I agree with you Wim.  I have had many different experiences prior to becoming a tech.  I changed majors 3 times in college; engineering, then business, then graduated with a BS in Political Science.  Also had piano lessons for 12 years, played bass for 30 years in various bands from rock to jazz, All these things I have found useful in the college setting with the wide array of folks I deal with day to day.  It's nice to know what they're talking about, but you can't "require" such a diversity of learning for being a CAUT.  It just helps a bunch.  When interviewing with Steve Brady prior to my apprenticeship with him, I remember him stating that all his students know how to play the piano so we can tell when a piano feels good/sounds good in a musical way.  I guess I assumed all techs played the piano.  A lot do, and very well at that, but I was shocked in the "real world" that there are many techs who can barely play a C-chord!  How can one converse with a musician if you don't speak musically?  As to making it a requirement, I'm still undecided...basic knowledge of music should be in there to some degree... Happy Halloween! Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Willem Blees <wimblees@aol.com> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 10/30/2007 04:20 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>caut@ptg.org <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program?</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Tanner <jtanner@mozart.sc.edu> To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> Sent: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 9:33 am Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? On Oct 30, 2007, at 4:55 AM, Richard Brekne wrote: Just how much music education should such a position demand ?... and for that matter how much music education should techs in general have ? Cheers RicB My thinking is that someone can easily learn more outside of formal education, whether it be music, business, science, mathematics, literature, or piano tuning and repair.  Some people are just born with inclinations towards certain skills and abilities, while others who have to be formally instructed never achieve the same ability levels.  So, are we talking about "education" as a formality? or education as in applicable knowledge and skill?  Which is more important? The older I get and the more life I experience, the more I am inclined to believe the formal education process is highly overrated (and much the source of some of our societal problems, but that is another subject for another day). Jeff Jeff Tanner, RPT University of South Carolina Although having a experience, no matter what kind, is important, should a CAUT have some formal education, music or otherwise, beyond high school? If one is to work in a college environment, how important is it to have some idea of what "life" is like in a college setting?  I felt that with a MS, I was able to communicate better with the students and the professors. More or less "talk" their language. Comments? Wim = <hr>Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970" target=_blank>AOL Mail</a>!