tuning exam

[Farrell]

Hi Gary. Keep in mind also how the testers arrive at their electronically
stored master tuning for the test piano. They do NOT measure FAC and then
have their master tuning. The master tuning is developed aurally by several
(three???) skilled aural CTE tuners. The tuning is then recorded on the SAT
(or whatever ETD they use) to preserve it as a grading reference. Then they
modify that tuning in the detuning procedure. Then you go tune it. Then they
compare your tuning to their aurally developed, but electronically recorded,
master tuning.

So the bottom line is that to practice your aural tuning and using the SAT
or whatever ETD to check it, will require you to somehow develop a
master-type tuning for the piano you are practicing on. I suppose this will
require input from a skilled aural tuner that is willing to help you. What
is the going rate for a master tuning? This is kind of a "was the chicken
first or was the egg first" situation.

Or maybe, as I understand it being characterized, you need to beg, borrow,
or steal (or buy) a Verituner, tune the piano six times with it, then record
it on the SAT, and now you have your master tuning recorded on the SAT!

Good Luck!

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <ramsey@extremezone.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 9:45 PM
Subject: Re: tuning exam


>     Hi, Gary. This is the first time that I've really noticed a posting
from
> you.
>
>     There's something  that you really have to know, if you're scoring
your
> aural skills with a machine. First, this suggests that you are learning to
> tune aurally. Good. Secondly, machines tune by mathematical calculations,
> which make assumptions concerning continuity of stringing scales. In the
> real world, stringing scales make sudden changes, not smooth transitions,
> therefore, your ear could be right for that particular piano, and the
> machine could be out in left field. That is why it's important to, as Jim
> Coleman Sr. teaches, "Don't turn off your ears when you turn on the
> machine."
>     It's just a machine, and a good tool, but it can be wrong at times. If
> you're practicing on a piano at your home, and then scoring the results on
> that piano, then try to keep a record of where the machine says you're
> wrong. Most usually it's in the low tenor, but if you're always scoring
> poorly in one area of the piano, you need to find out if it's you, or the
> machine.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary McCormick" <gmcc@pipeline.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 12:04 PM
> Subject: tuning exam
>
>
> > Is it appropriate to ask how the scoring is done on the tuning exam?
> > I'm trying to practice the temperament test using RCT; pulling up the
> record
> > of my own piano, after tuning a temperament, I manually record what I've
> > done, and compare it to  the tuning record.
> > On a couple of notes, I may be off 1.10 cents, and the rest anywhere
from
> > .12 to .50 cents.  Is this acceptable?  At the moment I feel like I'm
> trying
> > to beat the machine, and I don't know that I can do that.
> > Thanks for any info
> > Gary McCormick
>
>