factory apprenticeship

[antares]

> From: Don <drose@dlcwest.com>
> Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 07:58:04 -0600
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: factory apprenticeship
> 
> Hi Andre,
> 
> I think your book idea is wonderful. I will likely never get the chance to
> go to J.A.Pan. I believe you have to be sent by a dealer? Yes? no?

Hi Don,

As far as I know it would be easiest to have connections with a Yamaha
dealer, because, obviously, the dealers have their contacts etc.
It is also understandable that Yamaha would put the emphasis on training
Yamaha-related people.
On the other hand, a training in Hamamatsu costs a lot of money and maybe
therefor the Yamaha Corp. could also be interested in training non-Yamaha
people.

I do not know anything about you, of course, other than occasionally reading
your posts to the list. So I do not know how you are connected, and with
whom, professionally speaking.
If you are not too old (otherwise you could be retired by the time you
finished your training), it wouldn't seem too difficult to me to get a
training in Japan if you wanted to, and, if you would be willing to pay the
price, of course.

I think I was one of the older trainees because when I went to Hamamatsu the
first time (in 1993) I was 44 years old, the second time was three years
later, and the third time in 1998. So when I finished my third training I
was already 49.
Most of the people I met there (visiting from abroad) were in their twenties
or thirties. The 'basic upright course' students are usually very young....
from about ± 18 to 23, I would say. They spend a whole year in the basement
of the Academy and most of them seem rather stoic about their ordeal.

At this time of my life, I am way too busy and totally immersed in our
profession, so I would have to write 'da book' during vacations....
And who would do such a thing?
(;>)

friendly greetings,

André Oorebeek
Amsterdam