<html> <body> Believe me, the test blow for the PTG tuning test is NOT a mf blow! :-) Avery At 01:39 PM 10/26/04, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Can we define our terms here briefly.   When I practice tuning, my instructor stresses to use a "hard test blow".  His hard test blow is an 'mf' (mezzo forte).  I am a trained pianist, and mezzo forte is not hard at all...but that is what he refers to it as.  If I should say to you play a 'hard test blow', it would have to be an 'ff' (fortissimo) or above.  For my very first tuning exam, one of the things I was tested for the loudness of my test blows.  I was told to hit my test blow an 'mf', which I did.  Then I found out it was not hard enough for my instructor.  I found out when he tells me to play a good 'mf' test blow, he really means a hard 'f' - 'ff' blow.  I understand what he means now, and I just go with it.   Matthew Quentin Codevelle <quentin.codevelle@tiscali.fr> wrote: <dl> <dd>I asked my yam teacher who is a concert tech (of course) if he had enough stability with soft blows even with "heavy hands". <dd>He told me there was no problem at all, like andre says, it is the tuning technique that seems to make the difference. <dd>  <dd>I went to a concert prep with him, I watched everything that was done to the piano, included tuning (with soft blows). <dd>The unisons did not move during the concert (at least it was not noticeable). <dd>Of course the D that was prepared for this concert was very stable, because it is exclusively serviced by the same tech. <dd>  <dd>Should we say that trusting our habit of making a final hard blow just to test the stability (taught by most tuning teachers, but not mine) reveals we have some improvements to do on our tuning technique? <dd>  <dd>for my case, I changed my tuning technique really early because I've been aware of this really early, but I imagine this must be difficult for experienced tuners who have been tuning with the same method for years. <dd>  <dd>I think it is difficult to get a regularity, eveness with this "way of tuning" but the result worths it. <dd>  <dd>Eveness in hitting the key+good tuning technique= Eveness in the tone . <dd>  <dd>This seems to be the right equation here. <dd>  <dd>Quentin. </dl> Matthew Todd Todd Piano Works Piano Tuner/Technician Tuning - Repairing - Regulating Do you Yahoo!? <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/mobile/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo">Take Yahoo! Mail with you!</a> Get it on your mobile phone. </blockquote></body> </html>