Piano Training Question

[Michael Magness]

Hi Evan,
I was in a similar situation as you some 38 years ago, I wanted to pursue a
theatre arts major but had to put myself thru school. Having had a stepdad
who was a piano tech(still is he turned 85 in May)I figured I could learn
enough about that to put myself thru school. We had owned a music store and
I played guitar so I had some background in music. I took an extension
course offered at the University of Minnesota taught in the basement of
McPhail Music school near downtown Minneapolis. To make a long story short,
by the time I could support myself tuning pianos, I had a wife and child and
going to school for my theatre arts major was an old dream. I did have new
career that I have found a lot of satisfaction both personal and
professional in so perhaps it was meant to be.
My point is be sure you have the contacts for the work before you get into
it, I didn't and 19 YO piano techs don't get a lot of respect and rightly
so! My fist 10 years were a struggle mostly because of my youth and the
number of seasoned techs already in the area.

Michael Magness


On 8/2/07, Rob Mitchell <tpa2sfr at pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>  Evan,
>
>
>
> I went through Randy Potter's home study course last fall and I also
> attended his 1-week Advanced Training Seminar this last January in Bozeman,
> Montana.  I was an engineer by training and came at this as a career
> change opportunity with a modest musical background but no experience in
> piano tuning or repair.
>
>
>
> I would give both of Randy's courses a strong recommendation.  As with any
> home study course, you need to be diligent about working through the texts,
> videos and tests.  I think I averaged about 20 – 30 hours / week and it
> took me 5 months to finish the course.  If you can afford it, I'd
> encourage you to purchase the entire course at once (I think Randy still
> gives the option to purchase in installments).  I found it very helpful to
> have everything there from the beginning.
>
>
>
> Good luck,
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>
>
> Mitchell Piano Service
>
> www.mitchellpianoservice.com
>
> (415) 994-1030
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Evan J Hilsabeck [mailto:ehilsabe at gac.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 6:05 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Piano Training Question
>
>
>
> Greetings, everyone.
>
>
>
> This is my first post to the listserv, so I hope it goes right.
>
>
>
> I'm a junior in college and looking to enter the piano tech field. I
>
> hope to pursue theatre work but need something that can provide a
>
> moderate income and a somewhat flexible schedule, this looked like a
>
> great opportunity. My college doesn't have a course in piano tech and
>
> there is nothing in the area, but I have found a number of
>
> "correspondence" courses available through various other schools. I
>
> was wondering if there were correspondence courses or schools that are
>
> well-regarded in the piano tech community and the extent to which they
>
> are actually good ways to learn the necessary skills for beginning
>
> work in this field.
>
>
>
> Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
>
>
> ~Evan H
>
>
>
> --
>
> Evan Hilsabeck
>
> Gustavus Adolphus College
>
> 712-330-2789
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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