no comp. was Re: Saying "No" (was Convention is focused)

[Delwin D Fandrich]

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  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: July 23, 2002 6:08 AM
  Subject: Re: no comp. was Re: Saying "No" (was Convention is focused)


  In a message dated 7/23/02 7:29:44 AM !!!First Boot!!!, =
pianobuilders@olynet.com writes:=20


  Del=20

  You make some very good points, and I'll make my own observation =
later. But let me first interject a couple of comments about the classes =
I have taught more than once. First, I think it is important that =
classes be taught more than once. After all, there are thousands of =
techs, but only a handful show up for a class. Not that everyone one =
should come hear my words of wisdom, but they should have the =
opportunity to do so, if they so desire. And the same goes for your =
classes. I have recommended your classes to a lot of my friends. But if =
you only teach a class once, how can they learn what I learned?=20
Your point is valid, up to a point. But the class offerings are a =
drawing card (or not) for many technicians as they consider whether or =
not they are going invest the time and money to attend any given =
convention. If a class I give is a part of that draw for someone once, I =
can hardly expect it to work twice for the same person.=20

If I am asked to give the same class twice, out of respect for the =
person or committee asking I will certainly consider doing so, but with =
reluctance. Hopefully, I'm going to learn something during the coming =
year. I believe I owe it to the organization and to those brave and =
sturdy enough to sit through one or more of my presentations to give =
them my best--each time, every time. Even if I am going to present "the =
same class" a second time, the outline is going to be updated and =
revised to correct any errors that may have crept in and to keep it as =
fresh and up to date as I can make it. Just on the off chance someone =
does show up twice, I want to make it worth their while. They will at =
least get a new outline.

Each person sitting in front of me has invested a certain amount of time =
and money to get to where we all are that day--I owe it to that person =
to give them the best I have to give.


  Second, I have never taught a full class at an Annual convention. (I =
have taught about 5 or 6 mini tech classes). I am still waiting for an =
invitation. All the classes I have ever taught have been at various =
regional and one day seminars around the country, or at my chapter =
meeting. Third, I have developed about 12 different classes over the =
years, and I am working on another o! ne. There are some teachers out =
there who have one, or maybe two classes, that they repeat over and over =
again. There is nothing wrong with that, if the class is really good. =
But some of them are not.=20
That does make a difference. When I say I don't like doing the same =
class twice, I should be specific and say I don't like doing it twice at =
the same venue. I have used the same outline at different events--though =
I doubt the presentation was really the same. As much as I try not to, I =
do tend to wander a bit.

Even so, if the second presentation takes place a year later, I'll =
cheat--the outline is going to be updated.


  But getting back to the idea that we've reached a plateau. I think =
what is offered at conventions goes in cycles. Some years there are some =
very good new classes offered. Some years it seems like a repeat of the =
previous year. I don't know if it has to do with the makeup of the =
institute committee, or just who is available and wants to teach. But as =
I mentioned before, I know there are many more willing to teach each =
year than there are openings. Perhaps the institute committee should =
repeat a fewer percentage of "old standby's," and offer a larger =
percentage of new instructors, even if the subject matter is the same. =
After all, how many new ways are there to tune a piano, or notch a =
bridge. But a different approach, on the same topic, presented by a =
different instructor, might be interesting.=20
The decisions about what classes to present and who should give them are =
for the Institute Committee and I'm sure it does change with the makeup =
of that committee. As well it should--that is one of the benefits of an =
evolving committee. Still, the Institute Committee operates at the =
discretion of the (ok, Joe, the Executive) Board. I happen believe the =
direction the Institute Committee in going in needs just a tiny bit of =
tweaking. I also thing it need more resources with which to do its work. =


But, as you say, the class schedule depends in some part on just who is =
available and who wants to teach. Technicians who really throw =
themselves into the art and craft of instructing and then begin to feel =
themselves exploited tend to simply withdraw and go on to other things. =
Just when they have gained enough experience to begin addressing more =
interesting and advanced topics we lose them. But, we say, that's ok, =
there are plenty more coming along to take their places. We pay a price =
in missed abilities, knowledge and wisdom, however.

Maybe there are those who can pop on the scene full-blown and ready to =
take on the world. I certainly can't and didn't. I'd not have dreamed of =
presenting the kind of class I now do 20, or even 10, years ago. As to =
whether I'm doing them well now is best left for others judge, but, =
trust me! they are a lot better now than they were 10 or 20 years ago.=20

And this goes back to my original point. For most, it takes time to work =
up to the point where one can cogently present advanced and complex =
topics. If we don't take some of the financial burden off of those who =
doing quite a lot of work on our behalf, pretty soon they will stop =
doing it and go on to other things where the reward is greater.=20

If a enough classes are offered (or in the case of Lew's--just the one =
was enough) that will benefit me enough to get me to a convention, I =
should be willing to pay enough to at least compensate the instructors =
for the out of pocket expenses it took to get them there and maintain =
them while they are at the convention site.


