Piano Tuning & Repair

Developed by Francis Chilcoat (songcoat@hotmail.com)

Piano tuning is a vocational class that Introduces students to the trade of piano tuning.
Students learn tuning of upright, grand and spinet pianos. Training takes place in the
"Piano Shop" at the West Virginia School for the Blind. Students use braille, large print
books, audio/video tapes and receive lectures on the latest information related to piano
tuning. Students also tune pianos on campus to acquire experience. Development in the
course depends on the students ability to work with his/her given limitations i. e. low
vision or total blindness. Motility and motor skill development is an important
consideration when gaining skills in the art of tuning. This course could run for a full 8
semesters to prepare a student for further training at one of the many piano tuning school
located in private and university settings. The preferred post high school setting for a
blind student would be the Emil Fries Piano Hospital in Vancouver Washington.

Standard 1: Identify, explore and evaluate career opportunities related to piano tuning.
(2191.S.1)

Career Opportunities Related to Piano Tuning.

Students will
2191.1.1 Describe a variety of careers related to piano tuning and repair and the training necessary
to be successful in those careers.
2191.1.2 Develop appropriate attitudes and behaviors required to succeed in careers in the field of
piano tuning and repair.
2191.1.3 Identify source information about careers in piano tuning and repair.
2191.1.4 List professional organizations in the field of piano tuning.
2191.1.5 List wholesale suppliers to the trade of piano tuning and repair.

Standard 2: Demonstrate knowledge of basic safety rules and equipment as it relates to

piano tuning and repair. (2191.S.2)

Basic safety rules and equipment objectives

Students will
2191.2.1 Recognize and follow general shop and safety guidelines
2191.2.2 Select and wear appropriate protective equipment
2191.2.3 Demonstrate the proper selection and use of fire extinguishers.
2191.2.4 Identify and demonstrate proper use and care of all basic personal safety equipment.
2191.2.5 Describe safety precautions necessary when using hazardous materials

Standard 3: Demonstrate knowledge of piano keyboard, intervals and equal beating tests
(2191S.3)

Piano Tuning Objectives

Students will:
2191.3.1 Name keys
2191.3.2 Explain keyboard interval conventions
2191.3.3 Identify and use interval abbreviations
2191.3.4 Use intervals by ratio and coincident partial pairs
2191.3.5 Describe Beats
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2191.3.6 Determine tuning pin layouts for the upright (tactually)
2191.3.7 Determine tuning pin layout for the Grand piano (tactually)
2191.3.8 Follow an equal temperament formula
2191.3.9 Demonstrate muting techniques
2191.3.10 Demonstrate knowledge of tuning hammer and adaptations
2191.3.11 Report on and demonstrate knowledge of pitch raising procedures
2191.3.12 Demonstrate the proper use of the tuning fork
2191.3.13 Employ string and pin setting technique (test strike)
2191.3.14 Tune stable unisons
2191.3.15 Use good tuning hammer sensitivity (technique)
2191.3.16 Have a good concept of tuning stability in string setting
2191.3.17 Hear and identify and locate harmonic partials
2191.3.18 Focus on beat-rates of coincident partials
2191.3.19 Use tests related to pitch setting within tolerance of A=440 bps
2191.3.20 Tune pure 2:1 octaves in the bass, midrange and treble
2191.3.21 Tune pure 4:2 octaves in the bass, midrange and treble
2191.3.22 Tune pure 6:3 octaves in the bass, midrange and treble
2191.3.23 Tune just fifths and fourths within an octave
2191.3.24 Set a temperament of fifths and fourths using appropriate tests
2191.3.25 Count and tune beats to specific beat rates
2191.3.26 Tune 4:1 double octaves
2191.3.27 Tune contiguous thirds
2191.3.28 Tune a temperament of thirds and fifths with appropriate tests
2191.3.29 Employ parallel interval tests M 10ths, M17ths and M21s
2191.3.30 Tune 8:4 and 10:5 octaves in the low bass
2191.3.31 Refine the midrange with contiguous P5/P4 comparison tests
2191.3.32 Tune octave 5 and 6 (treble) using the M3-M10-M17 tests
2191.3.33 Employ the M6-M17 test in octaves 5 and 6
2191.3.34 Tune the top octave C7-C8 (high treble)
2191.3.35 Employ contiguous thirds to start a temperament
2191.3.36 Refine bass tuning in AO-C3
2191.3.37 Participate on a prototype master tuning session (pre RPT exam)
2191.3.38 Tune a piano (supervised)
2191.3.39 Tune pianos (unsupervised) as assigned

