Ralph Martin wrote:
>After tuning for a customer yesterday, the lady handed me a reprint from
>the October, 1986 Connoisseur magazine featuring an article about
>Europe's most in-demand concert tuner named Ernst Kochsiek. Though the
>writer ( John Dornberg) was not well versed in piano technology, he was
>able to give a great word picture of how Mr. Kochsiek works , voices and
>tunes.
>
>This is a very interesting article that anyone should be able to read at
>a good library. I would think that Andre will have heard of him. I would
>be interested in his comments .
André Oorebeek writes:
Ralph and other colleagues,
I am sorry, but I have to dissapoint you..... I am really not that much aware of "the best tuners/technicians here in Europa.
As far as understand, the best technicians are those, trained at and/or working for a famous Factory, and, as I am but a small fish in a big pond, I do simply not have the opportunities to meet all those celebrities traveling through the world on such a grand scale.
>From my own experiences, I happen to know a handful of techs here and there in the world, but to really know and meet these people, one has to be at least in the same circuit, and Holland is an important but >very< small piano country, often ignored by "those who count".
And now that you got me "talking"...
Through my own (25 year long) period of excercising and learning, I have come to a certain conclusion:
I now know, that there is an enormous potential amongst all of us to become a "great tech". However, to gain this status, it is very important to :
1. Have a lot of talent
2. Have a lot of luck
3. Have a lot of willpower
4. Have the right personality for such a role
Because of the fact that I was able to learn in several factories (unfortunately only much later in my professional life), I would advise all gifted techs to try as hard as they can to get a training place in a factory.
This is *the* place where one really gets professional training, and after having been in such a wonderful learning place, a technician feels "enriched" , stronger, and much more able to tackle difficult instruments.
Various views at different techniques will give an even broader basis and for someone with such a background, it is not so difficult anymore to become a "well known" technician
What I actually mean to say is this: many of us have great potential, but not everyone is aware of the possibillities to get more fulfillment. Here in Europa for instance, it is not so very difficult to get a place in a factory for some time. Usually one has to pay for lodging and food. Some factories ask money for the lessons too, but that is not unfair. A lot depends on connections and, on the fact if one has a store with shiny black grands!
Often there are ways...if we want them badly enough!
Friendly greetings from :
CONCERT PIANO SERVICE
André Oorebeek
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
‰ where MUSIC is no harm can be ‰
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC