I think the posts of yesterday by Ron Nossaman, Rolf von Walthausen, and Tim Coates reacting to my earlier post, show exactly why the PTG should be more involved in the development of guidelines of such courses in piano technology. The reasons we don't have many new potential techs entering the field is that there are few schools, courses, etc., available. We discussed this very fact at a recent PTG meeting. The reasons we have incompetent techs entering the field is that there are few schools, courses, etc., available. (Notice that both arguments have the same solution?) Apprenticeships are great if you can find a willing, competent tech., but again, these are few. As the recent discussions on how to cut back on clientele (pianotech list: "too much of a good thing") show, many competent techs are too swamped to teach someone new. And then, there are some incompetent techs out there who ARE taking apprentices (you know the ones who have the attitude that they don't need the PTG, that the PTG is only a political arena for certain people who aspire to such?). My opinion of a university or school of music course is that it shouldn't give the impression that "after you finish this course you will be able to pass the RPT exams, or be able to start your own piano tuning business." Not by any stretch of the imagination. But it should touch on at least what piano service entails and why it is needed. It should also make obvious why proper piano service should require a competent technician. We know as well as anyone that most piano owners, even most of the most talented pianists have no clue as to what's inside their cherished instrument and why it should be regularly serviced. With the way the newer grands are being made easier to disassemble with the obvious, large, easy-to-use keyblock screws (and new upright cabinets practically will fall apart if one can figure out which "button to push"), wouldn't it make sense if pianists were taught at least the proper method of sliding out the action to remove a pencil or paper clip, etc. Sure, those service calls are a nice source of income, but wouldn't we be making more money tuning someone else's piano instead? (Most would argue, but many times I've made this type of service call for no charge, anyway. It's just too quick and simple for my conscience to justify charging a full service charge for it, especially in the small town where I lived where everybody knows everybody and everybody's business including mine. But that's for that other discussion. We each have our own set of standards and reasons for them.) Besides, when you get that call, "Well, I saw you pull it out the last time and thought it looked simple enough...but I seemed to have....", wouldn't that alone justify teaching as many pianists as possible what can happen if you don't know what you're doing? Or, if that pianist had been taught the proper method of using a tuning hammer that he/she could reach over and clean up that unison that didn't hold very well...what would that hurt? Better than no training at all and they think all they have to do is purchase that $29.95 (rip-off) "tuning hammer" they saw in the glass case down at the music store and they're ready to tune their own instrument. Teach them enough about beats that they know they need to get someone qualified to tune the whole piano. That's what these types of courses should be for and the students should be made aware of that before and after taking the course. As for potential new techs, as was my case, it should be a test to see if piano technology is something they are interested in and, if so, give them enough information to find out what their next course of action should be in the pursuit of what can be a wonderfully rewarding career. No, I don't think the PTG should be about the business of making sure everyone who thinks they deserve to passes the RPT exam and sets them up in business. I agree that for those who possess the potential, more than enough resources are provided already. But I do think that having a PTG consensus on guidelines for a course in basic piano technology which could be offered in an institutional setting (or for the local chapter of the piano teachers guild, for that matter) would be certainly in the best interest of all the members of PTG. Again, my thoughts (on what apparently is turning out to be a controversial subject), Jeff Jeff Tanner, Piano Technician School of Music University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208 (803)-777-4392 (phone) (803)-777-6508 (fax)
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