The Aural Tuning and Repair Course has 25 tuning lessons and 9 technical lessons. Each tuning lesson has a reading component, a video component, and a feedback component. We explain and demonstrate the exercises that develop both the physical and intellectual skills needed to succeed in each particular task.

Each lesson has at least one written exam, usually several. These written exams are not online multiple-choice questions. We ask you questions, and you write us answers. We read them. Then we write back. These written exams often generate some interesting conversations.

We're known for our step-by-step aural tuning exercises. We provide specific instructions for each exercise; you practice until you think you’ve accomplished the objective and then submit a video of that exercise. (Most students use the video component of their smartphones to record it. Then they upload their video to YouTube as “Unlisted.”) We watch the video and provide you with feedback to address your distinct needs. Did you do it correctly? Were you listening for the correct partials? Were you using good tuning lever techniques? Were you using proper fingering?

Often, exchanging videos isn’t sufficient. Sometimes, we need to have a private tutoring session via Zoom. We need to give you moment-by-moment feedback while you work at your piano. This is incredibly helpful. This is the kind of program you find at brick-and-mortar schools!

The Lessons

Lesson 1: Making a Good Start
Lesson 2: The Other Masters of the Piano
Lesson 3: The Piano - A Brief History
Lesson 4: Basic Designs of Pianos
Lesson 5: The Environment and the Piano
Lesson 6: Basic Music Theory
Lesson 7: The Nature of Sound
Lesson 8: Introduction to Tuning
Lesson 9: Unisons and Octaves
Lesson 10: Fifths and Fourths
Lesson 11: Closed Group Intervals
Lesson 12: The Major Third
Lesson 13: Tuning Chromatic Thirds
Lesson 14: The Major Sixth
Lesson 15: Tuning Contiguous Thirds
Lesson 16: Aural Gauge Tools Part I
Lesson 17: Aural Gauge Tools Part II
Lesson 18: The minor third
Lesson 19: Aural Gauge Tools Part III
Lesson 20: The Fifth Dimension Tool
Lesson 21: The Sixth Dimension Tool
Lesson 22: Equal Temperament
Lesson 23: Tuning Below the Temperament
Lesson 24: Tuning Above the Temperament
Lesson 25: Dynamic Unisons

Lessons TL1 through TL6 cover the information needed to pass the PTG Technical Exam.

Lesson TL1: Introduction to the Grand Piano
Lesson TL2: Introduction to the Vertical Piano
Lesson TL3: Action Geometry
Lesson TL4: Regulating the Grand Action Model
Lesson TL5: Regulating the Vertical Action Model
Lesson TL6: General Repairs

Lesson TL7: Full Grand Regulation
Lesson TL8: Full Vertical Regulation
Lesson TL9: Grand Voicing