[CAUT] Degrees in Piano Technology?

[Ed Sutton]

Trade schools became Junior Colleges became Community Colleges which became members of state Community College Systems.
The purpose of training independent tradesmen was mostly lost to the demand to train operators for industry.

A program might survive in a big university with lots of pianos to maintain (ring a bell, Jim?), or perhaps if it became the service center for a state university system with pianos to rebuild. 

It could offer a possibility of earning money in a music-related field to students who were motivated to study music and learn to play piano. And it could include some math, physics and economics courses that would serve a piano technician well, not to mention music literature and piano pedagogy.

ES


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dorothy Bell 
  To: College and University Technicians 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 4:34 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Degrees in Piano Technology?


  Hi, Jim --

  NBSS, much as I love it, isn't anywhere near a bachelor's degree program, because it's just about the piano tech stuff -- no Physics 101 (Mechanics), no Physics 102 (Acoustics), no History of Music, no English 1 (Freshman Comp), etc., etc. It really is a craft school, and a bachelor's degree these days has to have theoretical underpinnings and distribution requirements, that is, related and unrelated college-level courses. I think it would be very difficult and expensive to get in all the classroom requirements for a degree plus planning for sufficient student time and instructor availability for the skills trainings. 

  These days, a bachelor's piano-tech program may not fly; for a college, the combination of high instructional cost, high lab-set-up cost, small pool of applicants, and focus on a luxury need is pretty daunting. (In contrast, I'm thinking of bachelor's-degree nursing programs, which also have high costs but have large applicant pools and meet basic human needs. Colleges are having trouble keeping those afloat these days, so I'd be surprised -- but pleased! --- to see a piano-tech bachelor's starting up.) 

  How many customers care whether their tech has a college degree, I wonder? I certainly haven't noticed any increased market value as a result of mine --

  Best wishes from your over-educated friend,
  Dorrie Bell
  Boston, MA





    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Jim Busby 
    To: poppyspys at yahoo.com;College and UniversityTechnicians
    Sent: 8/27/2008 2:23:02 PM 
    Subject: Re: [CAUT] Degrees in Piano Technology?


    Thanks,

     

    But there are no degrees? Anywhere? Does anyone know if U. of Western Ontario offers a degree? I couldnt get that out of their website.

     

    If anyone should be given the right to give a college degree it would be NBSS.  They are fantastic! Many other programs are very good too, but as someone pointed out to me, anyone can offer a certificate but if an actual accredited University has a degree if has a lot more weight with academia. (Not my words)

     

    I understand that Owen Jorgensen had a degree offered where he was. Does anyone know?

     

    Im being pressed by a new University to pursue this but want to find a precedent, if one exits. Its always harder to reinvent the wheel.

     

    Thanks,

    Jim

     

    From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Poppy Miles
    Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 6:34 PM
    To: College and University Technicians
    Subject: Re: [CAUT] Degrees in Piano Technology?

     

          In addition to the Emil Fries school in Vancouver WA, there are several other piano technology programs: The North Bennet St School has a two year program in piano tuning repair, and rebuilding ( in the second year), Chicago School of Piano Technology offers a one year program, Minnesota offers a program as well, I believe Larry Crab has a program in Georgia, Randy Potter has a corespondence course, and The University of Western Ontario has a one year program in piano tuning and rebuilding. I am partial to The North Bennet St School (as I am an alumni).  I've also heard some good things about the University of Western Ontario.  All of these programs offer certificates as opposed to degrees. 

          --- On Mon, 8/25/08, Karen Lindsley <36keys at gmail.com> wrote:

          From: Karen Lindsley <36keys at gmail.com>
          Subject: Re: [CAUT] Degrees in Piano Technology?
          To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
          Date: Monday, August 25, 2008, 6:30 PM

          There is a two year program for the blind in Vancouver Washington at the School of Piano Technology for the Blind.  This is a certificate program as opposed to a degree program, but certainly prepares you for entry level work.

          On 8/25/08, Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> wrote: 

          List,

           

          Are there any degrees in Piano Technology currently offered in the U.S., besides Florida State's Masters program? I know we've posted numerous things in the past about this with many CAUTs starting classes, etc. but has anyone succeeded in getting an associate or bachelors degree going?? 

           

          Thanks all.

           

          Jim Busby BYU
         

     
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