[pianotech] Aural vs. ETD

[Rob McCall]

I can sum it up in one word....  synergism.

Rob McCall
Murrieta, CA

On Apr 04, 2009, at 17:47 , Gerald Groot wrote:

> This second line is not great English but, it makes my point.
>
> We don't know, what we don't know until we know it…  We don't know  
> what we can't hear until we can hear it….
>
> While a machine has it's use in every form, it has to be backed with  
> a good ear and a certain amount of knowledge for proper use of the  
> machine.
>
> In the case of an EDT, if we cannot hear properly, then we cannot  
> detect if the machine is not setting it correctly.  While it may be  
> close, or it may be very close, it may not always be as close as we  
> think.
>
> More often than not with beginners, (I know, I remember from when I  
> was a beginner too) we think we can hear it but, we really can't and  
> finally realize this at some point in time.
>
> For fun, just to see what it would do,  a couple of different times  
> on two different Steinway D's, I tuned the entire piano, unisons and  
> all strictly with an EDT ONLY.  I did not use my ears at all which  
> was hard to do..  This included the highest and lowest of all  
> strings.  I can't count the amount of times it told me that it was  
> dead on when in fact, it was not.  In some cases, it was actually  
> off by quit a lot.  "IT" was listening to something other than what  
> I was listening to.  Especially in the bass wound wires.
>
> For this reason alone, a good ear is necessary which is the primary  
> reason that PTG won't let us pass without being able to properly  
> hear it.
>
>
>
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]  
> On Behalf Of Alexander Lass
> Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 8:21 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Aural vs. ETD
>
> As a relatively new (and student) technician, my thoughts on this  
> subject may not merit as much attention as those with more  
> experience who have contributed.  Still, I think it’s important to  
> show that not all associates see the aurally correct temperament  
> requirement as a necessary “evil” to becoming an RPT.  It may seem  
> easy for those who have long since passed the exam to belabor its  
> benefits, but I am really very happy that the PTG continues to  
> uphold the tradition.
>
> I’m as tired as anyone of reading the comparisons of a piano  
> technician to a surgeon or car mechanic, but let’s not forget they  
> all have something in common: each is a professional who provides a  
> service to the community.  They market themselves as having enough  
> knowledge, training, and experience to perform certain tasks with  
> certain fundamental and facile abilities that the public can be  
> reasonably well assured that the job will be done correctly.   I  
> know that before my doctor could diagnose a torn ACL, she was  
> probably able to name all the bones, muscles, tendons, and  
> ligaments.  Before that, I suspect that she learned the concept of  
> the scientific method: these are fundamental to the study of  
> medicine.  The car mechanic can hook my car up to a machine that  
> tells him the timing is off, and my understanding is that today’s  
> computers will even tell him what parts need to be adjusted to  
> compensate for this.  When he’s done making these adjustments,  
> though, I know he takes the car for a test drive to make sure  
> everything feels right and that the car can perform certain function  
> as it was designed.
>
> If Pythagoras hadn’t discovered that a bunch of fifths didn’t quite  
> equal up to several octaves we might not have a job; pretty much  
> anyone can tune a bunch of pure intervals (though, admittedly,  
> stability would still be a challenge for most).  Maybe I’m way off,  
> but I see setting a solid temperament as about the most fundamental  
> task a piano tuner can perform.  Understanding the interval  
> relationships and how to listen and test for the subtle differences  
> is – in my opinion – the core of what we do.
>
> There is a real misunderstanding in all of this debate, that the  
> aural temperament requirement of the PTG exam is in some way the  
> organization’s public condemnation of the ETD.  I think that today’s  
> ETD’s are fine instruments; just like today’s medical technology and  
> car diagnostics are wonderful tools.  But there is a lot to be said  
> about having a solid foundation in one’s profession.
>
> That’s all.  Thanks to any who read this.
>
> Alex
> Aspiring RPT

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