  As long as there is going to be a piano tuning profession, new people =
are going to come into the industry. Even though guys like you and me =
have just about seen it all, we shouldn't forget there are new people =
who show up every year. The first time you went to a class, might have =
been a fifth time that instructor presented it. But it was new to you, =
and so it was important. Unfortunately, because of this, the same =
subject is going to be presented year after year, and there are going to =
be fewer and fewer classes for us to attend. But as I have expressed =
before, the convention has become more of a social event for me than an =
educational one. But I learn enough new things to make the experience =
worth while.=20
As I said, if the organization makes a conscious and informed decision =
to perpetually cater the convention to the beginner, then so be it. I'll =
stop fussing and find other ways to spend that week in June or July (and =
the many hours it takes me to prepare). Many others have already done so =
and I'm sure I can come up with something.=20

I don't think this direction will be a particularly good thing for =
either PTG or for the convention, however. It waters down the content of =
the convention and makes it less attractive to those who have been =
around a few years. Should we be putting their needs behind those of the =
beginner?=20

I'm of the opinion that there are other avenues of basic instruction =
available to the beginner that are more appropriate. One is the chapter =
meeting. Another is the regional seminar. That load does not have to =
fall--should not fall--on the annual convention.


  As I said earlier, if the only reason you come to a convention is to =
teach, then perhaps you should reexamine your motive for going. But I =
know you come also for the socialization, and to learn a few new things. =
And if you do teach on top of that, I know I, and a lot of other people, =
will learn a lot just sitting in your class listening to your word of =
wisdom.=20
Yes, Wim, these days my primary reason for attending the annual =
convention is to teach. If I am asked to teach at a convention, I will =
do my best to accommodate. Are you saying I shouldn't? In that case I'll =
pretty much have to drop the annual convention from my calendar.=20

It is becoming increasingly rare to find enough classes of interest that =
would entice me to spend the time and money to attend otherwise. =
Besides, by your plan I should be able to show up about once every five =
years or so and pick up most everything that is going on. Do you really =
believe this is an acceptable scenario for our conventions?=20

Or, should I be apologizing for having already attended a dozen or so of =
each of the standard classes on just about all of the standard subjects =
presented by just about all of the standard instructors. It's no big =
thing, really, I've just survived a while and I've long had an appetite =
for learning. I still do, but enough is enough, already. Nowadays I just =
don't get all that excited about attending yet another standard class on =
any of the standard subjects. Regardless of how great the new instructor =
is.=20

We talk about there being balance at the national convention. I happen =
to think the balance is off just a bit and is tipped overly much toward =
the entry-level.=20

One reason for that--it's not the only one, I'm sure, but it is a =
reason--is that we tend to lose the instructors capable of pulling the =
organization along to higher levels. We use them, burn them out and =
discard them. We justify it all by saying telling them that 'they' =
should be willing to 'give' to the 'us,' the organization. 'They' should =
not demand compensation, 'they' should be willing to spend their time =
and money freely on our benefit. Why, if we were to 'pay' them, the =
registration fees will be too high. Someone might not be able to afford =
it. (Incidentally, I've not yet advocated 'paying' any instructor. This =
is a word others have used to confuse the issue.)

Well, eventually 'they' simply give up and stop coming. And the takers =
in our midst can rant and rave all they want. They can justify their =
lofty positions forever. But none of that rhetoric going to bring back =
someone who simply got disgusted with it all and gave up and stayed =
home.

As may be, I'd like to see us work at presenting enough challenging and =
exciting stuff at our conventions to draw out some of those we haven't =
seen for a while. And I realize some efforts are being made to do just =
this. It will not going to be easy--probably impossible--without some =
policy changes, however. And it may not be cheap and we're basically =
cheap folks.

Wim, I realize we differ on this. I place little monetary value on the =
social aspects of the convention. Sure, when I'm there it's really great =
to see friends in the business from time to time. But PTG conventions =
are not my idea of either a social life or a vacation. They are part of =
my business life. I doubt I will ever attend a PTG convention as a =
purely social function. As such, they are a business expense and I have =
to justify them (at least partially) as a business activity. That does =
not mean I have to make money on my participation, but I would prefer =
that since my participation is primarily for the benefit of others, it =
not cost me overly much. =20


  Take care, my friend. One of these we're going to figure it all out.=20
Probably. About ten years after (to most everyone's great relief) I'm =
dead and buried sounds about right.

Regards,

Del

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