Standard 4: Apply Vertical Piano Action Regulation Concepts. (2191.S.4)

Vertical Action Regulation Objectives

Students will:
2191.4.1 Identify Parts of the Upright piano
2191.4.2 Explain the function of upright action parts
2191.4.3 Select proper regulation tools
2191.4.4 Perform preliminary alignment of the action in the vertical piano
2191.4.5 Tighten action screws
2191.4.6 Travel hammers to the strings
2191.4.7 Position dampers to the strings
2191.4.8 Perform preliminary alignment of keys, whippens and wires
2191.4.9 Properly square keys
2191.4.10 Accurately align back checks to whippens
2191.4.11 Identify and inspect rail cloth
2191.4.12 Adjust key spacing
2191.4.13 Choose hammer blow and key dip settings

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2191.4.14 Adjust lost motion
2191.4.15 Accurately level keys
2191.4.16 Adjust key dip settings
2191.4.17 Set let off adjustments
2191.4.18 Adjust back check distance
2191.4.19 Set sharp key dip
2191.4.20 Regulate dampers
2191.4.21 Align and regulate damper pedal lift
2191.4.22 Adjust damper spoons
2191.4.23 Accurately position bridle wires
2191.4.24 Set soft pedal motion
2191.4.25 Employ the use of touch weights
2191.4.26 Troubleshoot action problems, bobbling hammers
2191.4.27 Troubleshoot action problems, sticking keys
2191.4.28 Regulate an upright action model, pre RPT exam

Standard 5: Repair of upright and grand pianos. (2191.S.5)

Piano Repair Objectives

Students will:
2191.5.1 Demonstrate the use and care of piano technicians tools.
2191.5.2 Demonstrate the care and use of measuring gages.
2191.5.3 Identify and employ the use of piano action cloth
2191.5.4 Identify and use proper lubricants
2191.5.5 Re-bush upright and grand piano flanges
2191.5.6 Measure center pins
2191.5.7 Re-bush keys
2191.5.8 Make repairs of the piano key
2191.5.9 Replace vertical hammer shanks
2191.5.10 Replace and align hammer heads in the treble
2191.5.11 Replace and align hammer heads in the bass
2191.5.12 Replace upright damper felt in the treble
2191.5.13 Replace upright bass damper felt
2191.5.14 Replace grand damper felt in the treble
2191.5.15 Replace grand damper felt in the bass
2191.5.16 Replace action springs
2191.5.17 Replace pedal springs
2191.5.18 Replace wheels
2191.5.19 Use piano tilt dolly
2191.5.20 Make tuning pin string coils
2191.5.21 Measure tuning pins
2191.5.22 Use piano pin-block support jacks
2191.5.23 Drive and level tuning pins
2191.5.24 Measure plain piano wire
2191.5.25 Replace individual strings in the treble
2191.5.26 Replace individual strings with a hitch pin loop
2191.5.27 Measure bass strings
2191.5.28 Replace individual bass strings
2191.5.29 Replace plain wire string sets
2191.5.30 Replace bass string sets
2191.5.31 Splice bass and treble strings
2191.5.32 File and shape hammers

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2191.5.33 Voice hammers
2191.5.34 Repair stripped screw holes
2191.5.35 Clean piano sound board
2191.5.36 Clean and lubricate piano bridges
2191.5.37 Evaluate the condition of a piano plate
2191.5.38 Evaluate the condition of a piano pin block
2191.5.39 Evaluate the condition of a piano soundboard
2191.5.40 Shim cracks of the piano soundboard
2191.5.41 Evaluate the condition of piano bass and treble bridges
2191.5.42 Measure down bearing
2191.5.43 Lubricate bridge bearing surfaces
2191.5.44 Repair damaged bridge pins holes

Standard 6: Piano Design and Construction (2191.S.6)

Piano Design and Construction Objectives

Students will:

