As a musician whose, ....

..........................................first and most lasting instrument,is piano,

............................................... I can assure the "worried piano tuners of the universe" (who know the peculiar quirks and spurts of the performers and are laughing up their sleeves at poor Mr. Gilmore and his ideas-perversey)...

their jobs.......................................

..................and those of their great-grand-children.......

are secure,,,,,,,,,,,,, in the knowledge that....technologyno matter how fucking brillant! will never compare to the fine nuances of a well-tempered intrument, artfully played, And HAND tuned by a master

While most... hold in contempt, a guitar player that uses a "box"...the keyboardist is free, free, Free, FREE, Free, FREE, FREE FREE................. to leave their 300 strings and 3000 moving parts to a REAL professional.

Several years back, I asked a piano tuner, "With you ear for sound, what sort of stereo do you own...to keep from driving your - perfect pitch into the the trash...??????"

He replied, "With eight kids, the "perfect stereo system" is the last thing on my mind.

Perhaps, it is their training in the tuning-schools....but I have never had a tuner that will play a tune for me....they always graciously and with a sembelence of honor ...turn the "virgin" key-board ..... over to me....(much like a chef... in the finest of restaurants presents an exquistite masterpiece of culunary art over to an honored patron)

And this perhaps is the reason why tuners are beaconed twice a year...at 100 dollars (US) each session...to tune keyboards that we don't have time to tune....and because we covet the kissing of fingers, and bowing waists as they exit the door with their checks in their hand

In commerical venues we can be more vain.   Pianists will take out little "picks" and "craftily" destroy the felt on a masterpiece grand, to allow for the softening of tone...a tone ....that should have been left alone.

If...you are seeking vanity, the penultimate position ....to an opra deva....is the concert pianist.

Give me...or any neophyte pianist...a perfect instrument...and we will quickly regress to the viola family.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle