[CAUT] U. of Northern Iowa position

[Paul Milesi, RPT]

Jeff,

I must respectfully but firmly disagree with your rather negative take on
all this.  Actually, I find your view very disconcerting.

What we do has everything to do with the art of music, and what that art
requires.  To understand what is required of a piano in order for it to be
capable of making music requires not only a form of talent, but also years
of training, study and hard work.  I learned plenty while enrolled in a
"collegiate system of earning academic credit hours."  I most certainly have
"a better understanding of music and musicians" thanks to the many wonderful
and talented artists I was privileged to befriend in college.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I am a whole lot better piano
technician than many, became so much more quickly, and am overwhelmingly
successful as a CAUT, because of my formal musical training, followed by a
lifetime spent sitting at pianos as a professional pianist.

The one thing we do seem to be in agreement about is that there are many
non-musical skills that come in handy when it comes to running a business,
making money, or relating to people.  While a lack of those skills may mean
you won't earn as much or be as "successful" as someone else who does
possess those skills, it certainly doesn't mean that you won't be a
wonderful technician, and make meaningful contributions to the field of
piano service, and thereby musical art.
-- 
Paul Milesi, RPT
Staff Piano Technician
Howard University Department of Music
Washington, DC


> From: tannertuner <tannertuner at bellsouth.net>
> Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:29:46 -0700 (PDT)
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] U. of Northern Iowa position
> 
> Based on my experience and education background, it is a misconception that
> having (or pursuing) a music degree gives one a better understanding of music
> and musicians, nor does it mean one can or cannot play. The collegiate system
> of earning academic credit hours is a grossly inefficient method of teaching
> music. Ask those folks who wrote that music Mr. Schnabel was speaking of where
> they got their music degrees.
> 
> Pursuing a music degree can help those who are inclined, but at the same time
> the collegiate system may be also guilty of holding them back.
> 
> Jeff Tanner
> 
> 
> --- On Tue, 8/10/10, Don <pianotuna at accesscomm.ca> wrote:
> 
>> From: Don <pianotuna at accesscomm.ca>
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] U. of Northern Iowa position
>> To: caut at ptg.org
>> Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 5:08 AM
>> Hi Tanner,
>> 
>> That is nothing--except good taste and a better
>> understanding of music and
>> musicians. I do not say you can not be a wonderful
>> technician/tuner if you
>> do not play--but it surely helps.
>> 
>> At 06:27 AM 8/10/2010 -0700, you wrote:
>>> I'm always baffled as to why they would require a
>> bachelors degree in
>> music. Nothing learned in the curriculum of a music degree
>> prepares you for
>> the responsibilities of a piano technician. An appreciation
>> and ear for
>> music is all that is ever required. Inventory management,
>> record keeping,
>> manual dexterity, acknowledgement of physics and
>> engineering, and common
>> sense are not taught in the music department.
>>> 
>>> (and, yes, I do see that they have somehow justified
>> that an associates
>> degree and 3 years experience as a professional tech, or
>> high school and 6
>> years experience may be substituted. But where is the logic
>> in that?
>> Doesn't this logic somehow suggest that the music degree
>> substitutes for
>> experience as a professional piano technician?)
>>> 
>>> As for the 1/2 time position, they probably need a full
>> time person or two.
>>> 
>>> Tanner
>> Regards,
>> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
>> Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat
>> 
>> mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com   
>> http://www.donrose.ca/
>> 
>> 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7
>> 306-539-0716 
>> 
> 
>