Aural vs. electronic again, was "Re: Another newbie question"

[tune4u@earthlink.net]

I love this answer. Bravo!

When asked (and some potential customers do ask) "Do you tune by ear or do
you use one of those machines?" the answers is "Yes, I do."

Then I explain as you have outlined here.

I'm sure that people W/O an ETD usually learn aural tuning much faster out
of sheer necessity--but I had to make a living as a tuner starting about a
month after I got the good ol' Potter course materials. As I had no other
training and no mentors anywhere near here, I could not have done it without
my little machine (bought used, ebay). Then I had to "back into" learning
many aural skills, again on my own,  and there is no doubt having the
machine can be a crutch--it takes practice, i.e., work, to become good at
the aural.

I'm thinking it would be good for me to lock the machine away for 6 months
and let necessity motivate me to get better and faster and more trusting of
my ears. But it's a little scary, too!

Alan Barnard
Salem, MO

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Neuman" <piano@charlesneuman.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 9:39 AM
Subject: Aural vs. electronic again, was "Re: Another newbie question"


> From: Bill Ballard <yardbird@vermontel.net>
> > Are you aural or electronic? (not a trick question, BTW)
>
> Maybe it's not a trick question, but I'm not so new that I don't know the
> dangers of answering that question! I carefully avoided the recent
> discussion on it. I also know it's against PTG policy to advertise that
> one way is better than the other. But I'll take my chances. Here's my
> answer:
>
> I would say I'm an electronic-assisted aural tuner, or becoming one. If
> I'm going fast, I suppose I'm more of an electronic tuner. But when I'm
> practicing and taking my time, I use the ETD as a check for what I am
> doing aurally. By the way, I bought an old laptop, and I use TuneLab.
>
> Ideally, I'd aspire to be like Jim Coleman Sr. (and who wouldn't?). He
> makes use of every possible feature of the SAT, but is obviously one of
> the best aural tuners we have as well.
>
> I guess the message I get is that the ETD is a useful tool, but ultimately
> it's best to think of tuning as an aural activity.
>
> As for using an ETD to learn, I have found it to be very helpful. By the
> way, if you really want to hear a "newbie" question, somewhere way back in
> the archives I said that I used one of those chromatic guitar tuners!
> Fortunately people set me straight. It wasn't quite a flame-worthy
> question apparently, but I haven't used the chromatic tuner since.
> However, I have to admit that it did give me a pretty good tuning on my
> smaller piano (I now also have a larger vertical). My theory is that it
> provided a non-equal temperament that has key color, which is why it
> sounded good. (Heck, I might as well walk into two minefields today.)
>
> At the Convention, when I took the evening class on taking the RPT test,
> given by the RCT guys, they had differing opinions on how to use an ETD to
> practice. One said to tune the temperament aurally and THEN check it with
> an ETD. The other said it's useful to look at the ETD WHILE you are tuning
> your temperament. They would probably admit that each way has its place,
> but it was interesting to hear the two opinions expressed.
>
> Charles Neuman
> PTG Assoc, Long Island
>
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