David The requirement for membership in the PTG is an avocation interest in pianos. To become an RPT?a piano tuner has to pass three exams.? Question. A piano tuner has to?have a certain amount of experience and training to be considered for membership in the Piano Tuner Association.?But does a piano tuner have to belong to the Piano Tuner's Association in order to ply his/her trade? ?Do piano tuners have to have?a licence?to ply his/her? Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician Mililani, Oahu, HI 808-349-2943 Author of: The Business of Piano Tuning available from Potter Press www.pianotuning.com -----Original Message----- From: David Boyce <David at piano.plus.com> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 2:16 pm Subject: Re: [pianotech] Ethics and efficacy of part-time tuning "I think he's saying, if we are going to tune, whether full time or part time, do it right or don't do it at all. That's how I'm reading it. I also agree with that philosophy".? ? I'm interested in the strong views being eloquently expressed here. I have a feeling that the 'mindset' is more open in the trade in the USA than in the UK. There are those who take the view that if you are not full time, you CANNOT do it right, and therefore should not be doing it at all.? ? As one who's doing it part time, that's naturally not a view with which I am particularly in sympathy!? ? In the UK, the pianoforte tuners association makes the following stipulations regarding the possibility of Membership:? ? 5. To qualify for Membership of the Association an applicant must:? either: have trained as a Pianoforte Tuner, Technician or Maker in a reputable factory or workshop for not less than three years, or have completed an approved course in Pianoforte Tuning or Technical Studies at a recognised College and have gained the proficiency certificate, and has subsequently earned a living as a Pianoforte Tuner, Technician or Maker for a period (at least two years) which, combined with the training period, is at least five years,? or: have earned a living as a Pianoforte Tuner, Technician or Maker for at least seven years.? at the time of application, currently be engaged in the piano industry? ? and? ? either: pass a practical test of tuning and elementary repairs, and an oral test of his knowledge of tuning, construction and repair of pianos.? or - if applying for Technician membership - pass an assessment of practical ability and theoretical knowledge in a specialist field of piano technology.? ? (from http://www.pianotuner.org.uk/pta4.htm )? ? You will notice that the wording here leaves little room for those earning supplementary income from piano work. Although, no actual definition is given of "earned a living".? ? Is the membership requirement for the PTG in addition to passing the test, equally stringent?? ? Best regards,? ? David. ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090330/3ba269bd/attachment-0001.html>
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