In need of some encouragement

[David Ilvedson]

Dave,

How long have you been working at tuning?   It is helpful to isolate the coincidental harmonic...play it a couple of times then the interval so you can hone in on it.   
Most of the time you are comparing beat rates.   Fast against fast above and below with the same interval.   Try slowing that 6th down until you can clearly hear...then speed up....train the ear.   

Business will come over time if you are skilled.   Working with a dealer is a great way to get business.   Be prepared to work on the cheap for awhile...
Sales is a big part of what we do.   You have to sell yourself or work in a shop for someone...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "David B. Stang" <stangdave at columbus.rr.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 9/8/2006 9:57:28 AM
Subject: In need of some encouragement


>Friends,
>I'm feeling a little bit discouraged for two reasons.

>First, I am really struggling with my aural temperament tuning. I 
>understand intellectually how it is supposed to fit together, how all 
>the intervals ought to beat, and so on. But I have been practicing at 
>home and at customers' homes for a few months now, and I still just 
>can't do it right. By "do it right" I mean get it close enough to pass 
>the RPT exam (I use my ETD to test myself). My main problem, I think, 
>is, I just can't always hear the beats. For instance, I can nearly 
>always hear the F3-A3 Major 3rd, and the F3-D4 6th. But I struggle to 
>hear the A3-C#4 and especially struggle to hear the C#4-F4. I can't 
>percieve those faster beats. And sometimes I can't hear the beating even 
>when it's supposed to be slow. Sometimes the 5ths and 4ths are loud and 
>clear; other times they are not there at all. Are my ears the problem? 
>Is it my brain?

>Second, I am discouraged with my business. I could use some more 
>customers. I have gotten every kind of marketing advice imaginable - 
>that's not what I need. I am unhappy because I am kind of shy, and I 
>just don't do some of those assertive things that many business people 
>do. It doesn't come naturally for me to sell myself. (Like my friend Jon 
>Ralinovsky who was just e-ridiculed on this list, for simply posting the 
>link to the Cincinnati Seminar without tooting his own horn about the 
>good stuff he has lined up!) Maybe I don't have the right personality to 
>run my own business.

>Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
>Thanks

>David B. Stang, 2/3-rds of the way toward RPT
>Columbus, Ohio