(793) MUSIC AND ME (June 26, 2014) ROBERTO HERNANDEZ PIANO TUNING EXPERIENCES IN PALAU

After coming back from Australia representing Palau in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, Roberto have a photo session around Palau Royal Resort for Ric Ambatali's review of Roberto's stature in Palau--for job application in Australia as music teacher. In the photo session, he tuned a few out of tune keys using the tuning hammer that's lend to him by Dragon Tei owner Yuriko Cho Irikedamoto.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Tonette Medillo)

 

            ROBERTO HERNANDEZ'
     PIANO TUNING EXPERIENCES
                         IN PALAU  (1992-2014)

In 1997, Image Restaurant owner-manager Margarita "Margie" Borja Dalton went at Dong Fang Store to buy the upright piano there for sale at $1,950.00. This is upon the recommendation of its resident musician Roberto Hernandez, who said "with a classy place like Image Restaurant, it needs a classy acoustic piano and not just keyboard that Roberto has used for 5 years."

Margie wants it in installment of $500.00 down payment and $100.00/month but the Dong Fang Store owner wants it at $1,000.00 down payment and $100.00/month.

They didn't agree to that terms. Months later, Margie's Japanese husband Masa Shibuta gave her some cash to buy the piano. Margie and Roberto went again to the shop and she asked the owner, "How much if we will buy the piano cash?"
 
When the owner said $1,650.00, they agreed and 2 employees of the shop helped in putting the piano in the pick-up truck that Margie, Willie Medalla and Roberto brought.

The restaurant is in the 2nd floor and the piano is very heavy. There are 5 guys who found it very hard to bring up the stairs. 

Roberto got an idea to make the piano lighter in weight. He used to do it when tuning the piano.

He took down the cover top part of the piano, the front part, the part that covers the keys and the biggest one -- under the piano. It has a total of less than 100 pounds of detachable piano parts.

It works! The piano looks like a skeleton and easier now to lift all the way to the left side of the restaurant.

Months later after playing it regularly from 7pm-9pm, Roberto noticed the out of tune "A" or "la" key at the right side from the middle of the piano.

One day he went again to Dong Fang Shop and asked the owner if they have the tuning lever or if they can order it from China.
He said they don't have it and can't order it from China as it is only one piece and  not for general use.

When Marco Rejano, a fellow musician/singer/lead guitarist/bass guitarist/drummer/baker, is about to have a vacation in Philippines, Roberto asked him to look for a tuning lever at Yamaha/Trebel/Weinstein piano factory and buy one.

When he comes back, he said to Roberto that they are not selling those because it's being used exclusively by piano tuners.

Roberto is uneasy playing an out of tune key on a piano. He thought of something that might work unlike the one he tried during the 1983-1986 tenure as pianist at Sinugba Restaurant in Pasay Road, Makati, Philippines.

He tried a plier to tune an out of tune key but it didn't work. Piano strings are very hard and it needs a square kind of lever to turn the parts that holds the strings.   

Roberto tried the vice grip this time and still didn't work. He tried a small wrench socket and it fits perfectly to the square part! He then locked the socket with the vice grip and presto! He was able to tune all the strings.

He needs a guide to tune the piano more accurately and he ordered from Musician's Friend (order from catalog and paid by money order) a chromatic tuner that can tune effectively through manual or fixed set-up.

Since then, Roberto is tuning pianos around Palau using it until 2001. In March 2006, Jennifer Sugiyama, the wife of Dr. Victor Yano, whom Roberto is teaching their daughter Jasmine, asked Roberto if he can tune a piano.

She said that she has a Japanese friend that bought a piano in Japan and during the shipment to Palau, some keys got out of tune. He gave Roberto the tel. number and address --it's Yuriko Cho Irikedamoto of Dragon Tei Japanese Restaurant.

When Roberto tuned her piano for the first time in March 14, 2006, he still used the 'vice grip' tuner. After tuning it for 3 hours, he realized that Yuriko had a tuning hammer! 

