Master Piano Tuner

[Frank Cahill]

Ralph Martin wrote:
> 
> Carl
> I have every intention of keeping my reply civil. Why wouldn't I?
> You have stated your views and I think everyone's views should be welcome.
> 
> While I applaud your right to relate them, I must disagree with most of what
> you've stated. I have followed both RPT's AND MPT's and found good work from
> both and work that no one would consider even passable from both.
> 
> I have no quibble with either organization as I have stated in another post.
> When I was introduced to this craft, most of my cronies had either worked
> for one of the many factories we had in operation then , had completed
> school training or had worked for a few years for a large enough shop to
> sustain them while they learned. Probably with declining factory numbers in
> the US now, the situation may have changed quite a bit. My original
> statement, however, I'll have to stick to regarding men who are around the
> same age as myself.
> 
> I also think it takes more than a school, factory or guild to make a good
> technician. I think there is some native ability involved also.
> 
> I would be very interested in a poll taken directly from this list,
> including the factory technicians that sometimes contribute information, to
> learn how the majority learned their craft. It could prove to be very
> revealing. I'll begin with myself and let others add their source(s) for
> learning.
> 
> 8 years with the Rippen piano company in Ireland
> 4 years with Lifmann-Turrilli in Providence, R.I.
> The factory is self explanitory. I worked there to keep alive while
> attending medical school.
> 
> Lifmann-Turrilli was one of the largest piano rebuilding facilities in th
> US. They occupied 5 floors in a very large city building.
> 
> How about the rest of you folk?
> 
> Ralph Martin
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl Root <rootfamily@erols.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: Wednesday, May 20, 1998 6:27 PM
> Subject: Re: Master Piano Tuner
> 
> >Ralph Martin:
> >I'm fairly new to the list.  I have no personal ax to grind with you,
> >but I have to respond to your recent posts:
> >
> >> Most of the folk attended either a school or worked for a piano shop or
> >> factory or learned from another tech.
> >
> >Many, I dare say most, technicians have no formal training.  They are
> >self taught. . . . . or are trained through PTG chapter tech sessions
> >and regional and national seminars.
> >
> >> The truth is...you DON'T know if the tech truly knows what he is
> doing....so
> >> testing , at least, solves part of that problem. The other organization
> >> simply assumes that the tech has to be adequate enough to have earned a
> >> living at his craft if he has been gainfully employed in the craft.
> >
> >I strongly disagree with this assumption.  There are many tuners, mostly
> >old, but some fairly young, who have not kept up with changing standards
> >and would never be able to pass even a simple test even though they have
> >made a living in this profession for many decades.
> >
> >> While we all run across a hacker once in a while, for the most part I
> think
> >> most techs do a pretty fair job regardless of which organization they
> belong
> >> to or even IF they belong to an organization....otherwise, they don't
> seem
> >> to survive for very long.
> >
> >They do survive.  Mostly because many consumers have fairly low
> >performance expectations.  I have followed many tuners in the field
> >during my career and have come to believe that maybe half the
> >'professionals' have no idea how to set a temperament.
> >(yes, you can tell).
> >
> >(Ralph, I assume this is your quote, too?)
> >> >> I should probably add my two cents on this subject since I am also a
> >> member
> >> >> of the MPT(master piano technicians of america) as well as being a
> member
> >> >> ofPTG.
> >> >>
> >> >> As you are well aware, anyone can be a member of PTG, whether a
> >> >> tuner/technician or not. Should you desire to be registered as a RPT,
> you
> >> >> must be tested by some members of your peers to see if you are able to
> >> >> conform to their requirements.
> >> >>
> >> >> The MPT, on the other hand do not have any novices in their
> organization.
> >> >> The members are not tested, but have to furnish proof of school
> training
> >> >> and/or apprenticeship plus a verifiable work history as a
> >> tuner/technician.
> >
> >Work history does not guarantee anything.  Neither does a certificate
> >from a school.  I'm not knocking schools.  Only that they should be
> >viewed only as an introduction to the craft, no more.  Many graduates of
> >these schools have not passed RPT exams on their  the first attempt.
> >
> >> >> I do not use the MPT designation after my name on this list simply out
> of
> >> >> courtesy since this is a PTG list.
> >
> >Many MPT members use it their advertising, however.  Any implication of
> >certification must be backed up by examination or it is bogus.  I wonder
> >how many on this list would hire a professional service person who
> >represented himself in this way?
> >
> >>>> There are excellent and skilled
> >> >> technicians in both organizations and I have seen the opposite in both
> >> >> organizations.
> >
> >I am sorry to say that in my 25 years of exposure to others in the
> >profession, the percentage of skilled technicians is much higher in PTG
> >than MPT.
> >
> >I'm ready for the flames.  I'm only relating what I beleive and what
> >nearly all of my peers also believe.  Those who would defend the
> >existence of MPT might first want to address the issue of what the
> >average consumer might think when they discover that a "Master Piano
> >Tuner" is deemed to be a suitable title conferred by an organization to
> >all members who have done nothing more than take some entry level
> >courses and/or survive in this business.
> >
> >Carl
> >
> >I've enjoyed the recent peace on this list.  Keep it civil. :-)
> >


I took the Randy Potter course, attends conventions, go to local PTG
meetings.
-- 

Frank Cahill
Associate Member
Northern Va