OT More Realistic Test was RE: tuning exam in U.S.

[Harry Pickett]

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Hey, I just bought a Lauter to practice repair and hopefully to tune
just like this.
Perhaps the PTG would like to rent it out for exams. It=92s BYO =
Band-Aids
though, and don=92t get blood on the dog!
Tony when is Adelaide going to get a footy team?
H
=20
Harry & Marilyn Pickett
1800 Fairview Church Road
Riner, VA 24149
TEL: 540-382-0191
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Alan
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 12:51 AM
To: 'Pianotech'
Subject: OT More Realistic Test was RE: tuning exam in U.S.
=20
I think it would be a much more realistic test=97with regard to the
reality of the tuner=92s life--if we were required to tune a =
1940=92s-1960=92s
spinet (Betsy Ross, Winter & Sons, P.A. Stark or comparable). No
Acusonics! Wurlitzers may suffice if they=92ve been stored in a garage
with broken windows in Louisiana or Saskatchewan for at least twenty
years.
=20
The passing requirement would be that a panel of amateur musicians can
recognize the sound of it as something at least sort of a little bit
kind of musical in nature. If more than two panel members cry, moan, or
run from the room, you flunk.=20
=20
And the selected piano would have to be in reasonable condition, defined
as follows (additional rules interspersed):=20
=20
1.       No more than six missing strings; no more than two of which may
be single bass strings. No more than five bichord sets may have strings
that match in diameter, length of wrap, and degree of rustiness.
2.       Some felt must be visible between hammer molding and strings on
at least 1/3=94 of the treble notes. No more than 8 felts popped off =
bass
hammers. Tenor hammer grooves less than =BD=94 deep, on average.
3.       When played, bass strings must make some sort of noise that
sustains for at least 0.27 seconds. If the hammer thwack reverberates
this long, it must not be louder than the string noise.
4.       At least one pedal must move up and down when pressed (sideways
movement does not count but is otherwise allowed).
5.       Broken key tops with sharp edges are allowed. The prospective
RPT should have a supply of Band-Aids on hand or on foot. Band-Aids may
NOT be used to repair or muffle any piano part!
6.       When pressed, at least 37 keys must come back up within two
minutes WITHOUT excessive help from the player. Thumping the piano with
a fist is permitted; screw drivers and pry bars are not.
7.       Bench must not completely collapse when sat upon by persons
with average-sized, average weight buttocks.
8.       Squeaks, rattles, and woody thunks must not be louder, on
average, than played notes.
9.       If the tuner is unable to open the lid, remove the front panel,
or otherwise gain access to the tuning pins within three hours, he or
she is permitted to ask the piano owner how the hell previous tuners did
it.
10.   If A4 is more than 153 cents sharp or flat, the tuner is allowed
an extra ten minutes for a pitch adjustment but he must not charge the
piano owner any extra for this.
11.   Bridges must still be stuck to something inside the piano.
12.   There must be no more than one inch of plastic elbow dust and
mouse poop (combined) on the bottom board. Measurements will be taken in
eleven locations and averaged. Dead spiders may be removed before
measuring; leave the live ones alone. Local chapters may decide if snake
skins and/or snakes may be removed or must be measured. Note: If the
bottom board is missing or all debris has sifted through a humongous
crack in the board, this requirement may be waved.
13.   If the pinblock is in average condition or worse, the tuner is
allowed an extra twenty minutes of tuning time and may use up to three
liquids, four sheets of sandpaper, and a 2=BD lb. sledge hammer to fine
tune the instrument. Note: If the tuner accidentally (or purposefully)
affixes any protruding part of his or her body to any part of the piano
or to any tool, he or she must continue with the test as best he or she
can=97using his or her other hand or doing it with his or her forehead
=93resting=94 on the bench, for example. The tuner is discouraged from
holding tools with his or her teeth as this is considered undignified.
If the tuner accidentally (or purposefully) affixes his or her teeth to
any part of the piano, he or she is immediately disqualified and all
observers will leave the room so the tuner can work out his or her
problem.
14.   Finally, there will be no effort made to =93de-tune=94 the piano =
prior
to the test as this process, however random or planned, would almost
certainly make the piano sound better.
=20
Faked medical emergencies will not stop the test from proceeding!  If
there appears to be actual loss of consciousness AND the skin assumes a
deep blue color, the committee chairman may ask the judging panel to
=93hurry it along,=94 just in case.
=20
Bribes are a private matter. It would be of questionable taste to
discuss financial arrangements or flash any cash in front of the whole
group. Personal checks will not be accepted. For your convenience, there
will be credit card terminals in the back of the room on the table next
to where the Grief Counselors and uninvited street bums are sitting.
(The counselors will have special name tags, the bums will have ordinary
name tags, just like yours.)
=20
And=97this is important=97during the test evaluation, the tuner (and any
possible accomplices) are strictly forbidden from humming, whacking a
chair leg with a spoon, or in any other manner trying to simulate (or
cover up) sounds coming from the alleged piano.
=20
After all, we have our standards.
=20
Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Dave Nereson
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 10:05 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: tuning exam in U.S.
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Alan Forsyth <mailto:alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk> =20
To: Pianotech <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org> =20
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 1:49 PM
Subject: Tuning narrow and wide
=20
Tony Caught, Adelaide Australia wrote;

>>>"In America when you sit for a tuning exam, can you do the exam on a
Yamaha U1 piano ?....">>>

Probably the easiest piano in the world to tune aurally!

No, our Piano Technicians Guild tuning exam requires a 6-foot or larger
grand in reasonably good condition. =20
    --David Nereson, RPT



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