Discussion among Peers (too long...sorry)

[Kevin E. Ramsey]

    Hey, Tom. You're doing everything the right way, relax!
    If there was any flak coming your way, it was probably due to some
question you asked which seemed too plebian for the people on the list.
    Don't feel bad though, I recently went to the "Little Red Schoolhouse"
where, on the last day, when the factory Japanese techs were there, the rest
of the class started asking question which only people with no regulating
skills would ask. I was almost embarrassed for America in general. I think
that I also reacted perhaps a little inappropriately, because it was
supposed to be a "school" after all......
    Just keep going to those meetings, and talking to those techs there. We
all did the  same thing when we started out. (If we were smart.)


----- Original Message -----
From: <Tvak@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: Discussion among Peers (too long...sorry)


> >I am not comfortable with this list as the primary learning resource for
> anybody just getting into the business.>
>
> I am probably among the least educated techs (at least in terms of piano
> technology---I do have a Master's Degree in Music) of the subscribers to
this
> list.  Perhaps for that very reason, the list is so important to me.   I
> cannot take time off to go to school to further my knowledge of pianos, so
I
> do what I can:  I have joined the local PTG,  I attended the convention, I
> have tutoring sessions with 2 local RPTs, and...I subscribe to this list.
I
> don't feel that it has been my "primary learning resource", but there's so
> much information here....it's great!
>
> It may not be your job to educate me personally, but I have to ask, what
is
> the purpose of this list if not to educate, to share ideas, and to learn
from
> each other?  Aren't the majority of posts asking for advice or information
> from others?
>
> Let me tell you what prompted me to join the PTG.  I audited a meeting two
> years ago.  At that meeting two new members were accepted into the local.
> One had been tuning pianos for 25 years, the other for 20.  I thought, "I
> don't belong here."  (I had been in the business 3 years at that point.)
>
> Then I subscribed to the list.  Do you know the most important thing I
> learned?  Here it is: in this field, you NEVER stop learning, and you
NEVER
> know everything there is to know.  I had felt I didn't belong in the PTG
> because there was so much I didn't know, but after subscribing to the list
I
> realized that no one knows all there is to know about pianos.   (If
someone
> on the list DOES know everything about pianos, I apologize to you.)
>
> So I joined the PTG and it has been a great experience.  I wouldn't be a
> member if it weren't for the list.
>
> I apologize for the length of this post.  The subject matter just
resonated
> with me.
>
> Tom Sivak
> Chicago PTG Associate
>
> P.S.
>
> I hope no one resents the questions that I occasionally pose.  (See
following
> post!)