Hi Paul, Looks familiar. One difference though, and it is a big one, is that in my class I make it crystal clear from the outset that the class is NOT to teach them how to be a piano technician. It is as the purposes below indicate, to help them understand their instrument from a technical perspective so that they might be able to communicate with their technician more easily. Now of course if one of the students became interested, then I would point them in the direction of North Bennett St, or Western Ontario, etc. I teach this once a year and I've concluded that it needs to be a 3 credit class taught at least two days a week for 90 minutes each for 10 weeks (a quarter). We do lots of hands on, including tuning. But the tuning is limited to a couple unisons. The purpose there is for them to "get" first hand that what we make look easy is, in fact, not. I love teaching this class!! Interacting with the students is a big part of my enjoyment here. But I'm not all that interested in teaching them how to do what I do. I love interacting with pianists about the piano and how to make our collaboration work so their job of making music is more satisfying. Alan ________________________________ From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu> Reply-To: CAUTlist <caut at ptg.org> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:03:57 -0800 To: CAUTlist <caut at ptg.org> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Piano Mechanics class MUS 361 Spring Semester 2010 Course Description A 2-credit interactive workshop "poking around under the hood of a variety of pianos." This hands-on course is designed for pianists, piano teachers, and those who have a great interest in pianos. This course will cover piano nomenclature, how pianos work, what to consider when buying a new or used piano, how to care for your piano, an in-depth look at the services that piano technicians provide and communicating with your piano technician. Students are expected to come to class prepared to participate from the first class. Purpose of the class 1. To provide technical information about the piano to pianists so that the pianist will understand the possibilities and constraints of the instrument, how a properly maintained piano feels and sounds, what they want in a piano and how to ask for it, how to buy and care for a piano, and how to locate and assess the skills of a piano technician. 2. Increase the comfort level and confidence that pianists have with their instruments. 3. Enhance the communication between pianists and piano technicians. Instructor Paul T. Williams RPT (Registered Piano Technician/Piano Technicians Guild-PTG) Shop phone; 472-2568 E-mail; pwilliams4 at unl.edu <mailto:pwilliams4 at unl.edu> Office hours; Room 5, by appointment Class times Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:20 Texts The Piano Book: Buying and Owning a New or Used Piano Larry Fine Brookside Press (provided by instructor) Piano Tuning and Allied Arts William Braid White, MusD MT 165 W54 (Hagge Library, UNL) Various Handouts Hi Jeannie, This above info is the general idea of the class. I got quite a bit of information from Alan McCoy at WSU. My outline is very similar to his. I think Richard West's class was also very similar. Hope this helps. Paul From: "Jeannie Grassi" <jcgrassi at earthlink.net> To: <caut at ptg.org> Date: 01/11/2010 08:20 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Piano Mechanics class ________________________________ Hi Paul, This sounds great. More people certainly does mean that your own attention is divided, so being organized is even that much more important. Would you (or anyone else) be willing to share your basic outline or overview with the rest of us? I can see where this would be helpful even with a private student, which I'm contemplating doing. Thanks, jeannie ________________________________ From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org <mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org> ] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 11:21 AM To: CAUTlist Subject: [CAUT] Piano Mechanics class Hi All, I'm wondering of your CAUTers that teach a basic piano mechanics class on how many students you usually have. This year, I have 6 signed up. The most I've ever had at once, and I'm wondering how to keep all 12 hands busy at the same time. I don't lecture in front of the classroom a lot, but rather, do a lot of hands-on teaching while explaining what I'm doing and then have them do it. Two years ago, I had 4, which was sort of chaotic for me. I really like 2 or 3, but 6!!?? The tuning basics was the hardest to monitor. I've developed a good plan of topics for them to learn and two "projects" they will be working on is a Yamaha U-1 for the first few weeks after teaching nomenclature, piano care, basic action functions and regulating on models. After the Yam, one of the grands from a practice room that's coming back with a new soundboard in a month or two. Since this class only meets for an hour twice a week, I won't be able to get really detailed on just one aspect of tuning, regulating, or repairs/rebuilding, but I want to touch on as much as I can. Am I making this too "cluttered"? I would like your input as to focusing on fewer topics, cover a spread of everything on the table, or something in between. Thanks! Paul -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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