<html 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" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C526FE.95559610"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> You can always = buy a Sanderson Beat Rater which will give you beat rates for all major thirds = in the temperament.  I don’t = think it hurts to get a sense of what the beat rates sound like.  I wouldn’t get too hung = up on trying to memorize it though.  = The relationships are probably more important, but it couldn’t = hurt.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <st1:PersonName>David = Love</st1:PersonName> davidlovepianos@comcast.net <o:p></o:p> </div> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Pianotunaguy@aol.com Sent: Saturday, March 12, = 2005 5:47 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re; Question = about Beats during tuning <o:p> </o:p> In a message dated 3/12/05 4:05:24 AM, tune4u@earthlink.net (who didn't = sign a name to his post) writes: <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> The very common march tempo of mm=120 will let you count 4 beats per metronome tick, which = is 8bps, and it's easy to get that rate into your noodle storage = space. <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> This is simply not true.  I conducted professional musical theater productions for 25 years before becoming a tuner.  For 20 years I = set the tempi in my head for each song. (The goal being to play the same tempo = every night.)  I was known for my accuracy and consistency here in Chicago.  Then, in the 1990s I became involved in computer = sequencing of live shows.  At this point, I was CERTAIN that the tempi were the = same night after night because the computer set the tempi. Let me tell you: some nights that thing seemed    S  O       S   L   = O   W  .   Other nights it seemed as if things were flying = by.  I remember the dance captain coming to me at intermission once to ask, = "Is it possible that the 'BlahBlah dance break' was fast tonight?"    No, it was digitally the same as last night.  It just SEEMED faster tonight. So maybe I was better than most at setting those tempi in my head prior = to the digital revolution (I'd like to think so), but I know now that I was not = 100% accurate.  It's not humanly possible. So to bet the farm on your ability to set 120 in your head is = folly.  Knowing that, as a tuner I have never tried to count beats in = tempo.  I use comparison exclusively.  Yeah, the F3-A3 third is the starting = point and you try to hit that as close as you can, but by then comparing the contiguous thirds F3-A3-C#4-F4 and making sure that you have a = progression there you can get it even closer if you missed it in the first = place.  Even Virgil Smith has in his tuning sequence a quick check (using = comparison) to make sure that his F3-A3 third is beating properly.  If all you = had to do was memorize a tempo, why would Virgil Smith, certainly one of the = greatest tuners of his generation, use comparison to check his beat speed on that opening F3-A3 third? Trying to memorize beat speeds in your head is a waste of time in my opinion.  At the very least, I can guarantee that there are other = ways to skin the cat.  My proof: I recently passed the RPT exam with all = scores 93 or higher.  And I never ever try to count beats.  Ever.  = I only compare. Tom Sivak Chicago Chapter PTG Associate<o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>