---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment In a message dated 10/31/04 2:54:42 PM Central Standard Time, claviers@nxs.net writes: Wim, I agree in part with what you say. However, you imply that it's our fault that more young people aren't studying piano service, and that's where I disagree. I think it's driven more by supply and demand. I'm finding too many who want a quick-fix. They just don't want to do the study and practice that it takes for what they believe they will earn in the end. Jim If it sounded like I was placing the fault on our feet, then I stand corrected. What I was trying to convey was that perhaps we should educate the young people on the need to get educated, that piano technology is not something into which someone goes as an after thought. That there are schools, and courses of study to follow, and most important, a tremendous amount of continuous education is the norm, not ht exception. The trend is in favor of better and more expensive pianos, with electronic keyboards replacing the low-end stuff. Compared to the population, I think the number of total pianos is down, but the average quality is up. I grant you, this doesn't seem to explain the slack-off of people going into piano technology. The trends seem to be out of phase, but I think some of that is normal. As per my article several years ago, there will always be a demand for, and a supply of, low end pianos. Yes, the number of new units sold is way down to what it was even 10 years ago. But I think part of that reason is the continuation of pianos in the market. I don't know how many pianos have been made over the last 125 years, but not enough of them are being thrown away, so that the demand for new units is finally starting to catch up. With all those units out there, there will always be a demand for piano technicians to take care of them I see plenty of young people going into piano technology, but too few who are serious about really learning it. Too many just want to "get by", and that bothers me. When those cheap instruments are finally gone, and the higher quality ones dominate the scene, the "get-by" attitude just won't cut it, and then there will be a demand for first-quality service, but too few providing it. I'm running into that already. I'm at the age where I'm slacking off, spending more time doing R&D, but less time in actual service. Too many times I want to refer to someone else, but such a person just isn't there. Those who are, are either already loaded with work, or else they are at the age where they are cutting back just like I am. This is exactly why we need to start working on finding our own replacements. I'm not saying we want to flood the market, but we need more young technicians to enter the industry. Lets see how the FSU program works. I really hope it does work. Anne, please keep us informed. I'm very interested to learn how this all plays out. Along those lines, I am working on an article for the Economics Affairs Committee series, that is going to address the dealer/technician relationship, that might address one of the problems we have, that of low paying entry levels, and experienced techs leaving for greener pastures. Sincerely, Jim Ellis, RPT Oak Ridge, Tennissee Wim Willem Blees, RPT Piano tuner/technician School of Music University of Alabama ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/ed/c6/19/65/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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