In a message dated 12/3/99 5:51:33 AM Pacific Standard Time, richardb@c2i.net (Richard Brekne) writes: << All in all... they sent me home with encouraging words... to come back and try again, but I didnt pass. >> This is actually a very common experience. It is my understanding that about half of all first time Exam takers fail. I did too. Not all of these are beginners either. Many of them have been long term professionals. Examinees are supposed to be prescreened so that it minimizes the chances of this happening but it still does. The other side of the coin however is that most of those who were disappointed but return, sometimes after three or four times and eventually prevail, become some of PTG's finest. It is at least as disappointing to the Examiners to have to tell an applicant that the scores do not pass as it is to hear and accept that statement. We all want to hear of successful results. New RPT's are now given a special ribbon to proclaim that achievement and are given public recognition at the Annual Convention, Regional seminars and in the Journal. The title, RPT alone does not really qualify anyone as an "expert" as such. A person could be an expert at some particular area of piano technology and still not be able to pass the Exam. This has been, in fact one of the problems with membership classifications that has not been resolved. Passing the Exams and earning the title merely indicates a certain set of demonstrable skills which are considered to represent Minimum Professional Standards (note the word, *minimum*). It also implies an acceptance of and an adherence to professional conduct and standards. The "politics" that people often mention are really just policy issues that come up within the membership. "What will our policy be?" "Who should be allowed to determine this policy?", etc. Naturally, the Registered members want only those who have taken the trouble to pass these Exams to be able to vote and determine policy. There are some however who want any Member to be able to have a say. These discussions have little to do with the tuning and servicing of pianos, however. The Membership has consistently voted to allow PTG generated information to be available to non-members and/or the general public. One of the controlling factors in this may be that it would not be legal to restrict it anyway. Even if it were, people find ways to obtain information regardless of any such restrictions. It might as well be made accessible, at higher, non-member rates, of course. I somehow doubt that any PTG approved list of pianos and manufacturers will ever come about. I wouldn't want to see those darling little Betsy Ross Spinets left off the list. I make too much money replacing their plastic elbows and servicing them as I would any piano of greater perceived importance and value. I haven't really seen any of those Chinese pianos but I am willing to give them the same benefit of the doubt that the public gave to Yamaha. Yes, there will be defective pianos which should not be sold and are not worth servicing and repair but the wholesale condemnation of any brand or manufacturer is a self defeating position to take. Any such problems as have come up on this List should be handled on a case to case basis. I don't think we can expect the Pearl River plant to go out of business just because they made one or a few bad instruments. Any piano technician or really just anyone who has a vocational interest in the piano has the right and is welcome to join PTG. People whose business it is to tune and service pianos however are the focus of the organization and are strongly encouraged to develop their skills to the point where they can pass the Exams. Although there are some who just barely manage to pass, then relax, most go on to develop their skills far beyond the point of minimum professional standards. One generally becomes an "expert" or "master" at something by developing a specialty in a particular area. That designation is never really official, it is just something that one's colleagues say. Often it isn't even said. It becomes obvious that a certain individual can demonstrate knowledge and skill in a certain area at the drop of a hat and can teach a class on the subject and does so over the course of many years. Once, a professional piano technician told me he was glad he never joined PTG and went to all of those conventions because by now, he would have been about $15,000 "poorer". Unfortunately, I could not convince him of the absolute futility of his thinking. Does someone who goes to a university, pays the tuition and gives up on 4 years of the kind full employment a young person with no college education can get consider hi/herself "poorer" because of it? I think not. If you are a professional piano technician, PTG needs you, you need PTG and the public you work for will benefit by your membership and participation. You should take the Exams for what they are, a challenge. The Exam score, results and experience are confidential. No one will ever broadcast the fact that you failed if that is the outcome. No one will ever reveal your scores. Only when and if you pass, will that fact be made public and even then, your scores remain confidential. If you "pass with flying colors" and/or with all scores above 90, thus qualifying as an Examiner Trainee, that fact may be made known too, but only in such a general way. To paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt, "You have nothing to fear but your own inhibitions". Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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