I'd like to offer a few observations about John Tuttle's excellent
essay on "How to Pump a Player Piano."  From what little I remember
about human anatomy, using the ankles to pump the player pedals is good
advice _if_ the entire player pneumatic system is in above average
condition.

Most of the new player pianos I've pumped over the past five years
require much more than ankle musculature to get them to function
adequately.  Of course, it could be that I'm getting too old and
debilitated to do justice to a pneumatic player.  Or the new players
I've tried may be "vacuum hogs."

I've encountered very few rebuilt pneumatic players which functioned
adequately on normal ankle-motion.  I can remember only having to use
(vigorously) the upper leg muscles (the quadriceps), and getting winded
along the way before the roll was at its end.  This is one reason why
I prefer the Pianocorder System.

For weight-loss medicine purposes, despite John's observations, I think
that one can waste quite a few calories pumping a pneumatic players
bellows.  I think that the energy expenditure can come close to
equaling that of sedate walking (220 calories expended per hour).  Add
some vocalizing and the calorie-loss may well surpass that of walking.

With the aging of the U.S. population, and the egregious (!) exercise
shortfall that so many of our fellow seniors suffer, I think that all
retirement communities should spring for a new or rebuilt player piano
and a good supply of QRS' Top 100 rolls.  For those who want different
musical fare, the moving beam of the typical HealthRider(R) would
provide enough pressure to power a small band organ.

Since music adds so much to all different kinds of work-outs (step-
aerobics, "spinning," "Sweating to the Oldies", etc.), mechanical music
has the potential to encourage beneficial exercise for all ages!

Regards,

Bob Baker