Randy Potter's Seminar

[Farrell]

Hi Rick & Michelle,

I agree with all the comments. After completing Randy's course, I went to 
his week-long summer session about ten years ago. I found it to be very 
informative - perhaps especially for me as I did the course completely on my 
own - I did not have any local techs to work with.

I really wanted to respond to this thread to comment on Ward Guthrie & 
tuning. The guy is amazing. I describe him as a "performance tuner" - not 
indicating that the fruits of his tunings are worthy of a piano performance 
(which, of course they are), but rather that just watching and listening to 
Ward tune a piano is "performance art" in itself. I'm talking about a person 
whose consciousness transcends to a different level when he tunes a piano - 
much like when Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaugn go (or went) 
to a different place while playing their guitars. Ah, well, whatever - just 
really cool to watch a true master at his craft. It's been ten years since I 
saw him tune a piano, but it is still as vivid in my mind as the day I saw 
him. He sure has my respect.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> Hi Rick.  I attended Randy's seminar last January and plan to go back for
> the Advanced in Jan 08.  The seminar is full of long days, tons of
> information, helpful one-on-one with the instructors, and 3 meals a day
> together which is a good time to visit.
>
> Randy asks that you be very familiar with the beginning chapters of the
> written course before you attend but I felt like some of the students were
> really just starting out.  I was wishing they had an Intermediate course
> with more in depth information on repair/regulation.  Ward Guthrie did 
> some
> fabulous lectures on basic as well as more complex tuning principles!
>
> I have heard through the grapevine that they are planning to do more of a
> beginning/intermediate/advanced format this year but I don't know that for
> sure.
>
> Concerning what you can do to prepare, read, read, and read again.  Then
> start trying out the aural tuning concepts taught in the course.  Be solid
> on setting your A, understand the contiguous 3rds concept, and start
> memorizing Randy's tuning sequence.  I know this is a lot, but it will 
> help
> you maximize the time/money you are about to spend.
>
> By the way, I would highly recommend the pre-seminar.  It's full of
> miscellaneous topic discussions and getting to know the people with whom 
> you
> will spend the next 7 days!
>
> You're welcome to e-mail me if you have any other questions.  Have a great
> day!
>
> Michelle Smith
> Smith Piano Service
> Bastrop, Texas
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> In January, I plan to attend Randy Potter's seminar in Bozeman, Mt.
> I know that some of you, in the past, have attended.  First, is it
> all it is cracked up to be?  In other words, do you get a real hands-
> on education? Are the days as full of information and training as his
> brochure suggests?  Secondly, and this is important, would you go
> back for further training?  Finally, for those of you who have
> attended, what can I do between now and then in order to truly
> benefit from this week long seminar?  Any info. would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Rick Osborne