---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Alan, I will offer my input, as one who has just taken the test(this morning)--and not done as I expected! The parts I worried about and ended up spending most of the time preparing for were the parts I ended up having less trouble with. The parts I didn't prepare as much for because I felt I knew the material well enough....well, I'll leave it at that and chalk it up to a learning experience. Next time I'll know EXACTLY what I have to do. Time is of the essence, but don't get nervous. Nerves cause mistakes and backtracking costs precious time. Be methodical, know the material, and go for it. I'll be back! Dave Stahl a message dated 7/31/05 4:35:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, custos3@comcast.net writes: 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 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/48/7e/5a/b1/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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