Traditional Aural Tuning
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:45PM I have been tuning pianos by ear from the beginning of my career in the early 1980's. As the performer will be listening to the piano accoustically I believe this is how the tuner should set up the piano. There are definitely quality electronic tuning devices and programs available. I am familiar with a them. However, personally I find that I can produce a tuning that will be pleasing and up to the level of expectation of the maunfacturer and the player.
Having been examined by my peers through the official examining process of the Piano Technician's Guild, my test results were quite high on the scale of their grading system.
As each piano has an individual voice, due to its scale, size and other factors, the need to be able to adjust the piano accordingly is, I believe, only possible by ear.