Definitions

Tuning	Adjusting the tension in tiny increments on each individual string to achieve the proper note. There is usually one string per note in the low bass, two strings per note up to the bass-tenor break or above and three strings per note to the top.
Pitch Raise or Pitch Lower	With an average of 230 strings at an average tension of 180 lbs, you cannot adjust the tension very much on very many strings without affecting the neighboring strings. You are also adding to the overall tension on the piano and the soundboard, which will flex. A gross adjustment is sometimes necessary to get the piano's tension close enough to get a stable fine tuning. Sometimes two or more pitch raises may be needed (unusual).
Dampers	Dampers are pieces of soft felt which sit on the strings to stop them from ringing. The dampers only cover about three quarters of the notes and the notes above that ring freely .
Hammers	Hammers are hard pieces of felt on the ends of the hammer shanks (sticks) which strike the strings to make a sound.
Action	The action consists of the keys up to the hammers usually on a frame as a unit. In a grand piano the dampers are not part of the action unit, but in a vertical piano, they are. In a vertical, the keys are not part of the action unit, but in a grand, they are. This is most of the mechanical part of a piano and wears like any machine.
Vertical Piano	Vertical pianos consist of uprights, studios, consoles and spinets. It is easier to use the term "vertical" than to list all the vertical pianos. The strings are in a vertical plane.
Grand Piano	Grand pianos have the strings in a horizontal plane and usually have three legs
Regulation	When parts wear in the action, it can become difficult to play softly or control the action with reliability. Regulation is the resetting of the parts to put the action geometry back in good order. It is a time to check the parts for wear and make necessary adjustments or repairs. It is also the best time to build tone in the piano.
Tone Building	The tone is the total sound or effect of the sound of the piano. Tightening all case screws, regulating the action, making sure that all strings are vibrating effectively and voicing the hammers for maximum dynamic range will make sure the piano is giving all it is capable of giving.
Damper Action	You didn't really think the dampers just "SIT" on the strings, did you? They are attached to blocks of wood which are connected to a wire which is connected by levers and magic to the ends of the keys and the pedals. This varies from piano to piano, but the principal is the same.
Voicing	I use this term to mean the process of affecting the output of the strings and or the hammers. Voicing is part of the initial tone building of the piano, but light voicing for evening out the sound from note to note is performed at tunings.




			These definitions are mine and I only present them as clarification of terms I use with the customer. If you look in a reference source and find that "tuning" is actually one of the wheels under the piano and not at all what I represented it to be, it matters not until we get to court. Just kidding, these are fairly accurate.

			What is a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) The field of Piano technology is an unregulated trade. Therefore the Piano Technicians Guild has set its own standards of quality for piano technicians. The Guild has two types of members: Registered Piano Technicians and Associates. Associate membership is open to anyone with a "professional or avocational interest in piano technology." On the other hand, the title of "Registered Piano Technician" must be earned by passing a series of examinations. The RPT examinations are in three parts. There is a written exam, testing basic knowledge of piano design, tuning theory, repair and general piano technology. Next, a technician takes a standardized tuning exam. At least three examiners, set up a "master tuning" by tuning a test piano until they are convinced as a group that every note is in the best possible place. This "master tuning" is then used as the standard against which the examinee is measured. Using sensitive electronic measuring equipment, the examinee's tuning is compared against the "master tuning." This system gives a fair and standardized test for all chapters of the Piano Technicians Guild. The next phase of the examinations is a "technical test." This test involves regulation of a grand action model and a vertical action model. On the test for the vertical action, the examinee is given a bag of parts, and must assemble it into an action model and make it function correctly. This method keeps the exam a reasonable length but still tests for the necessary skills. Then there is a repair test, covering all the basic in-home type repairs, such as broken strings, key repairs, and broken action parts. The rating of RPT is not meant to be a rating for a rebuilder; it is meant to show that the technician is ready to handle normal piano service and repair. The Piano Technicians Guild has put a lot of time and effort into its examinations to establish a good set of standardized tests which will help insure quality service. The written test takes about 1 hour. The tuning and technical tests take about 4 hours each.

		Master Piano Technicians The question most often asked is, "why another organization for piano technicians?" The answer is clear and simple: The organization of Master Piano Technicians has just one reason for existing, which is to benefit members. Each chapter is autonomous. No chapter need follow standards set nationally or regionally. MPT founders felt, and leadership still acknowledges, that each member and chapter is qualified to be self-governed. Additionally, MPT has no student or apprentice members.