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I completed my bachelors degree at Concord University. While there, I became very interested in acoustics and the physics involved with musical instruments, and enthusiastically pursued information on this subject. After reading everything related in the Concord Library, I used the Virginia Tech library as a supplement. Since pianos have inharmonicity problems not always found in other instruments, there were books specifically devoted to this subject. After reading these, I became fascinated with the history of temperaments and what was involved with setting temperaments in pianos as well as other instruments. I learned the basic concepts of how to set a temperament by ear, but didn't have an RPT to apprentice with or high quality pianos to practice on, so never mastered this skill while in college.
When I was fortunate enough to become a McNair Scholar, I used their resources to further pursue my interest in acoustics and music theory. I started a pre-graduate thesis related to acoustics, but eventually settled and completed one related to music theory. Although less directly related to piano tuning, this further helped my understanding of harmony and how important it is for certain overtones to line up to attain an aesthetically pleasing sound.
My husband learned basic aural tuning from an RPT at the Cincinatti Baldwin factory before completing his doctorate in music theory and composition at the Cincinatti Concervatory of Music. He and seveal piano technicians in Virginia have been working with me on setting temperaments by ear and piano maintenance and repair. With their help, I hope to complete my studies and tests to become an RPT (registered piano technician). These studies and tests are regulated by the Piano Technicians Guild. There are three tests one has to pass to become registered: written, aural (tuning by ear), and practical (regulation, maintenance, and repair). I have passed the first, and am progressing in my studies to pass the next two. Until then, I can use what I have already learned to work with most regulation and repair issues, and I can set my temperaments with an ETD (electronic tuning device) specifically designed for pianos (a program called TuneLab). In March of 2008, I was able to attend a 2 day training seminar with Yamaha in LosAngeles, CA to learn how to regulate and repair Dislkaviers.
There are several ETD's on the market. I have faith in most of them. ETD's for pianos are NOT the same as chromatic tuners for stringed instruments such as guitars, fiddles, mandolins, banjos, etc. These tuners are usually equally tempered, but not in the same way a piano is tempered to compensate for inharmonicity problems. Also their resolution is not as fine as piano ETD's. The most noticeable difference in these tuners is their price. A basic chromatic tuner costs between $20 and $50, while a piano ETD costs between $800 and $1500. Through personal experimentation and observation of another tuner/technician, I have found that an acceptable temperament can be set with a basic chromatic tuner when used by someone who has had training in aural tuning and can use the tuner in combination with their ear, the ear being the primary source of information. However, this only applies to a temperament set in a middle ocatave of a keyboard; unisons and octaves MUST be tuned by ear as the chromatic tuner does not have the resolution needed for this. There are two links I found interesting regarding ETD's HERE and HERE.
If you'd like more information, please feel free to contact me by phone: (304)952-8615, or e-mail: mags@magsmusic.net. Please put "tuning" in the subject line of e-mails.
THANKS!
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