[pianotech] UK (was Respect)

[Horace Greeley]

Hi, Barry,

At 03:32 PM 1/31/2011, you wrote:
>In message 
><201101310642.p0V6go2L007615 at b.mail.sonic.net>, 
>Horace Greeley <hgreeley at sonic.net> writes
>>I've also gathered that the overall standard of 
>>tuning is noticeably higher in the UK than 
>>here; although, I'm not sure that situation 
>>hasn't changed with most of the former schools 
>>closing in the last couple of decades.
>>
>>Best.
>>
>>Horace
>
>Yes most of the training schools have 
>gone,  there has been a bit of dumming down of 
>standards to cut cost in the last 10 years

That's what my friend says, as well.

>We have just completed a survey of tuners in the 
>UK and it is not looking good for the future

No.

>The UK will have to go down the road of distance 
>learning and using ETD as there is going to be a 
>very big shortage of tuners in the UK in 10 
>years  But the problem with distance learning 
>its  dependant on self discipline and good 
>mentors, As to  mentors in the UK at the moment 
>they are just not there,  as 95% of tuners in 
>the UK trained in a school for 2 - 3 years,  the 
>attitude to  distance learning is at best sceptical.

Right...which was more (but not exclusively) the 
situation in the U.S. for a long time.  Here, 
sadly, there was a serious hiatus of programs 
between when people like Braid White and places 
like the LA Trade-Tech College program passed 
from the scene and the situation now in which 
there have been some apparently competent 
programs initiated in the last 
decade.  Basically, at least one (probably two) 
generations of tuners received the bulk of their 
education from classes at guild conventions; and 
whatever contracts they were able to garner in a 
market that was much more generous and 
forgiving.  That's a very different environment 
from what used to be the case at places like the London College of Furniture.

>We are looking at distance learning but more on 
>the lines of block release that is ...  you go 
>to school for 10 weeks in a year in 2 week 
>blocks the rest of the time you do the distance learning with on line support.

With the advances in technology (especially newer 
applications of VoIP real-time video 
conferencing) that have happened in the last few 
years, and the generally better Internet access 
available to people in the UK, I think that idea 
has a good deal of traction.  The "classroom" end 
of things would have to be set up in large part 
as a television studio, but that not only takes 
much less room but is much less expensive than it 
used to be.  Such a room could be used for a 
number of remote sessions and 
lecture/demonstrations even when students are not 
physically in residence, which might even make 
such a program more financially 
viable...hmmm...the mind boggles at the 
possibilities.  (There are issues with VoIP in 
re: sonic quality, but those are being addressed 
pretty much as we "speak" with various kinds of 
"QoS" implementations; so that, within a year or 
so, most of the technial problems will be resolved.)

Lots of opportunity there, Barrie!

Best.

Horace

>Barrie Heaton      PGP key on request           http://www.a440.co.uk/
>AcryliKey Ivory Repair System UK ©              http://www.acrylikey.co.uk/
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