How to become a Piano Technician

[Jerry Hunt]

Larry,
I've read that about half of tuner/technicians got their start through a
home study course. I am currently taking the Randy Potter course and
highly recommend it - no other home study course comes even close to
being as good. In addition to a wealth of course materials, you also get
a lot of the basic tools that you will need to get started. 
As to how one goes about making contacts, networking, etc., this is all
covered in the Randy Potter course. The course has 6 general sections:
tuning, repairs, regulation, apprenticeship, business and suppliers.
The business section deals with advertising and other strategies for
client development.
As to some of your other questions:
   Market for good tuner/technicians is pretty good. Don't expect to get
rich, but one should still be able to build up a good client base.
   Most technicians are independent. Some technicians work for piano
stores, manufacturers and universities. There are some "companies" that
have several technicians.
   As to how to find an apprenticeship in the SF area, she might contact
the the SF (or nearest) Piano Technicians Guild chapter.      


Larry J Lennhoff wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> Sorry to bother the list with a question that is only partly on topic.
> My sister, who lives in San Francisco and doesn't have net access,
> is interested in becoming a piano technician.  She's thinking about
> taking the Randy Potter school correspondence course.
> 
> I'm interested in what the list perceives as 'normal' ways of becoming
> a piano technician.  Is a correspondence course an acceptable way to
> begin?  What do people think of the Randy Potter school?  Looking
> at the archives of this list, some of you seem to like it, and
> no one seems to dislike it.
> 
> What are the pluses and minuses of this school compared to an
> apprenticeship?  How might she find an apprenticeship in the SF
> area?  Finally, what is the market like for an newly certified
> piano tuner in SF?  How could she go about making contacts and networking
> so as to be able to get jobs?  Are there companies that organize
> piano technicians, or are most of you independent contractors?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> 
> Larry J Lennhoff