Tuning Exam Problems

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Ed:

This is a great idea! It could eliminate our time consuming aural 
verification which we now require of the examinee, but for which there is
no scoring.

Already you have my wheels turning. We could have a pre-recorded set of
intervals, each followed by the proper test intervals. The interval could
be announced and the examinee would mark whether the interval was wide or
narrow after hearing the test intervals played twice. For example, the A 
to D 4th would be played followed by the 3rd-6th test (F-A and F-D). If the
3rd is faster than the 6th, we know that the A-D is narrow.

A series of these kinds of tests could be presented. An entire class of
applicants could take the test at the same time. We would have to have
more than one of these prepared tests recorded so that if one failed, there
would be a slightly different test the next time.

I can envision using this as part of the written test. Then we could 
streamline the hands-on tuning test and save additional time.

I hope several people will talk this up on the PTG-l list as well. Many 
heads are better than one.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 musutton@alpha.nlu.edu wrote:

> Dear Jim Coleman,
> 	Here's  thought for you:
> 	Add a preliminary stage to the tuning exam as follows:
> 	A piano is mis-tuned in a designed manner, in order to have the
> examinee demonstrate knowledge an ability to use aural checks.  The examinee
> would be instructed to examine various intervals and give an opinion as to
> whether they were wide or narrow of pure at designated co-incident partials,
> identify different kinds of octaves, even tell if A4 was sharp or flat of a
> reference pitch (estimate how far off in cents), tell if a series of thirds
> were in proper relation, give the results of inside third/outside sixth tests,
> etc.  The results of the test could be tabulated on a multiple choice answer
> sheet (60 seconds to score!).  The piano would only need to be de-tuned once,
> and checked periodically with VTD.  The exam would require minimal supervision,
> and could test many people in a few hours at National and Regional Seminars.
> 	(In case I didn't make it clear, the examinee would not touch the
> tuning pins, this is purely a test of aural check knowledge.) 
> 	In addition to pre-testing people for the hands-on tuning exam, it
> would enable (or require) people to demonstrate skills which the hands on exam
> doesn't necessarily cover.
> 	Though I'm imagining this as the first step of a two or three step
> tuning exam, it could be designed to provide some very sophisticated skill
> testing, perhaps might get some already RPTs interested in some follow up tests
> of their skill development (Give a prize to the highest scorers).
> 	Has this ever be discussed before?
> 
> 		Regards,
> 		Ed Sutton
>