nothing else. 

    I do not know your overall situation, but if I were a betting man I would wager that there is something else going on in your life (or perhaps even just the crazy excessive fear and frustration with the current C19 hysteria) that is either consciously or subconsciously bothering you. I'll leave it at that for now 

    On one other note I want to aggressively corroborate whoever mentioned LUBRICATION! My tuning life has significantly improved since getting and using Jon Page's CBL (counter bearing lube). Another source of stress managed successfully.  Get it...use it...better than anything else I have tried. 

    Take care,

    Pwg

    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 26.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-04-2020 01:41

    I tune all uprights (spinets included) in the following manner: 

    Monochords: right hand, traditional lever. Bichords in the bass: left hand, impact lever. Tenor break to B6: right hand, impact lever. C7-C8: Left hand, (sometimes right hand) traditional lever.


    This method not only keeps me mentally aware and not going into "auto tune" mode, it also spreads out the stress on my body. It works well for me. But, as was already pointed out, properly doing it many times will also build endurance, which is just as important. 



    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    ------------------------------



  • 27.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-04-2020 09:14
    There is some fantastic advice on here. Instead of repeating everything above that I do, I'll add two things not specifically mentioned:

    1) The most important is foot placement. whichever foot is in the best position (I also tune both-handed), push down with the ball of your foot and lift your thigh against the underside of they keybed area. This provides extra support for your back. For me, personally, it's a game-changer, but I'm also tall and realize this might not work for everyone. It might take a while to build your calves up to the load (they might cramp at first), but once they are used to it, they will look great. lol :-) 

    2) Speaking of being on the tall side, this one is less important and person-specific. If you tend toward carpel tunnel syndrome, do not do this. I'm a "slow-puller" by nature so had to learn other methods of tuning, but when I want to "be myself", I've found if I rest my elbow on the fallboard on very short spinets that I can do most of the work with my wrist & forearm. This works particularly well on pitch raises. Like I said, be careful with this one and switch between left and right handed. The main reason I do this is if I lift my elbow too high, my shoulder will pop out so I'm guessing most people with healthy shoulders may not like this.

    ...my 2 cents. Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Maggie Jusiel
    Athens, WV
    (304)952-8615
    mags@timandmaggie.net
    ------------------------------



  • 28.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-04-2020 19:31
    A word about carpal tunnel syndrome - Muscle pain can often be “referred”, that is, the pain may not be in the problem muscle itself. The scalene muscles attach to the side of the neck vertebrae and the top two ribs. If they tighten up, they pull the first rib up against the clavicle, pinching the neuromuscular bundle that passes between them. The symptoms appear from the neck, shoulder, upper back, arm, all the way to the hand. A problem with the scalene (thoracic outlet syndrome) can easily be misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. Self-massage of the scalenes is a beneficial tool in our health toolkit.

    A similar phenomenon can occur when the piriformis (and other hip rotator muscles) compresses the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. As mentioned in a previous post, trigger point massage can relieve this pain. Of course, sensible comments have been made in other posts about good posture, not sitting on your wallet, etc.

    Bob Anderson, RPT
    Tucson




  • 29.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-05-2020 11:36
    Ref Dr. Sarno , mentioned by Peter Gray:
    https://www.hamiltonbook.com/the-mindbody-prescription-healing-the-body-healing-the-pain-paperbound $4.95 +S&H [if you print the order, and mail with a check, S&H is $4 regardless of how many books you order]

    Sheffey Gregory, RPT
    Gregory's Piano Service
    423.614.5001





  • 30.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-07-2020 14:52
    How many others place their elbow on the pinblock (for verticals or fallboards for spinets) whilst tuning? I can't imagine tuning with my elbow hanging out aimlessly in mid-air.

    ------------------------------
    Cobrun Sells
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
    ------------------------------



  • 31.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-07-2020 16:41
    I actually hold the tuning hammer in an approximate 2 o'clock position and rest either my elbow on the pinblock and sometimes part of my hand, depending on the position of the tuning hammer.  On a yearly basis, i tune some 100 spinets yearly and it works just well for me and the pianos.
    I checked my database, and of the well over 1,600 pianos i service, a little more than 200 are spinets. When tuning spinets and small console uprights, i sit down.  For studios and full size uprights, i tune standing up. So far i don't have any back issues.  When tuning studios and full size uprights, i also rest either my elbow, part of my hand or fingers on the pinblock with the hammer in an approx. 2 o'clock position.
    Peter
    Janssenpiano.com
    678 416 8055

    ------------------------------
    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
    ------------------------------



  • 32.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-07-2020 18:41
    Coburn,
    It takes awhile to develop the "free" elbow technique. You will need to develop that technique for all uprights because there is no pinblock area to place your elbow when you're tuning the upper treble.
    Roger





  • 33.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-07-2020 18:49
    Roger, true, however I just rest my forearm on the cabinet in the upper octave and switch to left hand for the last 5th. I've tried free elbow a little bit. It just doesn't seem right.

    ------------------------------
    Cobrun Sells
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
    ------------------------------



  • 34.  RE: Tuning my first spinet hurt my back

    Posted 07-07-2020 19:31
    Reyburn CyberHammer impact lever with elbow on the key cover (whenever possible). Or Fujan with karate chop method.
    --
    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany, MS