[pianotech] Interested in work as an RPT

[Norm Barrett]

Paul,
As has been said before, the Randy Potter course is the best. He 
presents information from many sources including Jim Coleman. He 
strongly adveses joining PTG and also FINDING A RPT TO APPRENTICE WITH..
Someone working a regular job to feed their family would have difficulty 
learning this trade simply through  apprenticing alone. That was my 
experience.
Norm Barrett
Memphis, TN


On 7/7/2010 4:20 PM, Paul T Williams wrote:
> Dennis,
>
> What a great time you chimed in!
>
> Correspondence courses are fine, but, if you do so, say, under the 
> direction of such, it is absolutely necessary that you connect with a 
> local RPT to get the hands on training and immediate feedback on your 
> work.  If you could find a local RPT that could train you-hands on- 
> personally, for 2 years, you could benefit from not spending thousands 
> of dollars for training ala outsourced areas, plus the costs of paying 
> a local technician for his/her time as well.
>
> I'm not putting down correspondence type classes at all, as these work 
> great for certain situations, but, when you learn this craft, there is 
> no comparing that with a skilled technician looking over your shoulder 
> as it were.
>
> I was fortunate to learn hands on from a very nationally reputable 
> technician and I would never, looking back, have wanted to learn 
> otherwise. I've now been in the business 20 years, and still learn 
> something every month from the old school guys at our chapter 
> meetings! :>)
>
> Where are you? I might be able to hook you up with some RPT in your 
> area that could help.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Paul T. Williams RPT
> Piano Technician
> School of Music
> 5 Westbrook Bldg,
> University of Nebraska
> Lincoln, NE 68588-0100
> pwilliams4 at unl.edu
>
>
>
>
> From: 	Dennis Quinn <dquinn at ci.duncanville.tx.us>
> To: 	Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 	07/07/2010 03:44 PM
> Subject: 	[pianotech] Interested in work as an RPT
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I’d like to get some advice on the best way to get into the field of 
> piano tuning/maintenance/repair (including PTG membership), and Mr. 
> Foote’s recent post seemed to indicate a good time to ask in this forum.
>
> I’ve played the piano for most of my life and earned a BM in Music 
> History a few years ago. I went on to complete an MS in Library 
> Science, and now I work full-time as a cataloger for a public library, 
> but I’m considering the idea of a part-time side job as a freelance 
> piano technician. I have great deal of respect for the work of RPTs, 
> and I’d really like to be able to help pianists and piano enthusiasts 
> keep theirs in proper working order. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able 
> to pursue a full-time training institute such as those listed on the 
> PTG website. Would a correspondence course suffice? Are any of them 
> more highly recommended than others? What about apprenticeship?
>
> Also,
>
> Please feel free to reply off-list if you wish.
>
> Thanks,
> Dennis Quinn
> Dallas/Forth Worth, TX
>
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