Why not to tune a piano?

[Eugenia Carter]

Well said, Bill.

Gina
----- Original Message -----
From: <Billbrpt@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: Why not to tune a piano?


> In a message dated 7/26/00 12:14:54 PM Central Daylight Time,
> DavidR2464@AOL.COM writes:
>
> << I think it is time that piano tuning
>  and repairing is licensed by the federal government.  Get rid of the RPT.
>  Everyone has to pass a state test and convert the PTG into the club it
> really
>  belongs. >>
>
> Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!  What a ridiculous idea!   It has, however, been been
thought
> of before but only by liberal political types who think the government
must
> be in control oof everything.  Piano service is an art and craft.  Yes,
there
> are some standards but as has been clearly demonstrated by the profession
> itself, these standards are only basic concepts.
>
> Do you think you could *require* me to tune a piano in Equal Temperament
> (ET), for example?  Hmmmm?  Think again and think about it long and hard.
Do
> you think you could *require* ANYONE to do something which only a very few
> people have ever even been capable of?  Shall we *all* be *required* to
set
> our hammer blow distances with a crummy little ruler at 1 7/8" ?  Or
should
> there be a metric equivilant?  It can't and will never happen.
>
> Does an artist who paints or draws pictures need a license from the
Federal
> government?  Let's see, what kinds of regulations could be put on how to
> paint a picture?  We can measure a person's tuning and other skills to a
> certain degree and that is what the PTG Exams do but to echo Jim's words,
> you'll never pry my tuning hammer from my tendonitis afflicted, torn
rotator
> cuffed right arm with any government decree or licensing requirement.
>
> The days of Big Brother government in the US are over.  We've got a couple
of
> common sensed, big oil guys set to take over come January and if anything,
> there will be far less regulation *and* fewer taxes, not more.
>
> Join PTG, take and pass the Exams if you can manage to do so but
otherwise,
> let your fellow technician do his/her own thing.  The marketplace will
decide
> who is fit to stay in business, not people minding each other's business.
>
> Bill Bremmer RPT
> Madison, Wisconsin