"strict PTG tuning exam"

[Kent Swafford]

Dave Hall wrote:

>JimSr:
>
>Incredible!  In that case then "quite listenable, not perfect, but
>enjoyable" effectively renders the strict guidelines of the PTG tuning exam
>obsolete and unnecessary to go out and tune for the public.  True?
>
>Dave

Hi Dave,

I'll be happy to talk to you about this in person at a chapter meeting.

In the mean time, I would like to comment that Steve Fairchild is one of 
my tuning "heroes" because of his work on how to tune pianos to a high 
degree of perfection. For a number of reasons, Steve has been unable for 
some years now to travel and teach at PTG events. This is a great loss to 
PTG and its members.

I know little of Steve's other claims to fame, in particular, his speed 
tuning endeavors. However, it appears that the speed tuning record was 
set just as the modern PTG tuning exam was coming into being. It would be 
very interesting to see how fast a piano could be tuned to an accuracy 
that exceeded PTG exam standards.

Anybody up to it?

Be that as it may, as for your comment, "renders the strict guidelines of 
the PTG tuning exam obsolete and unnecessary to go out and tune for the 
public"...  Keep in mind, that the tuning exam sets _minimum_ standards 
of accuracy within certain time limits. The exam does not require 
perfection by any means. It is possible to do a tuning that passes the 
exam, but is not "listenable" by "concert" standards. This was difficult 
for me to accept back when I was a student trying to learn how to tune. 
Today, I know that for me, "quite listenable, not perfect, but enjoyable" 
means a tuning that far exceeds the minimum accuracy required by the PTG 
tuning exam.

Best wishes,

Kent Swafford