how to become a piano tuner?

[delpetrarca]

Hello everyone,

I have a question. Is it possible to learn to tune the piano on my own without going to any of those piano technology programs?

Though my main purpose for learning is to tune my own piano, but I guess it doesnt hurt to make it a part-time profession =) I know that there's a piano technician guide that kind of register piano tuners. I just found out online actually. I wonder if that's the industry standard. Or to say, is such a "license" crutial and is that specific one the authoritative?

Thank you so much!!!

[Brian Lawson, RPT]

Randy Potter's is a very popular correspondance course that many tuners start to learn with, join the PTG as an associate and learn from others.

Where (I assume) in the states are you?

[Floristan]

Tuning is a complicated craft which takes months to learn and years of practice to perfect.  True, with electronic tuning devices it's probably possible for an amateur to approximate an OK tuning with only a few weeks of work, but even these devices are complicated to use and difficult to understand if you have never tuned a piano.   If you have no aural tuning skills, even an electronic device cannot give you a really good tuning.  If the only piano you ever plan to tune is your own, I think you'll find it far more bother than it is worth to learn to tune, IMO.

[c18cont]

Of course,

Should your instrument be harpsichord or clavichord, you are expected generally to do your own tuning. there are an absolute multitude of activities people have learned to become their own expert in...probably no field goes untouched...except perhaps undertaking...

John Cont

[delpetrarca]

Thanx for the replies! Sorry I was away for a while.
Yeah, i want to be able to tune my own piano at least. I was just thinking it doesn't hurt to make it a part time job to tune piano for others - of course, after i learn and feel gd about what i can do =P, but i was just wondering what ppl look for when seeking a piano tuner? is there some kind of certificate? how do ppl know if one's capable?

[Michele Felice]

It is likely to take some time and considerable effort to develop any reasonable level of proficiency in piano tuning. For this reason, if you are a pianist, it's best not to practice on your own instrument, because it is likely to be unusuable until you have spent several months learning and have developed some skills. A second piano for tuning practice is thus a good way to go. If you spend, say, $1000 on a piano to use for studying tuning, you will also have a chance to practice basic regulation, voicing and repair skills that any tuner needs to know (if action parts are not working, you cannot tune a piano and must fix it first), without putting your primary instrument out of commission.

The only certification is passing the Piano Technicians Guild Registerd Piano Technician exam, which includes tuning, repair and regulation skills.

Piano tuning is hard work and very demanding of mental and physical energy. You will discover this after spending a whole eight hour working day attempting your first tuning. After which, your piano will sound miserable. I don't want to discourage you, but simply to warn you to be prepared to commit some serious time and effort.

The best place to learn about piano tuning is from the Piano Technicans Guild. There is a PTG National Convention next month, from which you could learn a great deal in a very few days for an investment of perhaps $1000.

[c18cont]

Indeed,

May I re-enfource Michele Felice...A purchase of an old piano is advisable...I have learned the trade fairly well, and also learned pipe organ tuning and voicing by buying parts and complete instruments, and re-selling them after restoration..

I had the good fortune to have worked with two different small pipe organ builders at different times in my youth, and worked with an accomplished piano technician at one of them...and it CAN be done if you have instruments to practice on...I even restored a fine clavichord and a rare French harmonium from learning from others...

Any fine craft can be learned with patience...Now if I could learn to grow old.....

John Cont

[delpetrarca]

thanks so much for the genuine advice!!! I think it's very true that it requires serious time and effort, just as everything else serious. My ideal thought of learning it and probably making it a part time job on top of a busy schedule probably won't work out.  I guess I'll have to delay my "learning desire" and find a good chunk of time to dedicate to it  later on in my life ^_^ i do always wholeheartedly wish to be able to understand better the structure of the piano, the most basics of the sound making and to tune my own piano some day=)  we'll see =)
Thanks again!

[blackstone]

I put together an online piano tuning tutorial that may be helpful to you getting started.  This site is free of charge, so this is not spam or a solicitation.  This is different from any other tuning websites because it features the entire tuning process on MP3, an in-depth explanation of tuning and related topics, and the temperament which I created.  The url is www.blackstonepiano.com, and just click on Tuning Tutorial.

Hope this helps,
Colin McCullough

[happyface94]

I hear you have to listen to the wave the sound makes or something weird. My tuner said its a 4 year study to become a great one.

[c18cont]

Many thanks, Blackstone,

First time I have seen your site, and it is certianly well done. There are items of interest for any interested tuner or apprentice.

I don't even do my own piano's anymore, beyond touching up the odd unison/octave probs till the tuner comes, but I may start again, as I spent a lot of time on it as a young man...

Please accept my thanks for this thread answer!!!

John Cont

[cadenz]

I hear you have to listen to the wave the sound makes or something weird. ...

i should hope so 

[Michele Felice]

  My tuner said its a 4 year study to become a great one.

To be come competent, four years would be a reasonable time. To become great is another thing entirely.

[c18cont]

..."to become great is another thing,....",

Indeed,........ the Great, of natural selection alone, are indeed rare...

John Cont