<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1141" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C3384F.C4EC53E0" = rel=File-List><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="PersonName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=blue link=blue = bgColor=white> <DIV>Alan, Thanks for the humor - some days there just isn't = enough  -  actually, I did take my tuning exam on a Yamaha vertical without = benefit of acutuner - just 3 pairs of RPT ears.  Bruce</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A title=tune4u@earthlink.net = href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech'</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 = 12:51 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: OT More Realistic Test = was RE: tuning exam in U.S.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> I think it = would be a much more realistic test—with regard to the reality of the tuner’s = life--if we were required to tune a 1940’s-1960’s spinet (Betsy Ross, Winter = & Sons, P.A. Stark or comparable). No Acusonics! Wurlitzers may suffice if they’ve been stored in a garage with broken windows = in <st1:State><st1:place>Louisiana</st1:place></st1:State> or <st1:State><st1:place>Saskatchewan</st1:place></st1:State> for at = least twenty years.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The passing = requirement would be that a panel of amateur musicians can recognize = the sound of it as something at least sort of a little bit kind of musical in = nature. If more than two panel members cry, moan, or run from the room, you = flunk. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> And the = selected piano would have to be in reasonable condition, defined as follows = (additional rules interspersed): <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <OL style="mso-margin-top-alt: 0in" type=1> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">No more than six = missing strings; no more than two of which may be single bass strings. No = more than five bichord sets may have strings that = match in diameter, length of wrap, and degree of = rustiness.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Some felt must be = visible between hammer molding and strings on at least 1/3” of the treble = notes. No more than 8 felts popped off bass hammers. Tenor hammer grooves less = than ½” deep, on average.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">When played, bass = strings must make some sort of noise that sustains for at least 0.27 seconds. If = the hammer thwack reverberates this long, it must not be louder than the = string noise.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">At least one pedal = must move up and down when pressed (sideways movement does not count but is = otherwise allowed).<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Broken key tops with = sharp edges are allowed. The prospective RPT should have a supply of Band-Aids = on hand or on foot. Band-Aids may NOT be used to repair or muffle any piano part!<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">When pressed, at least = 37 keys must come back up within two minutes WITHOUT excessive help from the = player. Thumping the piano with a fist is permitted; screw drivers and pry = bars are not.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Bench must not = completely collapse when sat upon by persons with average-sized, average weight = buttocks.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Squeaks, rattles, and = woody thunks must not be louder, on average, than played notes.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">If the tuner is unable = to open the lid, remove the front panel, or otherwise gain access to the = tuning pins within three hours, he or she is permitted to ask the piano owner = how the hell previous tuners did it.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">If A4 is more than 153 = cents sharp or flat, the tuner is allowed an extra ten minutes for a pitch = adjustment but he must not charge the piano owner any extra for this.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Bridges must still be = stuck to something inside the piano.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">There must be no more = than one inch of plastic elbow dust and mouse poop (combined) on the bottom = board. Measurements will be taken in eleven locations and averaged. Dead = spiders may be removed before measuring; leave the live ones alone. Local = chapters may decide if snake skins and/or snakes may be removed or must be = measured. Note: If the bottom board is missing or all debris has sifted = through a humongous crack in the board, this requirement may be waved.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">If the pinblock is in average condition or worse, the = tuner is allowed an extra twenty minutes of tuning time and may use up to = three liquids, four sheets of sandpaper, and a 2½ lb. sledge hammer to = fine tune the instrument. Note: If the tuner accidentally (or purposefully) = affixes any protruding part of his or her body to any part of the piano or = to any tool, he or she must continue with the test as best he or she = can—using his or her other hand or doing it with his or her forehead “resting” = on the bench, for example. The tuner is discouraged from holding tools with = his or her teeth as this is considered undignified. If the tuner = accidentally (or purposefully) affixes his or her teeth to any part of the piano, he = or she is immediately disqualified and all observers will leave the room so = the tuner can work out his or her problem.<o:p></o:p> <LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: navy; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list = .5in">Finally, there will be = no effort made to “de-tune” the piano prior to the test as this process, = however random or planned, would almost certainly make the piano sound better.<o:p></o:p> </LI></OL> <o:p> </o:p> Faked = medical emergencies will not stop the test from proceeding!  If there appears to be actual = loss of consciousness AND the skin assumes a deep blue color, the committee = chairman may ask the judging panel to “hurry it along,” just in case.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Bribes are = a private matter. It would be of questionable taste to discuss financial = arrangements or flash any cash in front of the whole group. Personal checks will not = be accepted. For your convenience, there will be credit card terminals in = the back of the room on the table next to where the Grief Counselors and = uninvited street bums are sitting. (The counselors will have special name tags, the bums will have ordinary name tags, just = like yours.)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> And—this = is important—during the test evaluation, the tuner (and any possible = accomplices) are strictly forbidden from humming, whacking a chair leg with a = spoon, or in any other manner trying to simulate (or cover up) sounds coming from = the alleged piano.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> After all, = we have our standards.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Alan R. Barnard<o:p></o:p> Salem, MO<o:p></o:p></DIV> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dave = Nereson Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 = 10:05 PM To: <st1:PersonName>Pianotech</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: tuning exam in U.S. <o:p> </o:p> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: = medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt = 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: = medium none"> <DIV> ----- Original Message = ----- <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> From: <A title=alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk">Alan Forsyth</A> <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 1:49 PM<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Subject: Tuning narrow and wide<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV> Tony Caught, Adelaide = Australia wrote; >>>"In America when you sit for a tuning = exam, can you do the exam on a Yamaha U1 piano = ?....">>> Probably the easiest piano in the world to tune aurally! No, our Piano = Technicians Guild tuning exam requires a 6-foot or larger grand in reasonably good condition.  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>     --David Nereson, RPT <![if = !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></D= IV> --- Incoming mail is certified Virus = Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.489 / = Virus Database: 288 - Release Date: 6/10/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus = Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.489 / = Virus Database: 288 - Release Date: 6/10/2003 </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>