This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Alan, Thanks for the humor - some days there just isn't enough - = actually, I did take my tuning exam on a Yamaha vertical without benefit = of acutuner - just 3 pairs of RPT ears. Bruce ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Alan=20 To: 'Pianotech'=20 Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 12:51 AM Subject: OT More Realistic Test was RE: tuning exam in U.S. I think it would be a much more realistic test-with regard to the = reality of the tuner's life--if we were required to tune a 1940's-1960's = spinet (Betsy Ross, Winter & Sons, P.A. Stark or comparable). No = Acusonics! Wurlitzers may suffice if they've 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.=20 2.. Some felt must be visible between hammer molding and strings on = at least 1/3" of the treble notes. No more than 8 felts popped off bass = hammers. Tenor hammer grooves less than =BD" deep, on average.=20 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.=20 4.. At least one pedal must move up and down when pressed (sideways = movement does not count but is otherwise allowed).=20 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!=20 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.=20 7.. Bench must not completely collapse when sat upon by persons with = average-sized, average weight buttocks.=20 8.. Squeaks, rattles, and woody thunks must not be louder, on = average, than played notes.=20 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.=20 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.=20 11.. Bridges must still be stuck to something inside the piano.=20 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.=20 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-using his or her other hand or doing it with his or her forehead = "resting" 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.=20 14.. Finally, there will be no effort made to "de-tune" the piano = prior to the test as this process, however random or planned, would = almost certainly make the piano sound better.=20 =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 = "hurry it along," 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-this is important-during 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=20 To: Pianotech=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 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 - Release Date: 6/10/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 - Release Date: 6/10/2003 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/53/2e/e7/9c/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC