Application
This unit of competency covers tuning temperaments on both upright and grand pianos to produce an equally tempered scale and may involve the use of a pitch standard to establish the start note. It applies in workplace and on-site environments for small to large scale enterprises.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | |||
1 | Plan for tuning temperaments | 1.1 | Work health and safety (WHS) requirements, legislative requirements and workplace practices relevant to repairing pianos are verified and complied with | |
1.2 | Customer requirements are received, analysed and confirmed with appropriate personnel | |||
1.3 | Communication with others involved with the work is established and maintained to ensure efficient work flow, coordination, personnel cooperation and safety | |||
1.4 | Written instructions are followed | |||
2 | Prepare to tune temperaments | 2.1 | Tools and equipment are selected consistent with the needs of the job | |
2.2 | Selected tools and equipment are checked for service ability and safety, and any faults repaired and reported according to workplace practices | |||
2.3 | Personal protective equipment is correctly fitted and used | |||
3 | Tune temperament | 3.1 | Correct posture for tuning is used which minimises fatigue and promotes muscular control | |
3.2 | Start note in temperament octave is tuned from established pitch reference | |||
3.3 | Temperament octave is tuned using the 4th and 5th cycle, following a set order of notes | |||
3.4 | Correct positions are confirmed using the 3rd and 6th checks individually and chromatically | |||
4 | Clean up work area | 4.1 | All tools, materials and other equipment are checked, cleaned and returned to their appropriate location | |
4.2 | Work area is cleared and waste removed | |||
4.3 | Workplace documentation is completed and filed | |||
Evidence of Performance
Interpret work order and locate and apply relevant information
Apply safe handling requirements for equipment, products and materials, including use of personal protective equipment
Identify materials used in the work process
Follow work instructions, operating procedures and inspection processes to:
minimise the risk of injury to self or others
prevent damage to goods, equipment and products
maintain required production output and product quality
Tune a minimum of two (2) temperament octaves to produce an equally tempered scale on both one (1) upright and one (1) grand piano
Use mathematical ideas and techniques to correctly complete measurements, calculate area and estimate material requirements
Communicate ideas and information to enable confirmation of work requirements and specifications and the reporting of work outcomes and problems, interpret basic plans and follow safety procedures
Avoid backtracking, work flow interruptions or wastage
Work with others and in a team by recognising dependencies and using cooperative approaches to optimise work flow and productivity
Evidence of Knowledge
State or territory WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to the full range of processes for tuning pianos
Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for tuning pianos
Reading and interpreting workplace documents, including work orders, work instructions and operator instructions
Environmental protection requirements relating to the disposal of waste material
Established lines of communication and protocols
Types, characteristics, uses, limitations and preparation of materials and equipment used in piano tuning
Types of tools and equipment used to regulate actions, keys and pedals and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance
Relevant problem identification and resolution
Set-up and operation of tools and equipment used for tuning pianos
Storage systems and labelling
Procedures for the recording, reporting and maintenance of workplace records and information
Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimation and measurement
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
hold training and assessment competencies as determined by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) or its successors
have vocational competency in the furnishing industry at least to the level being assessed with broad industry knowledge and experience, usually combined with a relevant industry qualification
be familiar with the current skills and knowledge used and have relevant, current experience in the furnishing industry.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time rather than a single assessment event and in a range of workplace relevant contexts.
Assessment must be by observation of relevant tasks with questioning on underpinning knowledge and, where applicable, multimedia evidence, supervisor’s reports, projects and work samples.
Assessment is to be conducted on single units of competency or in conjunction with other related units of competency. Foundation skills are integral to competent performance in the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment must occur on the job or in a workplace simulated facility with relevant process, equipment, materials, work instructions and deadlines.
Access is required to hand tools used in the tuning of pianos, safety and personal protective equipment, and upright and grand pianos.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. Detail on appropriate performance levels for each furnishing unit of competency in reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy utilising the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) are provided in the Furnishing Training Package Implementation Guide.
Range Statement
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Unit context includes: | WHS requirements, including legislation, building codes, material safety management systems, hazardous and dangerous goods codes, and local safe operating procedures or equivalent work is carried out in accordance with legislative obligations, environmental legislation, relevant health regulations, manual handling procedures and organisation insurance requirements work requires individuals to demonstrate some discretion, judgement and problem solving |
Tools and equipment include | pitch standard tuning lever/hammer temperament strip mutes and wedges tip wrench tuning tips and heads |
Correct posture includes: | standing or seated according to type of piano and height of individual evenly distributing body weight between both feet while standing to reduce fatigue resting arm where available to aid control during tuning and reduce tiredness |
Start note includes: | the note in the temperament octave that corresponds to the note tuned from the pitch standard |
Pitch reference refers to: | the first note tuned on piano from pitch standard generally accepted as being A49/C52 or corresponding notes one octave below, which are A37/C40 |
Temperament octave includes: | notes F 33 through to F 45, with some temperaments spread over 1 ½ octaves |
Personal protective equipment includes: | that prescribed under legislation, regulations and enterprise policies and practices |
Information and procedures include: | workplace procedures relating to the use of tools and equipment work instructions, including job sheets, cutting lists, plans, drawings and designs workplace procedures relating to reporting and communication manufacturer specifications and operational procedures |
Sectors
Piano Technology