[pianotech] RPT exam?

John Ross jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
Mon Dec 22 19:14:06 PST 2008


I agree wholeheartedly, with that sentiment.
John Ross
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ryan Sowers 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:16 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] RPT exam?


        It was decided (rightfully so) that it was much more efficient to have the same exam for both aural tuners and aural/ETD tuners. That's why part 1 is aural and scored right away. Also with the current exam, ETD users know earlier on whether or not they have passed. With the previous system, examinees would get their hopes up when they received high scores for the parts that allowed the machine, and then would be very disappointed if they didn't pass the aural part. The current exam let's examinees know early on in the process if their aural skills are within tolerance. 

        --- On Mon, 12/22/08, John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca> wrote:

          From: John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca>
          Subject: Re: [pianotech] RPT exam?
          To: pianotech at ptg.org
          Date: Monday, December 22, 2008, 6:04 PM


          It used to be, if you passed using the ETD, then you had to do the temperament octave aurally. You had one hour to do the tuning of one note by ETD, whereas you had 1 1/2 hrs. to do it aurally
          The stability, and unisons plus the A to a pitch source were all aural.
          John Ross
          P.S. I was never able to get the octave aurally, in fact when I retested that part, a year later, I was worse. My fault, I didn't put enough effort into it.
          So I passed everything but the aural octave.
          Having to start over and do all the parts again, Written, Technical repair and regulation, plus the tuning aural and with the ETD assist, just didn't seem worth it.
          I was given all the encouragement, and offers of assistance from guild members at conventions, but never followed through.
          JR




            ----- Original Message ----- 
            From: Farrell 
            To: pianotech at ptg.org 
            Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 9:47 PM
            Subject: Re: [pianotech] RPT exam?


            "Examinees can use an ETD for part 2 but not part 1, or for unisons."

            So, no ETD " to set the pitch of the center string of A4 to 440 hz." I assume they let you use a fork?

            Then you can use an ETD "to tune notes C3 through the top B4."?

            And then I presume one can use an ETD "to tune the rest of the piano except for the bottom 3 notes and the top C note."?

            And then of course, unisons by ear - correct?

            Seems to me they'd want you to set the temperament by ear. But you say one can use an ETD?

            Terry Farrell
              ----- Original Message ----- 
              From: Ryan Sowers 

                    In a nutshell:

                    You have 5 minutes to set the pitch of the center string of A4 to 440 hz. If you finish early that time is added on to the next part which is the midrange. Here you get 40 minutes (plus time left over from setting pitch, if there is any) to tune notes C3 through the top B4. The piano is muted off so you only have to deal with one string per note. After that section is scored you will have 1 hour to tune the rest of the piano except for the bottom 3 notes and the top C note. Again this is single strings only. Then the stability is tested on notes C3-B4 by delivering 3 solid test blows to each note. If a note changes by 1 cent or more after the test blows you lose points. Last is unisons. You will have 1/2 hour to tune the unisons for the midrange (again C3-B4). Each string of a unison must be within 1 cent of each other to not lose any points. 

                    Examinees can use an ETD for part 2 but not part 1, or for unisons.  


          John M.Ross
          Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. 


John M.Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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