We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our clients, for their continued assistance during the tuning season. There are several things that helped us make this past tuning season a success. I have outlined some of those things below:
* Prior Notice of the Dates of Special Events/Programs: Notify QPO as soon as you have a scheduled date for any special programs set for upcoming seasonal events (Christmas/Easter Programs, recitals, etc.). We try to schedule many clients from the same geographical area during the same tuning and maintenance visit. The sooner we know of your special dates, the better we can plan and increase efficiency in accomplishing your request.
* Written or Verbal Notification of Any Problem With Your Pipe Organ: If you know of some problem with your organ, whether it be something minor like a key that is a little difficult to push down, please notify us of anything you would like looked at while we are there to service your pipe organ. If you could send us an email at qpo@earthlink.net or make a quick phone call to (660) 747-3066, to let us know. It would help us make our visit more effective if we knew what we were up against prior to leaving the shop. If a small spring has broken on the Pedal board, and we do not know about it until we arrive there, the new spring would probably not be in our normal servicing tools, and another service visit would be necessary. This would add to your expense. Leaving a note on the console listing problems with the pipe organ is helpful, but it is even more helpful to let us know ahead of time.
* Ensure All Passages Are Accessible: Complete access to the pipe organ pipes and console is of great importance. If we arrive for our 9:00 a.m. tuning visit and the organist is not coming in until 11:00 a.m. and she has the only key to the console, and to the pipe chamber, this can create many problems. It will not only delay your service visit, but also the service visits of the clients we have scheduled after yours that day. Please make sure that all doors to attics, closets and chambers are unlocked prior to the arrival of the technician. There are occasions, also, when we require a ladder to gain access to organ chambers. If this is the case in the servicing of your pipe organ, please make sure a ladder is quickly accessible as well.
* Tuning Visits Must Be A Quiet Environment: When tuning, the technician needs a noise- free environment. Sometimes, the technicians will encounter the custodian vacuuming the sanctuary upon arriving to tune. This, at times, can create a difficult situation. You might want to add the custodian to your list of people to inform of our coming to tune and clarify that the technician will need absolute silence while they are tuning. So, piano lessons, vacuuming, minor construction going on with hammering, and situations like this should not be taking place while a tuning is in progress. If we have to wait for the vacuuming to be completed, it will most likely lengthen the time we spend at your location, which in turn may increase your tuning price, or we may try to adjust our schedule with another client in your area.
* Ensure the Temperature is Set to the Same as it is During a Service at Least Ten Hours in Advance: This final suggestion is, of course, the most important of all. I know, I have written about this before, but again, it is THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION! Not only do you need to set the thermostat to the same temperature as it is during a normal service in order for the pipe organ to be tuned; but don’t forget that the pipe organ will need to have this same procedure followed every time prior to a worship service as well. As long as you have warmed the sanctuary and the organ pipes to the same temperature at which it was tuned, you will be able to enjoy a well-tuned pipe organ every time! If it was not heated properly before a worship service, and the organ pipes are too cold, the pitch will be flat. As the temperature rises, the pitch will sharpen. In some instances, Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. is ideal for preparation for Sunday Morning worship service. It is always better to warm it a little longer than necessary, than not to warm it enough.