Yuriko lend Roberto that tuning hammer until now and when he is tuning Yuriko's piano, he don't charge her as high as the others and don't charge her for back job. She's very meticulous about the tune and can tell if a key is out of tune to the smallest details.

She plays all classical music. When she likes to hear standard songs like "The Shadow of Your Smile", Love is a Many Splendored Thing, From Russia With Love, The Look of Love, etc., she will come at Palau Royal Resort to listen to Roberto and always give him $10.00 tip and a glass of red wine.

She invited Roberto to play piano/guitar during the staff Christmas party in 2012 where everybody had a good time singing and dancing, including Roberto's wife Flor, who works there since 2006. Roberto played piano there for 11 months in 2006 before his transfer to Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007.  

 Female staff of Dragon Tei looking at the lyrics of a Christmas song that Roberto is playing in the early part of the staff Christmas party. From left, Grace, Emily Reyes, Cecil Bustamante, Ma. Florida Hernandez, Mabel Avila and her sister Marie.
                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

   From 11pm-1am, Roberto uses a guitar this time because Yuri san, right, doesn't want the neighbors to be disturbed by the noise. Roberto here is singing "Rock Around The Clock" which is one of Yuri's favorite songs.
                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez - Taken by Flor Hernandez) 


  




 

             

                                     PIANO TUNER (Part-time)

                        

  >Tuning the piano of all students at least twice a year.

      >Replacing the strings if necessary.

>Fixing the defective and non-functioning keys and pedals.

>Tuned the piano of Margarita Borja Dalton in 1997.

>Tuned the piano of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Airai, Palau in Oct. 10, 2001.

>Tuned the piano of Cherry in October 17, 2001.

>Tuned the new piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in March 14, 2006.

>Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in May 06, 2006.

>Tuned the piano of Tony Kuo in Nov. 17, 2005, May 06, 2006 and August 21, 2006.

>Tuned the second piano of Tony Kuo in August 22, 2006.

>Tuned the piano of Minister of Health Dr. Victor Yano in May 02, 2007 and in 

   February 09, 2008.

>Repaired the piano keys of Carlos Hiros Salii & Bilung Gloria Salii in May 16, 2001.

>Tuned the piano of Carlos Hiros Salii & Bilung Gloria Salii, Queen of Koror, Palau     

   in May 01, 2000, November 15, 2000, June 06, 2001 and in March 26, 2008.

>Tuned the piano of Lazar Tmechetul in July 2005.

>Tuned the piano of Annabel Lyman in November 07, 2004.

>Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in 2007.

>Tuned the piano of Minister of Social Security Greg Ngirmang in October 09, 2001.

>Tuned the piano of Greg Gordon in November 26, 2001.

>Tuned and repaired four (4) pianos at I Love Music School in Dec. 12-13, 2001.

>Tuned the Image Restaurant piano 24 times in 8 years (1997-2005) (3 times a year)

> Tuned the piano of Palau Royal Resort in June 02, 2007.

> Tuned the piano of Palau Royal Resort in January 31, 2008 and November 02, 2008.

>Tuned the baby grand piano of the president of Palau National Olympic Committee

   Frank Kyota in December 30, 2008.

>Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in February 10, 2009.

   Tuned the piano of Palau Royal Resort in April 18, 2009

>Tuned the piano of Palau Royal Resort in June 14, 2009.

>Tuned the piano of Minister of Health Dr. Victor Yano in July 25, 2009.

>Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in December 05, 2009.

  Tuned and repaired the piano of Yo-Yo and Carol in Feb. 22, 2010.

  Tuned the piano of Annabel Lyman on March 03, 2010.

>Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto on April 09, 2010.

>Tuned the piano of Palau Royal Resort in August 08, 2010.

>Tuned the piano of Yo-Yo and Carol Hsu in Jan. 13, 2011.

> Tuned the piano of Yuriko Irikedamoto in 2012.

