tuning exam what it *is* and what it *is not*

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Don:

You bring up some good points.

First, we don't run across pianos which are sharp, flat, sharp etc.  This
is prepared this way as an advantage to the examinee so that he is not
raising pitch and also so that he does not get any freebies.

Second, the time limit is quite generous. 45 minutes to tune one string each
over a two octave range aurally (octaves 3 & 4). This is Part 1. Part 2. 
involves tuning the Treble, High treble, and & Bass (one string per note)
and the time allowed in 60 minutes. Again this should not be considered a
time restraint, but it quite generous. Next, another 30 minutes is allowed
for tuning out the unisons in octaves 3 & 4. This makes a total of 2 
hours and 15 minutes and the piano is still not completely tuned.

I like your conclusion: All that matters is unisons. But, we should be able
to show some ability in the other things we test for.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999, Don wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> The exam is *not*:
> 
> a tuning 
> 	-when did you ever come accross a piano that was sharp flat sharp flat?
> 
> 	-when were you *limited* as to the time you wanted to spend in real life
> (yes I know concert situations--but in a home)
> 
> 	-done on a grand piano--many tuners make their living from uprights (why
> not use a good quality upright?)
> 
> 	-subjective
> 
> 	-stress building to the MAX! I am sure most people who fail do so because
> of panic. If doing a tuning caused this much stress I would recommend
> finding another line of work before it *kills* you.
> 
> The exam is:
> 	-not subjective--the numbers *don't* lie.
> 
> 	-shows the ability of the technician to recreate (or perhaps reinvent?) a
> particular pattern which shows the potential for good tuning ability.
> 
> At the same time I recently heard a tuning by a competitor of *great*
> repute. His tuning ability is *quite* modest and if this tuning had been
> for an exam he would have failed with a mark below 60%. He is *not* an
> associate (nor an RPT, nor is he a *beginner*). Yet musicians are *quite*
> pleased with his work, or is his *price*? His unisons sound good. Perhaps
> he unwittingly uses some form of unusal temperament (I was going to say
> historical--but *accidental* would be more accurate).
> 
> Conclusions? All that matters is unisons. Stabilty is a close second.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.
> 
> Tuner for the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts
> 
> drose@dlcwest.com
> http://www.dlcwest.com/~drose/
> 3004 Grant Rd.
> REGINA, SK
> S4S 5G7
> 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
> 
>