The Potter Dilemma, Randy not Harry

[piannaman at aol.com]

 David, Matthew,

I used a bit of two of the methods you suggest to get trained, plus much seat-of-the-pants/on-the-job training.? 

I'd been in the business a long time, having learned tuning 25 or so years before I went full time, but not spending time learning much else in the way of piano technology.? I was in sales, moving, tuning, floor sweeping, etc., etc., for a couple of different stores.

Personal situations eventually led me into business for myself, at which point I realized the technical end of my education needed shoring up in a huge way.? I joined the PTG, purchased the Potter course, and knocked on doors of my former employers looking for work, which they were more than happy to give me.? I was able to utilize the skills learned in the texts and the PTG on real, live pianos.? 

Like others here, I was frustrated with the amount of time it took for my assignments to come back to me while finishing Randy's course.? When they DID arrive, I was very pleased with Randy's very thorough evaluations and attention to detail.? In retrospect, I consider the waiting period training for the waiting period required to schedule the various tests....:-)

I wish the school option had been available to me, but it was not.? However, if one has an active PTG chapter, attends conferences, a place to practice/work on pianos--and access to this list!-- a good education is quite possible.? 


 


Dave Stahl



 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: David and Jean Weiss <djweiss at ntelos.net>
To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 5:29 am
Subject: Re: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not Harry














Matthew,


?


There are 3 ways to get trained; home study, 
apprenticeship, and attending school.? I did all three so please allow me 
to make some suggestions.? 


?


I started with Randy Potter's course.? On the 
phone he was always encouraging, but I ran into the same problems as others did, 
he would not return my recorded or written materials, so it was impossible to 
get any feedback.?Although?I finished the course in about a year, it 
doesn't take long to realize you can't learn this profession through 
correspondence.? Still, his course is a great introduction.? 



?


I then found a technician would let me work in his 
shop.? My?"day gig"?was 4 day a week position, so I had 2 
days?every week to spend with him.? He was an excellent technician, a 
great teacher, and a great guy.? I spent about 3 years with him and learned 
a lot.? But he was running a business and in spite of his best intentions 
it wasn't his primary focus to train me.? 


?


By this time I wanted to quit my?day 
gig?and become a full time technician, but I knew my skill level was not 
good enough, and the pace of my learning was too slow.? ?Finally I bit 
the bullet and attended the program at the University of Western Ontario.? 
It was the best decision I could have made.? I moved up to Ontario with my 
wife and 2 kids.? We spent a year there.? The training was absolutely 
great.? 12 students and 4 instructors whose only goal was to teach 
us.? The program was intense and demanding but at the end I felt was 
ready.? 


?


If it is at all possible, and even if its not, I 
recommend you attend one of the schools.? (I think Western Ontario is the 
best, but I'm biased.)? If you are really committed to becoming a highly 
skilled technician, I think attending a school is the only way.? 



?


David Weiss, RPT



  
----- Original Message ----- 

  
From: 
  Matthew Todd 

  
To: Pianotech List 

  
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 7:25 
  PM

  
Subject: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not 
  Harry

  



  
Just to give you all an update, I was able to talk with Randy this 
  afternoon.? I believe we are heading toward a resolution, so we'll see 
  what happens.

  
?

  
Thank you all for your posts!

  
Matthew

James H Frazee <jimfrazee at msn.com> wrote:

  

    

    
    

    
Matthew,

    
?

    
I, like you, signed up and paid for the complete Potter course about 
    four years ago.? It is beyond question an?excellent course in 
    terms of information provided, tools issued, video tape/DVD's to listen to 
    and the thought of having your tuning exercises listened to, graded and 
    comments provided.? The problem I faced, like you, was getting the 
    cassettes back in a reasonable amount of time.? I finally gave up 
    after?the last one?took seven months, more than half a year!? 
    Note that when I did get them back, the grade and comments sent back were 
    absolutely finest kind, spot on.? And, I almost always got my graded 
    homework back in a fair amount of time, also with excellent comments.? 
    But I figured I'd be well into Social Security before I could tune.

    
?

    
The difference for me is that I began studying with Russell Gordon, my 
    mentor, who's superb.? The (growing) problem for Randy is, I think, 
    that he's just one person.? (Yes, they've hired other people I think, 
    but I don't know.)? I for one would prefer to have him grade my 
    cassettes but just think of the schedule:? off to this convention, that 
    convention, a regional meeting, then his own school, then more conventions - 
    not to mention trying to have a real life with real family members!? In 
    the beginning I was frustrated, as you probably are now, especially from a 
    pragmatic standpoint?since he already had my all my money and I had, 
    what, well, exactly what - I had all the course work which I also 
    continually use?it as?reference, I had all the tools that came 
    with the course which, at least, got me started, I had all the videotapes 
    and, lo and behold, I was already out tuning and learning (and continuing to 
    the learn) the craft, and repairs and joined the PTG.

    
?

    
Now, I've met Randy at two conventions (Rochester and Philly)?and 
    I think (somewhat cautiously in the beginning)?he knows who I 
    am.???And I think he's really a fine fellow that cares about 
    all the above and about the PTG.? I also think, for these very reasons, 
    he spreads himself way, way, way?too thin and, if you ask him, he 
    probably would even do that more.? I believe you can't learn tuning and 
    the craft just from reading.? I think having mentor?or a school or 
    a very active PTG chapter will go along way.

    
?

    
So, in the end, am I frustrated?or worse or not.? No, 
    considering all I did get, I'm happy and I'm on my way.? 
    Whether?we like it or not, caviar wasn't what we expected the first 
    time either.

    
?

    
Jim Frazee




  

  



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