> Tuned the piano at Belau National Museum in 2012.

> Tuned an old piano of Millan Isack in Airai in late 2013.

>Tuned 2 piano (old and new) at I Love Music School of Ngirai Tmechtul on Nov. 2013.

> Tuned the piano of Melwert Tmechtul on Dec. 23, 2013.

> Tuned the piano of Annabel Lyman in March 2014.

Sources: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess In Palau
              1992-2014

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             (34) Curriculum Vitae of Roberto Hernandez
  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2223213667651635496#editor/target=post;postID=1029399873347817487;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=800;src=link

(333) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 25) Parents' Support

PICTORIAL WITH TAIWAN BEAUTIES
On October 09, 2012, these Taiwanese beauties have a pictorial with Roberto Hernandez before 11:00 pm. One of them gave him $5.00 tip for playing "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin", the most popular Taiwanese song according to Hernandez, that even 4-year-old kids know the song. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



    PARENTS' SUPPORT IN THEIR
       CHILDREN MUSIC STUDY

I’M TEACHING Uroi Salii piano in 2001 the song “Jamaica Farewell” and her parents, Carlos ‘Hiros’ Salii and Bilung Gloria Salii, were resting inside their room.

The melody of the song sounds familiar to them and they both get out of the room and sang with me with Uroi playing the accompaniment of the song on the upright piano.
After singing, they asked me, “Is that (Jamaica Farewell) the title of that song?” I said yes. Mr. Salii said, “I know the melody but I didn’t know the title of the song.

It’s a very nice feeling that the parents of my students help and support their kids’ music study. When I pursue my musical career, I have to pay for my own tuition fees and other expenses in studying at Yamaha School of Music because my parents can’t afford it.

I always point it out to my students who have parents that can afford their musical study; that they should appreciate being how lucky they are for having all those resources to learn so they must show their appreciation to their parents by studying hard and learning their favorite songs even though it’s oldies but goodies.

It’s a very special sensation if parents can sing songs and their kids are the ones playing the instruments instead of singing karaoke – which is a machine. Live musicians can adjust to the tempo and pitch of the songs. While there is now pitch control in most karaoke machines, the ‘free-timing’ in singing with live musician is something different. In karaoke, you follow the machine while in live musicians, they follow the singer.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT STORY OF HOW TO INSPIRE PARENTS WITH THEIR KIDS’ MUSIC STUDY –

I wrote a letter (handwritten) to Jasmine Yano’s parents, Dr. Victor Yano and Jennifer Sugiyama after teaching her the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”.

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Victor Yano,
I haven’t met a perfectionist child before until when I teach Jasmine piano the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”. We started slowly and whenever she makes a mistake, she had to repeat it again from the beginning of the song.

It happened twice that she misses the last note of the song so she had to start over again. I didn’t hear any complain from her or show any sign of fatigue until she finally played the whole song without a single mistake.

We even exceed our time by 10 minutes. After 70 minutes of amusement to her perfectionist character, all I can give her is a tap on her shoulder for a very well job done.

With this character of her, I think that she will excel in whatever field she will take in the future.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 12-13

             Volume 21

             Issue 75

            Octobert 25, 2012

(303) MUSIC AND ME (Sept. 27) My Music Experience w/ Former President Tommy Remengesau

AIRA JANE TORRES - MY BEST GIRL STUDENT
At her young age, she can play "Fallin'" by Teri de Sario, "Love is All That Matters" by Eric Carmen, "Open Arms" by Journey, Lambada, Careless Whisper, "Because" by Dave Clark 5 and more than 30 more difficult songs that even an adult can't play or sing. Among her counterpart, Christian 'Shinji' Otsuka is my best boy student.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)





MY MUSIC EXPERIENCE WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT TOMMY REMENGESAU

On February 10, 2009, former President and now Senator Tommy Remengesau, Jr., were at Breeze Bar with 3 Palauan guys and a Japanese family of 3, who left earlier.

