Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to voice a piano to change the tone from harsh to soft or soft to harsh and make the tone even after tuning.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to the skills and knowledge required to voice a piano and may include needling, reshaping and hardening hammers to change the tone from harsh to soft or soft to harsh and to make the tone even after tuning.

The unit applies in a workplace and on-site environment and may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises.

Prerequisite units 

Nil

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan for voicing a piano

1.1. OHS requirements , legislative requirements  and workplace practices  relevant to voicing 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 workflow, coordination, personnel cooperation and safety throughout the application of this competency.

2. Prepare for voicing a piano

2.1. Tools , equipment and materials  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

2.4. Piano is tuned and regulated to industry standards and customer requirements before voicing is commenced

3. Voice a piano

3.1. Correct posture  for tuning is demonstrated, which minimizes fatigue and promotes muscular control

3.2. Undesirable tonal qualities  are identified, using customer requirements

3.3. Surface felt is reshaped to ensure a clean and square striking surface.

3.4. Hammers are needled , as required, to achieve particular tonal effects and to balance tonal response.

3.5. Hammers are reshaped after needling to ensure correct shape and surface texture

3.6. Hammers are ironed or hardened  as necessary

3.7. Final tonal quality is assessed against customer requirements, and any adjustments made.

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

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communicate ideas and information to enable confirmation of work requirements, plans and specifications, coordination of work with other workers and customer, and report of work outcomes and problems
• work with customer to assess voicing requirements
• identify team performance required to meet customer needs
• re-interpret customer statements of problems into solution
• collect and monitor information to identify trends that may require remedial action
• plan and organize activities to avoid any backtracking, workflow interruptions, re-work or wastage, including preparation and layout of the worksite and selection of tools and equipment
• manage own work performance to:

• follow OHS and workplace practices
• plan and organize work schedules and routines
• maintain required production output
• assess quality of own work

• modify activities to cater for variations in workplace contexts and environment when tuning pianos
• use workplace technology related to piano technology, including specified tools, equipment, calculators and measuring devices for piano tuning

Required knowledge 

• State or Territory OHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to the full range of processes for tuning and voicing pianos
• organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for tuning and voicing 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
• knowledge of piano tuning and regulation methodologies
• types, characteristics, uses, limitations and preparation of materials and equipment used in piano tuning and voicing
• types of tools and equipment used to tune and voice pianos and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance
• 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

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

• Interpret work order, locate materials and use information to complete tasks to voice both upright and grand pianos
• Identify tools and equipment used in piano voicing
• Select, set up and maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace practices
• Voice a minimum of two upright and grand pianos
• Modify activities to cater for variations in workplace contexts and environment
• Communicate and work with others in the work area
• Apply safe handling practices and safe operating procedures for equipment, products and materials to:

• minimise the risk of injury to self or others
• prevent damage to goods, equipment and products

• Clean tools, equipment and work area
• Maintain and repair a range of hand and power tools used in piano voicing
• Apply OHS practices when using hand and power tools, holding and support equipment, products and materials, including use of personal protective equipment

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment may occur on the job or in a simulated workplace environment in accordance with work practices and safety requirements

Assessment is to occur under standard work practices, and to comply with legislative and regulatory requirements.

The following resources should be made available:

• hand and power tools used in the voicing of pianos
• materials used in the voicing of pianos
• safety and personal protective equipment
• holding and supporting equipment
• workplace location or simulated workplace
• upright and grand pianos

Method of assessment 

Assessment must confirm consistency (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) in application of skills and knowledge when:

• organising work
• completing tasks according to instructions
• working systematically with attention to detail
• identifying improvements and avoiding damage
• using workplace practices
• using OHS practices
• assessing operational readiness of tools and equipment
• recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions

Assessment must include a variety of project or work activities that allow the candidate to demonstrate competency in the unit

Assessment should be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on required knowledge and skills to ensure correct interpretation and application.

Assessment should be conducted over time and may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Legislative /regulatory requirements 

All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

OHS requirements may include :

Relevant Federal, State or Territory OHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice, and workplace policies and procedures, including the use of personal protection equipment, hazard and risk control and manual handling

Legislative requirements may include :

Relevant Federal, State or Territory legislation, including award and enterprise agreements, industrial relations, Australian Standards, confidentiality and privacy, the environment, equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, industry codes of practice.

Workplace practices may include :

Site guidelines, policies and procedures relating to own role, quality assurance, procedural manuals, tool manufacturer recommendations, ethical standards, recording and reporting, equipment use, maintenance and storage, environmental management (waste disposal, recycling, re-use).

Tools , equipment and materials may include :

• screwdrivers, voicing needles, voicing tools and blocks, hammer iron, lacquer and brush, sandpaper, hammer lifting tool, tuning wedge, string level tool, string lifting tool

Personal Protective Equipment may include :

• safety glasses, goggles, hearing protection, safety footwear, protective clothing, gloves, respiratory protection.

Correct posture may include :

• standing or seating, according to type of piano and height of individual
• even distribution of body weight between both feet while standing, to reduce fatigue
• rest arm where available to aid control during tuning and reduce tiredness

Undesirable tonal qualities may include :

• harsh/soft noise which may occur when you have a loose hammer head, loose centre pins or uneven level strings.
• string noises
• false strings - string has its own beat
• nasal or metallic sound due to hard hammers

Needling techniques may include :

• correct method of supporting the hammers to avoid damage to action centres
• selecting the appropriate needling zones to achieve particular tonal effects

Hardening process may include :

• lacquers, irons and collodian

Workplace documentation may include :

• time sheets, customer cards, work orders including job sheets, cutting lists, plans, drawings and designs, tool maintenance records and schedules

Unit sector 

Piano Technology

Competency field 

Co-requisite units