2191.6.1 Describe and report on piano development, key inventions and historic innovators of the
piano.
2191.6.2 Report on the construction techniques used to manufacture pianos.
2191.6.3 Report on the benefits and advantages and techniques of humidity control for pianos

Standard 7: Grand piano action regulation (2191.S.7)

Grand piano action regulation objectives

Students will:
2191.7.1 Bed a keyframe
2191.7.2 Properly position the keyframe
2191.7.3 Travel hammers
2191.7.4 Angle hammers
2191.7.5 Space hammers
2191.7.6 Check and level piano strings to hammer faces
2191.7.7 Properly square keys
2191.7.8 Accurately space keys
2191.7.9 Correctly level keys to specified key height
2191.7.10 Accurately center jacks
2191.7.11 Correctly space whippens
2191.7.12 Align backchecks to hammer tails
2191.7.13 Choose and set hammer blow distance
2191.7.14 Choose and set key dip settings of the white keys
2191.7.15 Obtain proper aftertouch
2191.7.16 Understand and adjust let off
2191.7.17 Understand and adjust drop
2191.7.18 Adjust jack position
2191.7.19 Adjust repetition lever height
2191.7.20 Adjust hammer blow distance and sharp key dip
2191.7.21 Adjust back check angle and distance
2191.7.22 Adjust repetition springs
2191.7.23 Understand the operation of the grand damper system

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2191.7.24 Correct sluggish dampers
2191.7.25 Adjust grand dampers for even lift from the key
2191.7.26 Adjust grand dampers for even lift from the pedal
2191.7.27 Employ a grand damper leveling jig
2191.7.28 Adjust the grand damper stop rail
2191.7.29 Adjust the grand damper sustain pedal
2191.7.30 Adjust the grand action shift pedal
2191.7.31 Adjust the sostenuto pedal
2191.7.32 Position the hammer rail
2191.7.33 Position the key stop rail

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Books and materials

Piano Servicing, Tuning, & Rebuilding

For The Professional The Student The Hobbyist
By Arthur A. Reblitz
ISBN 0-911572-12-0

PTG Piano Action Handbook

Compiled by Merle H. Mason
Embossed in one volume
By permission of the Publishers
The Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.
Braille edition
American Printing House for the Blind

Grand and spinet Pianos

By Edward H. Menke
Large Print and Braille
American Printing House For the Blind
Louisville, Kentucky
00212-01

Piano Tuning and allied Arts

William Braid White
Large Print and Braille
American Printing House
For the Blind
Louisville Kentucky

A Guide to Restringing
John W. Travis
Library of Congress catalog card # 61-9870

The Book of the Piano

Edited by Dominic Gill
Cornell University Press
Ithica, New York
ISBN 0-8014-1399-0

Piano and their Makers

Alfred Dolge
Dover Publications, Inc. New York
ISBN 0-486-22856-8

Pierce Piano Atlas

Library of Congress catalog # 65-25465
ISBN 0-911138-02-1

The Piano Its Acoustics

By W. V. McFerrin
Tuners Supply Company
Wakefield Item Press
Wakefield, Mass
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The Tuning of my Harpsichord
By Herbert Anton Kellner
Copyright By Verlag Das Musikinstrument
Klueberstrasse 9, D-6000 Frankfort / Main
Redaction: H. K. Herzog, Kostanz
ISBN 3 920112 78 4

Piano Tuning
(How to set a temperament and tune the extremities of a piano.
A text in chapters with exercises and questions)
By Francis Chilcoat
Piano Tuning Instructor
West Virginia School for the Blind
301 East Main Street
Romney, West Virginia
Songcoat@hotmail.com

The Technical Examination

A Source Book
Copyright 1993 The Piano Technicians Guild
3930 Washington
Kansas City, Mo 64111-2963
WWW.pianotechciniansguild.com

The Tuning Examination

A Source Book
Copyright 1993 The Piano Technicians Guild
3930 Washington
Kansas City, Mo 64111-2963
WWW.pianotechciniansguild.com

American Piano Supply Co.

Box 1055, Clifton, N.J. 07014
www.americanpianosupply.com

Schaffe Piano Supply Company

320 Cliborne Ave
Chicage Ill. 606212
WWW.Schaffepiano.com

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