<HEAD> <STYLE>body{font-family: Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;background-color: #ffffff;color: black;}</STYLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16544" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=compText> It has to be 1000, Marshall, exactly 1000.  And that means 1000 pianos tuned AURALLY.  Not even 999, but 1,000. Seriously, though, I was told once that 1000 is a good number to shoot for, just so that you have the experience and ear training to know what to listen for, and the hammer technique, setting pins, etc.   I thought I was getting fairly good about piano #750, but failed the first time I took the tuning exam then (even though it was mainly just one out of the seven sections - and that not by much).  But I saw a young son of a piano technician at age 17 (Mike Breakall) pass the tuning exam at Chicago National (I think), and I kind of doubt he could have possibly done 1000 pianos by that age.  Some people are precocious and get it much quicker than us slow learners. For many people there is a time when it just all "clicks", i.e. you'll know when you're able to put it all together on a test piano or any piano out there.  And, when you pass the exams, you're to be congratulated to be sure, but must also humbly realize that you are still on the path (and most of us here are here - on the tech list - because we know that), the exams are not the end, it's all process - evolving and improving.  I look at every day, almost every piano as an "exam" of sorts (you're certainly being tested by your clients - especially new ones), and try to score higher with each one.  For example, with some of the recent suggestions about tuning (see"to mute or not to mute" threads) I think in the past couple weeks I've found a new way to make marked improvement in the quality of my work out there, and it's really made the days more exciting and fulfilling. Stay here, keep learning, - you have lots of help available, you'll get there.  Don't be afraid to fail.  Taking the exams is excellent learning in itself, when you think you're ready.  May the force be with you. Chuck Christus <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">-----Original Message----- From: Marshall Gisondi <PIANOTUNE05@HOTMAIL.COM> Sent: Mar 24, 2008 1:07 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: tuning test <ZZZHTML><ZZZHEAD> <STYLE> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </STYLE> </ZZZHEAD><ZZZBODY class=hmmessage>Hi Everyone, I was wondering.  How many pianos roughly of course has everyone here tuned before taking the tuning exam?  Is there a "plateau" where one reaches in his/her tuning career where they read a fictitious sign that reads, "You've tuned x amount of pianos. Now you're ready for the TUNING EXAM! <IMG src="http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w2/ltr/../emoticons/smile_shades.gif"> Now  I know I have some time to mull over such things while I enjoy my training at the piano hospital, but since the tuning test came up, I thought I'd ask.  Have a good one. Marshall   <HR> In a rush? <A href="http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_realtime_042008" target=_blank>Get real-time answers with Windows Live Messenger.</A></ZZZBODY> </ZZZHTML></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY>