Thousand shmousand - well, maybe some are slower learners than others, but the bottom line is to be able to produce a decently tuned piano - pretty clean unisons (as the piano allows) and the rest where nothing stands out - within maybe two hours or so. IMHO, after a few months of practicing tuning principles, and then doing full tunings on a few dozen pianos, you might be at that point. I did the Potter course in about three or four months, practiced principles during that time, continued practice for a couple more months and I don't think I did more than a couple dozen full tunings before I hung out my sign and started tuning for pay. As someone else said, it is very good experience to tune for a local piano dealer. They can often be tolerant of you being slow (who cares how long it takes you to do that $15 floor tuning?) and perfection is not mandatory. I recommend picking your first clients carefully - tune spinets for little old ladies that are hard of hearing. Seriously - just don't tune a professional pianist's nice Bosendorfer when you first start out. Know what I mean? I also would not volunteer any information about your experience level. If they ask, of course, be honest. But not very many folks ask. Charge whatever you think the going rate is - you'll be making less because it will take you longer. And if a piano takes you 2-1/2 hours to tune and the owner says "it only took the last guy 45 minutes to tune the piano", you can just make some comment like "I prefer to take the time necessary to give my clients a quality tuning" or somesuch. Do the course, practice, do a few dozen free tunings for friends and then go tune like a pro - because at that point you will be one! Terry Farrell > <<Also, is there some kind of consensus as to how many pianos a person has > to tune before they are ready for the real world? >> > > About 1,000 on average. > > Terry Peterson
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