[pianotech] PTG chapter/piano teacher's meeting ideas

[tnrwim at aol.com]

Piano teachers are interested in how to reduce the cost of the 
machine they are using, first and foremost. They have to spend money on 
us whether they like it or not, so it may be attractive to present the 
meeting as aimed at reducing costs, avoiding pitfalls, and how to make 
things last as long as possible.


Ed

I think you hit the nail on the head. As Richard and Ron mentioned, piano teachers look at us as an expense, and want to reduce that expense as much as possible. What's interesting is that they want free tuning, or at least at greatly reduced fees, in exchange for given them referrals. But I have never had one of them say to me, give me a student and I'll pay you more for your service. In other words, it's a one way street. 

The other aspect of this is if we give them advice on how to take care of their piano, and when they don't take that advice, they will look like they don't know their piano needs work, or don't care. I had one teacher in St. Louis who had a huge studio, something like 90 students who came to his house from 7 in the morning until 10 at night. He had 2 S&S grands, and both were in horrible condition. The only reason he called me was because one note wasn't working, which turned out to be a loose lack. I fixed it, but saw that the action was totally out of regulation, with flat hammers, and not that well in tune. When I suggested he have me do something about it, he said he couldn't afford the time for the piano to be out of commission for even two or three days to get the work done. Go figure.  

I think a lot of piano teachers are like that. They either don't know the piano needs work, or don't care. They figure as long as the students don't complain, and they can make money, why spend money on the piano. Yet, ironically, they are the ones the students call when they want to buy a piano. And then get mad at us when we tell the student they bought a bad piano, which the teacher recommended. Again, go figure

Wim

 



-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Foote <a440a at aol.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Mon, Jan 14, 2013 9:05 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] PTG chapter/piano teacher's meeting ideas




Wim writes:

>>Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but when I was in St. Louis 
and also here in Hawaii, the piano teachers just don't seem to want to 
hear from us. In St. Louis, the first time I called the president to 
set up a date to give a presentation, I was told that the schedule for 
the year was already set
Subject: [pianotech] PTG chapter/piano teacher's meeting ideas<<

Greetings,
   Well, Wim, that is putting a damper on it, which is shame, since 
enthusiasm is one of the most marketable possessions we own. Customers 
respond to it, ennui finds no home in it, and the blues stay away as 
long as you got it.  The reasons for your experience may not be the 
piano teachers in your area. It could have been their perception of 
what you were offering, which means you had a part in how things went, 
too.

      Piano teachers are interested in how to reduce the cost of the 
machine they are using, first and foremost. They have to spend money on 
us whether they like it or not, so it may be attractive to present the 
meeting as aimed at reducing costs, avoiding pitfalls, and how to make 
things last as long as possible. Questions of voicing, stretch, 
regulation,  or (gasp), temperament, are trampled underneath 
considerations of the best time of year to tune, how long should it 
last,are the pins holding and is the soundboard cracked.
     Appeal to their self-interest, first. Avoid coming on like a sales 
pitch for services and find that balance in which you can create a 
market without selling them anything.  You want them to view piano work 
as an investment, even though  it can easily feel like an expense.  If 
you are capable, confident, AND enthusiastic, maintenance will 
automatically sell itself to an educated piano teacher.
Regards,
 Ed Foote RPT
http://www.piano-tuners.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html

 
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