They're out there, but let's try to bring them in the fold

[Dean May]

It was my piano in the beginning. I had an old baby grand and I was using a
tuner/tech to do the inside work while I refinished it. He put on new
hammers, keytops and "regulated" it. I was not real happy with the results
but figured it was an old piano and this was the best it could do. Later,
when I decided to go into this business I checked out all the piano
technology books my local libraries had. After two weeks of self-study using
only housedhold tools I re-regulated the piano and couldn't believe the
difference. I figured if he was the "expert" and I could do that much better
after a little independent study and no proper tools, I should be able to
fake my way into the business. Some more study, a PTG seminar in Decatur
Illinois later and I was on my way.

 

Now we could call that guy who worked on my piano a tooner or some other
epithet if we wanted, but why? What's the upside? He was just a guy who was
a pretty good tuner and he could change parts, and there's lots of them out
there. I was too cheap to hire the guy with the better reputation and I got
what I paid for. The silver lining was that it propelled me into the
business. 

 

I in no way mean to be defending the work of the guy in Jon's illustration.
I'm just saying that there are many out there like the guy who worked on my
piano who are going to continue to stay away from the guild if we maintain
an image of snobbery and condescension. And calling people names only builds
the walls higher. I see no upside. Shaming people will not cause them to see
the light. It will only make those on the fringes (many of them reading this
list) to continue staying away from full engagement, because they don't have
the confidence and they certainly don't want to be called names. 

 

Let's try to build bridges, not widen chasms.

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Porritt, David
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:29 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: They're out there, but let's try to bring them in the fold

 

Dean:

 

As long as we're talking about a customer's piano his is just an academic
discussion.  When it's your piano it's different.

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dean May
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:55 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: They're out there, but let's try to bring them in the fold

 

Like I said, we didn't know anything about the man to judge his character,
ie, call him unethical. You have definitely given us more info with this
post, but I still say it is not a good thing to be calling people names- not
if you want them to come into the fold. The guild is perceived as an
exclusive condescending club by those on the outside. We need to bridge the
gap, not widen the chasm. Perhaps this guy wouldn't have done it all on his
own for 20 years if 20 years ago he would have felt more welcome.

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jon Page
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:00 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: They're out there, but let's try to bring them in the fold

 

>... a self-taught beginning tech who has very limited resources.

 

The guy is in his mid 50's and has been refinishing, restringing

and tuning pianos for over 20 years. To say that he doesn't know

what an industry standard is for hammer shape is a stretch.

 

I was going to taper the set but now I'm going to just knock off

(arc) the square tail with a belt sander since they are pitched

3 degrees forward - overstriking. He did deftly saw hammer

heads for clearance problems (jpg attached).

 

>...So go ahead and judge the work

 

Ok, so he's unobservant. Then to say he lacks comparative reasoning

or self evaluation probably is too unkind too, and he only has his head

stuck in the sand.

 

Where I come from, someone like that is referred to as a hack.

 

Dean, I can send you his name so you can do the hand-holding and bring

him into the Guild, that is, unless he thinks he knows everything already.

I don't see his name in the PTG Directory.

 

If a desire for self improvement doesn't work, maybe shame will.

-- 


Regards,

Jon Page

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