David, Matthew, I used a bit of two of the methods you suggest to get trained, plus much seat-of-the-pants/on-the-job training.? I'd been in the business a long time, having learned tuning 25 or so years before I went full time, but not spending time learning much else in the way of piano technology.? I was in sales, moving, tuning, floor sweeping, etc., etc., for a couple of different stores. Personal situations eventually led me into business for myself, at which point I realized the technical end of my education needed shoring up in a huge way.? I joined the PTG, purchased the Potter course, and knocked on doors of my former employers looking for work, which they were more than happy to give me.? I was able to utilize the skills learned in the texts and the PTG on real, live pianos.? Like others here, I was frustrated with the amount of time it took for my assignments to come back to me while finishing Randy's course.? When they DID arrive, I was very pleased with Randy's very thorough evaluations and attention to detail.? In retrospect, I consider the waiting period training for the waiting period required to schedule the various tests....:-) I wish the school option had been available to me, but it was not.? However, if one has an active PTG chapter, attends conferences, a place to practice/work on pianos--and access to this list!-- a good education is quite possible.? Dave Stahl -----Original Message----- From: David and Jean Weiss <djweiss at ntelos.net> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 5:29 am Subject: Re: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not Harry Matthew, ? There are 3 ways to get trained; home study, apprenticeship, and attending school.? I did all three so please allow me to make some suggestions.? ? I started with Randy Potter's course.? On the phone he was always encouraging, but I ran into the same problems as others did, he would not return my recorded or written materials, so it was impossible to get any feedback.?Although?I finished the course in about a year, it doesn't take long to realize you can't learn this profession through correspondence.? Still, his course is a great introduction.? ? I then found a technician would let me work in his shop.? My?"day gig"?was 4 day a week position, so I had 2 days?every week to spend with him.? He was an excellent technician, a great teacher, and a great guy.? I spent about 3 years with him and learned a lot.? But he was running a business and in spite of his best intentions it wasn't his primary focus to train me.? ? By this time I wanted to quit my?day gig?and become a full time technician, but I knew my skill level was not good enough, and the pace of my learning was too slow.? ?Finally I bit the bullet and attended the program at the University of Western Ontario.? It was the best decision I could have made.? I moved up to Ontario with my wife and 2 kids.? We spent a year there.? The training was absolutely great.? 12 students and 4 instructors whose only goal was to teach us.? The program was intense and demanding but at the end I felt was ready.? ? If it is at all possible, and even if its not, I recommend you attend one of the schools.? (I think Western Ontario is the best, but I'm biased.)? If you are really committed to becoming a highly skilled technician, I think attending a school is the only way.? ? David Weiss, RPT ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew Todd To: Pianotech List Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 7:25 PM Subject: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not Harry Just to give you all an update, I was able to talk with Randy this afternoon.? I believe we are heading toward a resolution, so we'll see what happens. ? Thank you all for your posts! Matthew James H Frazee <jimfrazee at msn.com> wrote: Matthew, ? I, like you, signed up and paid for the complete Potter course about four years ago.? It is beyond question an?excellent course in terms of information provided, tools issued, video tape/DVD's to listen to and the thought of having your tuning exercises listened to, graded and comments provided.? The problem I faced, like you, was getting the cassettes back in a reasonable amount of time.? I finally gave up after?the last one?took seven months, more than half a year!? Note that when I did get them back, the grade and comments sent back were absolutely finest kind, spot on.? And, I almost always got my graded homework back in a fair amount of time, also with excellent comments.? But I figured I'd be well into Social Security before I could tune. ? The difference for me is that I began studying with Russell Gordon, my mentor, who's superb.? The (growing) problem for Randy is, I think, that he's just one person.? (Yes, they've hired other people I think, but I don't know.)? I for one would prefer to have him grade my cassettes but just think of the schedule:? off to this convention, that convention, a regional meeting, then his own school, then more conventions - not to mention trying to have a real life with real family members!? In the beginning I was frustrated, as you probably are now, especially from a pragmatic standpoint?since he already had my all my money and I had, what, well, exactly what - I had all the course work which I also continually use?it as?reference, I had all the tools that came with the course which, at least, got me started, I had all the videotapes and, lo and behold, I was already out tuning and learning (and continuing to the learn) the craft, and repairs and joined the PTG. ? Now, I've met Randy at two conventions (Rochester and Philly)?and I think (somewhat cautiously in the beginning)?he knows who I am.???And I think he's really a fine fellow that cares about all the above and about the PTG.? I also think, for these very reasons, he spreads himself way, way, way?too thin and, if you ask him, he probably would even do that more.? I believe you can't learn tuning and the craft just from reading.? I think having mentor?or a school or a very active PTG chapter will go along way. ? So, in the end, am I frustrated?or worse or not.? No, considering all I did get, I'm happy and I'm on my way.? Whether?we like it or not, caviar wasn't what we expected the first time either. ? Jim Frazee Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070804/cd1788eb/attachment.html
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