RPT Tests, An Observation

[Israel Stein]

At 10:21 AM 7/31/2005, "Alan Barnard" <tune4u@earthlink.net>
  wrote:
>I notice every month in the journal there are many more "new 
>members" than there are "new RPTs".  It seems like, over time, the 
>numbers ought to be almost the same, discounting only non-tuning 
>members. I have my theories. There were quite a few who took exams 
>in Kansas City, but are not now RPT's. Are we undermotivated? Underprepared?
>
>Your thoughts?
>
>One other thing: Some regions have pretty good accomodation for 
>people who want to take exams. Others, it seems, have very limited 
>numbers of opportunities--few CTEs and TECs, few willing mentors, 
>perhaps, or people willing to set up and run exams.
>
>I don't want to make it "easy" to become an RPT, but if there are 
>barriers having nothing to do with the talent, knowledge and 
>interest of Associate members, they need to be removed, methinks.
>
>Alan Barnard
>Salem, Missouri

Alan,

Piano tuning, repairing and regulating are skills. To develop skills 
one needs to:
1. Acquire the theoretical knowledge underlying the skills
2. Learn correct techniques (and sometimes unlearn incorrect ones)
3. Develop fluency and speed through repetitive practice.

This is what it takes to be a skilled technician - and this is what 
it takes to pass the RPT exams. The exams are timed, so speed and 
fluency are essential.

Because the training available to most aspiring piano technicians is 
so haphazard - catch as catch can, as you so rightly pointed out in 
your post - it is difficult for candidates to prepare for the exams 
or even know if or when they are prepared. Yes, some of us (like Joe 
Garret, for example) do volunteer lots and lots of time and effort to 
teach and coach others. But really, can we expect to be able to train 
2000 aspirants to RPT status using strictly volunteer labor? That is 
absurd... There need to be alternatives...

But then, again, I have been coaching, teaching and examining in the 
Technical Exam area for more years now than I care to own up to, and 
let me assure you of one thing: all the classes and the coaching in 
the world will do you no good, if you don't spend time practicing 
your skills to develop speed and fluency. At some point a candidate 
must make that commitment of time to develop his or her skills - and 
not expect to do it all on his or her clients' time and money...

So, there is much to be done in providing a well organized curriculum 
and study sequence for those who wish to develop their skills and 
prepare for the exams - the PACE program barely scratches the surface 
(it is essentially a basic skills course, in itself not adequate to 
fully prepare a technician, and may - if  used incorrectly - actually 
mislead students into counterproductive approaches). And all the 
classes and coaches in the world will not exempt aspiring RPT 
candidates from spending time on practice...

Israel Stein