I'm 55, am (was?) a professional jazz pianist, began studying piano technology at age 50, have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my new pursuit, have met with considerable success as an independent technician, and just this year joined the Department of Music at Howard University in our Nation's Capital as a part-time technician (about 80 pianos in the inventory, but really only about 50 active), and have never planned to retire. It just doesn't seem like it would be fun! Being small of stature and starting in my 50s, I have never felt that I could undertake 4 tunings a day, rebuilding, moving, or other very heavy work. I undertake some re-pinning (tuning pins), lots of grand action reconditioning/rebuilding. Tuning in jazz clubs and jazz festivals, I put on plenty of strings. Being at the University is augmenting my skill set, teaching me case and bench repairs (using a drill more often than before!). I do plan to be installing sets of hammers at the Universtiy, but I may order them pre-hung. Being healthy, I do hope to be able to sustain my present work pace until I'm at least 70. I must acknowledge, however, that my energy has flagged in my 50s, as compared to even 40s. Hopefully the slowdown can be slowed through healthy habits; trying to learn some of those now (jazz musician). :) I personally know one person in their 20s who attended North Bennett Street and graduated as an RPT last year. Spiritually, I think the work we do requires that a person be in a certain "space" that most young people, myself included, are not in. But those of us meant to find this work, do find it, and always will. Fortunately -- because as I pianist I can attest that it's extremely important work, often unsung, but important nonetheless. -- Paul Milesi, RPT Howard University Department of Music College of Arts and Sciences, Division of Fine Arts 2455 Sixth Street NW Washington, DC 20059 University: (202) 806-4565 Home: (202) 667-3136 Cell: (202) 246-3136 E-mail: paul at pmpiano.com Website: http://www.pmpiano.com > From: Susan Kline <skline at peak.org> > Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org> > Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:18:18 -0700 > To: <caut at ptg.org> > Subject: Re: [CAUT] pin drop > > >> Everyone is getting fatter... > > True enough! But maybe the demographic problem is with the > benches, not the students and profs. Were most of them bought > at around the same time? Maybe they all are getting decrepit > and senile at once? > > Come to that, aren't most of the piano techs getting decrepit > and (hopefully not) senile in lockstep with each other? Who is > going to replace us in ten or twenty more years? > > Shall we do a little informal CAUT survey --- how old is > everybody? Retirements imminent? Plans for how long to keep > working? (only if you feel like telling us, of course.) > > I consider myself just passing through the outer fringe of > semi-retirement. I've cut back general work about 30%, but > still do all the concerts. I've started turning down (or > trying to pass on) work involving tilting pianos, upright > players still containing player actions, and square grands. > I do lots of small repairs, some repinning and rebushing now > and then, but full stringing and parts replacement I pass on > to someone who does it full time. > > Susan Kline, 63 > > > > >
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