Examinations

[Paul S. Larudee]

Brian,

I'm glad I got to see you, however briefly, towards the end of the convention.
Sorry I missed meeting Richard Brekne.  Congratulations again to both of you.
It takes a special kind of dedication to come this far to put yourself through
the exams.  I wish you had been able to spend more time at the classes instead
of taking exams all the time, but hopefully you will be able to do so again in
the near future.  I also hope we are planting the seeds of a South African
chapter and that I will be able to attend a convention there some time.

By the way, you know they offer exams in the various European and far eastern
associations, if you're really addicted to that sort of thing....

Paul S. Larudee, RPT
Richmond, CA

Brian Lawson wrote:

> Hi ! when I signed off the list back in mid June I was off to the UK to try
> my hand (and ears) at the PTA (Piano Tuners Association) exam.  Well
> unfortunately the only time they could fit me in was the same day I arrived
> in the UK, so with only 3 hours sleep from a 12 trip on the plane my results
> were not too good. There exam is divided into technical, oral and tuning.
> The tech part is on a real upright piano to replace a butt spring, bridle
> tape and damper spring, then recentre a flange and replace a broken shank.
> This was followed with regulating 5 notes of a one octave action model (you
> are told which 5) with each note having two major faults in the regulation.
> That all went well, as welll as the the oral, which was on sections of case
> part names (British terminology), repair methods, piano design/contruction,
> grand and upright regulation.
>
> Their tuning test was on a small Schimmel upright, set at 517hz, to tune up
> to 523.3hz (the Brits use C rather than A), this timed at 2 hours, it was in
> a small airless room on a hot day and with my lack of sleep, I failed this.
> I was then asked to leave (which is the procedure for their exam) and was
> told the results would be sent to me, which they were. So unlike the PTG
> exams there is no discussion and learning experience given by the British
> examiners. Thier requirements are that you cant retest until 6 months After
> the exam.
>
> About two weeks later when I arrived in the USA I did my written test and
> passed that, despite some very ambigious questions and having to overcome
> some American terminology. Later in the week I took my tuning exam, got my
> pitch ok but messed up on my temprement and midrange - Part one failed
>
> The next day I took the technical exam, Grand and Vertical regulation and
> the repairs (including splice which went well) which I all passed. Sunday
> came, the last day of the convention, I took the tuning part one again, got
> it this time!
>
> Someone on the list once said that they are just a bunch of tests you pass,
> but for me they represent a standard, to work by, to and with as well to
> indulge myself in the signicance of the letters which now follow my name.
>
> Brian Lawson, RPT
> Johannesburg, South Africa
> Texoma International Chapter