<HTML> <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> Brian Trout wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE> I've had a number of people tell me I should just take the test, but I'm a little shy. :-)  I'd like to get an unbiased idea of just where I am right now before I inconvenience the tuning examiners.</BLOCKQUOTE> I would think an ETD like tunelab would be great and simple for self checking pitch, unisons, and stability. I was surprised how sensitive the machines were. My first exposure to ETD's being my first exam. it was a revelation to see stability problems announce themselves so rapidly, and see how much variation I was creating in a "unison". The exam process was like a beginning a journey that is ongoing. Tuning for many years previous to the exams, progress had been slow. In retrospect,  I'm amazed what I got away with in my first years on the road. Since becoming an RPT I now realize how much remains, and the meaning of "minimum standard".As Mr Hawkins said when congratulating me on passing, "Now the journey begins." Don't be shy, go for it, you will not regret it.                                          Cheers                                          David Renaud                                           RPT                                           Canada </BODY> </HTML>