<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <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=iso-8859-1"> <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@01C3384F.C4EC53E0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <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</spa= n></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' start=1 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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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> <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</st= 1:PersonName> Subject: Re: tuning exam = in U.S. <o:p> </o:p> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> ----- Original Message = ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From:</span= > <a href="mailto:alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk" title="alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk">Alan Forsyth</a> = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To:<= /font> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" = title="pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent:</span= > Friday, June 20, 2003 1:49 PM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject:</s= pan> 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> </div> </body> </html> --- 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