Aural versus ETD tuning training

[Farrell]

Maybe an analogy or two with the medicine world would fit in here.

The Ward Guthrie's of the world are like Board-Certified specialist surgeons who practice holistic medicine - no machines. In the world of piano tuning, this is A-OK, because given enough talent and effort, the ear can do anything and perhaps more than any machine. Truly, no situation exists where beautiful, first-rate, custom results are not the end result. These people also know all the theory, all the ins and outs of why, how to relate to concert pianists, and how to modify their work to meet the requirements of any situation.

The Jim Coleman's of the world are like Board-Certified specialist surgeons that use all tools available to them to get the job done as best possible. Results, even in the most pressing situations are great. Again, no situation exists where beautiful, first-rate, custom results are not the end result. These people also know all the theory, all the ins and outs of why, how to relate to concert pianists, and how to modify their work to meet the requirements of any situation.

Then we have a continuum of piano technicians who are perhaps best compared to a nurse practitioner. They are skilled professionals. They can take the sick and make them well again! They can analyze many situations, use the tools at their disposal, and come up with very good results. Maybe 98% of the time, with reference to the piano owner's ability to discern, the results of their efforts are on a par with the Board-Certified specialist surgeons work. With great assurance, can they meet the custom needs of most high-end concert pianists? Often, no. They do not understand all the inner workings of how beats and partials and inharmonicity relate, how these relate to the particular piano in question, how the venue will affects things, how the particular pieces to be played will be affected by these variables, and finally, these folks do not know all the ins and outs of how to manipulate these many factors to achieve a desired outcome. But darn, many (most of the conscientious ones) of these folks can put a darn good tuning on any piano in the average Joe's home.

I am a member of the latter group (one of the conscientious ones - or at least I try to be). I've done concert tuning for rock 'n roll groups, etc., but I would give firm warning to any accomplished pianist that wanted me to tune for her/him - I can do a darn good basic tuning for them, but don't ask me to get too fancy with customizing a tuning because that may be going beyond my expertise. However, I do fix pedals and slow keys quite well, thank you! 

And then of course, there are those that just try to get by and make a buck. They would not tune very well aurally, nor do they likely tune well with a machine. I have run across several tooners, some even members of the PTG, that don't know how to tune aurally, AND use their SAT incorrectly. I know one guy who will do an FAC calculation on a spinet and not make ANY adjustment to the calculated tuning - right on through the bass - just straight calculated tuning (does this on all tunings). He also does not know what a ptch raise is - no need to do anything any different on a flat piano. No doubt, machines do enable this type of work. But I suspect they would find a way, machine or not.

Just some thoughts. I suspect there is room for all. Just like the nurse practitioner - would s/he not be better able to serve if s/he went to school for four more years and got their MD? Sure. But in appropriate situations, they can perform an excellent service.

As Clint has said: "A man's (or woman) got to know his limitations".

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: Aural versus ETD tuning training


> Jim probably has never read the book "Player Piano" :) The ETD is in no
> small way his puppy. He's had his fingers in their development for an
> awfully long time, so sure he's proud of his successes. 
> 
> Besides David, like it or not the fact is that many tuners aural tuners
> got as far as passing some exam and then seemingly put the steam breaks
> on their learning curves. Not to mention the fact that it is was
> actaully much more difficult to improve significantly on your own some
> years ago. Not to worry tho... there are plenty of ETD users who end up
> in a similiar boat... sitting rather dead in the water as it were.
> 
> In the end, the person what gets really really adept with a wide variety
> of the relevant "tools of the trade" is going to do just fine... hey,
> thats what a proffessional is .. yes ?? If you feel that ETD's are a
> threat or something... then its time to rise to the challenge if you get
> my meaning. You may find youself using one as well, at least for
> somethings.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> RicB