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<DIV>In a message dated 10/31/04 2:54:42 PM Central Standard Time,
claviers@nxs.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=
=2>Wim,
<BR><BR>I agree in part with what you say. However, you imply that i=
t's
our fault<BR>that more young people aren't studying piano service, and tha=
t's
where I<BR>disagree. I think it's driven more by supply and
demand. I'm finding too<BR>many who want a quick-fix. They jus=
t
don't want to do the study and<BR>practice that it takes for what they bel=
ieve
they will earn in the end.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>Jim</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If it sounded like I was placing the fault on our feet, then I stand
corrected. What I was trying to convey was that perhaps we should educate th=
e
young people on the need to get educated, that piano technology is not somet=
hing
into which someone goes as an after thought. That there are schools, and cou=
rses
of study to follow, and most important, a tremendous amount of continuous
education is the norm, not ht exception. </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2><BR><BR>The trend is in favor of better and more expensive pianos=
, with
electronic<BR>keyboards replacing the low-end stuff. Compared to the=
population, I think<BR>the number of total pianos is down, but the average=
quality is up. I grant<BR>you, this doesn't seem to explain the
slack-off of people going into piano<BR>technology. The trends seem =
to
be out of phase, but I think some of that<BR>is normal.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE=
>
<DIV>As per my article several years ago, there will always be a demand for,=
and
a supply of, low end pianos. Yes, the number of new units sold is way down t=
o
what it was even 10 years ago. But I think part of that reason is the
continuation of pianos in the market. I don't know how many pianos have been=
made over the last 125 years, but not enough of them are being thrown away, =
so
that the demand for new units is finally starting to catch up. With all thos=
e
units out there, there will always be a demand for piano technicians to take=
care of them </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2><BR><BR>I see plenty of young people going into piano technology,=
but
too few who<BR>are serious about really learning it. Too many just w=
ant
to "get by", and<BR>that bothers me. When those cheap instruments ar=
e
finally gone, and the<BR>higher quality ones dominate the scene, the "get-=
by"
attitude just won't<BR>cut it, and then there will be a demand for
first-quality service, but too<BR>few providing it. I'm running into=
that already. I'm at the age where I'm<BR>slacking off, spending mor=
e
time doing R&D, but less time in actual<BR>service. Too many tim=
es I
want to refer to someone else, but such a person<BR>just isn't there. =
;
Those who are, are either already loaded with work, or<BR>else they are at=
the
age where they are cutting back just like I am.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>This is exactly why we need to start working on finding our own
replacements. I'm not saying we want to flood the market, but we need more y=
oung
technicians to enter the industry. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2><BR><BR>Lets see how the FSU program works. I really hope i=
t does
work. Anne,<BR>please keep us informed. I'm very interested to=
learn how this all plays out.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Along those lines, I am working on an article for the Economics Affairs=
Committee series, that is going to address the dealer/technician relationshi=
p,
that might address one of the problems we have, that of low paying entry lev=
els,
and experienced techs leaving for greener pastures. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2><BR><BR>Sincerely, <BR>Jim Ellis, RPT<BR>Oak Ridge, Tennissee
<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Wim</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"=
>Willem Blees,
RPT<BR>Piano tuner/technician<BR>School of Music<BR>University of
Alabama<BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>