Dear Listees, and Especially Budding Piano Technicians, Four days ago, Nancy wrote to the Pianotech List seeking some basic information regarding how long it might take someone to learn how to tune a piano before they go out tuning for pay. I replied to that post, the gist of which is copied below. I think it is reasonable to assume that Nancy is trying to learn how to tune aurally (for that is the preferable way to learn and certainly the way the Potter course directs its participants). It was pointed out to me (appropriately so) that my response was misleading by omission of pertinent details. I stated that I did the Potter course in three or four months, practiced for a couple more months and then started tuning for pay. That is true. My error of omission was that when I started tuning pianos for pay, six months after starting the Potter course, I was relying on use of my ETD (SAT II). When I started tuning for pay I had not mastered a full suite of aural tuning skills - primarily, I was not able to set an acceptable temperament. I was certainly not in any way deliberately trying to mislead anyone with my omission, but rather I simply did not think my response through thoroughly. My response was initially directed at Terry Peterson's response that 1,000 tunings are required before one tunes a piano for pay. IMHO, doing 1,000 tunings for free is grossly excessive to simply feel qualified to aurally tune a piano at the beginning level. Nancy also asked about an RPT as a tuning tutor. I stated that I learned to tune without benefit of a tutor. However, I did not state that, on my own, I only learned how to tune with the aid of an ETD. I would strongly suggest that anyone trying to learn aural tuning enlist the assistance of a skilled aural tuning tutor/mentor. So, especially for those reading these posts and trying to figure out how long it takes to learn aural piano tuning - all I can say with authority is that in my experience, the answer would be longer than six months. I also wish to make clear that I fully believe that good aural tuning skills are very important for any piano technician to learn. You will always be further ahead with those skills. Even if you do not specialize in tuning, good basic knowledge of aural tuning principles will never go to waste. I strongly encourage anyone studying this profession to master aural tuning skills. I apologize for my misleading post. I hope I didn't contribute to steering anyone in a less productive direction. Sincerely, Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 9:10 PM Subject: Re: learner with some questions > ...the bottom line is to be able to produce a decently tuned piano - > pretty clean unisons (as the piano allows) and the rest where nothing > stands out - within maybe two hours or so. IMHO, after a few months of > practicing tuning principles, and then doing full tunings on a few dozen > pianos, you might be at that point. > > I did the Potter course in about three or four months, practiced > principles during that time, continued practice for a couple more months > and I don't think I did more than a couple dozen full tunings before I > hung out my sign and started tuning for pay. > SNIP > > Do the course, practice, do a few dozen free tunings for friends and then > go tune like a pro - because at that point you will be one! > > Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: nancy downs To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 8:42 AM Subject: learner with some questions SNIP >> <<Also, is there some kind of consensus as to how many pianos a person >> has to tune before they are ready for the real world? >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "pianolover 88" <pianolover88@hotmail.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 8:20 PM Subject: RE: learner with some questions > <<Also, is there some kind of consensus as to how many pianos a person has > to tune before they are ready for the real world? >> > > About 1,000 on average. > > Terry Peterson
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