Using an ETD to hone aural skills

[David Love]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
I prefer Mr. Finley's method for the simple reason that initially you =
want
to reinforce what it is you want to hear rather than making mistakes and
then going back and making corrections.  It is always easier to learn it
correctly the first time rather than unlearn it and learn it correctly
later.  Therefore, I would tend to (if you are using the SAT III) =
program a
tuning sequence into the machine and tune aurally along with it =
listening to
the intervals and checks as you go.  You also might find that you =
disagree
with the machine in certain sections of the piano especially through the
tenor and in the bass below C3 (that's the point at which the machine is
preprogrammed to switch from a 4:2 to a 6:3 octave-it's not always the
perfect transitional point).  Tune 95% along with the machine and then =
test
yourself now and then going in the same sequence.  You will establish a =
beat
memory more quickly and I think you will progress faster. =20

=20

David Love
davidlovepianos@comcast.net=20

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Robert Finley
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 6:35 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Using an ETD to hone aural skills

=20

I am also learning to tune aurally using a Sanderson Accutner III to =
check
my accuracy. My piano is a Yamaha 5'3" grand which is well scaled, =
although
some of the beats are  quite weak to hear, and I have noticed a few =
false
beats too.=20

=20

I also use the same Potter FA temperament (I am doing his correspondence
course) and use a similar procedure to what you describe, although I =
also
tune A440 to a fork by comparing the beat rate of the fork and F3 with =
the
note A4 and F3.=20

=20

One thing I have done when tuning the temperament is to tune each =
interval
with the SAT and then listen to the beat rate so I know what it should =
sound
like, and also do the various test to hear how the beat rate (such as =
speed
of the major 3rds) gradually increases as you go higher in pitch. I also
tune each interval aurally and then check it with the SAT as you do. =
Each
way has it's benefits.=20

=20

Robert Finley

=20

----- Original Message -----=20

From: A440 Piano Service <mailto:a440@bresnan.net> =20

To: PTG List <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org> =20

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 8:21 PM

Subject: Using an ETD to hone aural skills

=20

=20

Hi people,
I'm trying to hone my aural tuning skills and I've come up with a =
method...=20
I'd like to hear others' feedback on this particular method, and about =
any
other kinds of methods you might recommend.
=20
Today I had a nice tuning in a quiet house.  It was a Yamaha Grand, a
C3 in good shape.  So I took the opportunity to "keep score" on my
aural tuning.  I used Potter F-A II.
=20
What I did was:
1.  Take F-A-C readings and let the SAT calculate a tuning.
2.  Set the A4 with the machine.
3.  Tune the temperament by ear from there.
4.  Compare my note with the machine's calculation.
5.  Write down how far off I was (in cents).
6.  Re-tune with machine and go to the next note, lather, rinse and
repeat.
=20
Here's my scorecard:
A3: -.1
F3:  -.2
F4:  +.9
C#4:  -.8
D4:  dead on!
A#3: -2.7, retried: -2.2.  Found out D4 (where I was tuning the third
from had drifted flat - gotta work on my stability!)
=20
F#3: -.5
D#4: dead on!
B3:  -2.8  (oops!)  retry: dead on!
G3:  +.2
E4:  -.4
C4:  dead on!
G#3: -.8
F#4: -.1
G4:  dead on
G#4: -.3
=20
So howzzat?  Not too bad, I'm thinking.  My tendency looks to be that
I tend to tune flat (slower beating), but I think I'll need a few more
scorecards to make a statistical judgement.  And I have to work on the
stability thing, too, obviously.  I get so caught up in the beat
speeds that I lose track of that fundamental skill of setting the
string and the pin.
=20
Are any of you doing practice things with your ETDs?  How do you use =
them?


---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/5b/ac/96/ac/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--