I played mostly Palauan songs. They are applauding to my music. At 11:00 pm, I announced last song. While I’m securing my keyboard and cords, Tommy called me. He gave me $5.00 tip and we talked for a while about my 17 years working in Palau and only 4 times that I have taken a vacation. We talked also about my daughter’s (Karen) graduation in March 08, 2009 as nurse. His son, Isechal, was a classmate of Karen, who graduated at Mindzenty High School on May 28, 2004.

On June 16, 2008, there is a function of Palau Noni Juice at Waves Restaurant. President Tommy Remengesau was the guest speaker and the party had its own entertainment.

At 9:30, I’m waiting for customers at Breeze Bar. Then, Tommy came by himself still in a light blue suit. He asked me what happened to the proposed recording of my Palauan instrumental songs with Senator Alfonso Diaz. I explained to him that Senator Diaz offered me $500.00 in 2005 to record about 10 Palauan instrumental songs by me in his recording studio using my own keyboard.

Dr. Victor Yano suggested that I should use a grand piano (the one at Airai View Hotel) to make a more classical sound. Senator Diaz said he will talk to Senator Mlib Tmetuchl, a close friend of his, about using that piano. But 3 years have gone by and it didn’t materialize.

While the president is having a drink, the First Lady Debbie and her mother came. I played mostly Palauan songs and they applauded after every song I played. Later, Leilani Reklai joined them.

At 10:45, I called Assistant F & B Manager Edgar Cayanan about stopping live music at exactly 11:00 pm even though the First Couple are enjoying my music. Edgar said, “To be safe and not to disturb sleeping guests, just announce last 3 songs.”

The president agreed to my announcement of last 3 songs. I saw him called his bodyguard to get something and when he comes back, he wrote something on a check book. He called me later and while giving me the check, he said, “This is from all of us.”

I said thank you to them and I asked Leilani, “Did you win the Melekeok governorship?” She said she’s crossing her fingers because the counting is still going on and it’s a very close race. The president said, “She won already. That’s why we’re here celebrating.”

When I go to Dormitory 1 at 11:15, I saw the couple Jiji and Arnie Abad there and that’s the time that I look at the check amount – it’s $20.00. When I cash it the next day, Jiji and Arnie were at the Bank of Hawaii also.

During my 11-month work as keyboard player at Rose Garden Resort (July 15, 2005- June 23, 2006), President Remengesau gave me tip of $10.00 twice and the last one there was $5.00 on March 16, 2006, the day that he signed the transfer law bill allowing workers to transfer to another company if (1.) The company closed down, (2.) The employer died and 3. The employer goes to jail.

On November 02, 2000, two days before the Palaupresidential election, Vice President then Tommy Remengesau and his running mate Senator Allan Seid are having a political party at Image Restaurant where I’ve worked as musician/disc jockey for 13 years. When Senator Seid is about to have a speech, I stopped playing piano and Tommy approached me and said,“Robert, I know that you cannot vote. But maybe you can tell your Palauan friends to vote for me.” And he gave me $20.00.

When I operate the karaoke at Image Restaurant after playing piano, I always remember the favorite songs of our regular customers. When Tommy sings karaoke, he doesn’t have to tell me what to sing. I know all his favorite karaoke songs like “Imagine” by John Lennon, “She Believes In Me” by Kenny Rogers, Hawaiian songs “Baby Blue” and “Don’t Say Goodbye”, “How Can I Tell Her” by Lobo and even “Let Me Be There” by Olivia Newton-John.

In 2010 while I’m on my way up to Caroline’s Resort to teach keyboard/guitar to Liam and Gayle Bornovski, I saw Tommy jogging way up to Caroline’s Resort. I stopped for a while and we talk about teaching one of his kid piano.

It’s just another casual conversation and it didn’t materialize yet. I’m still hoping that it will happen and then I’ll have the rare experience of teaching family members of 2 Palau Presidents (incumbent or former).

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 68
September 27, 2012