<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV>Sara,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Welcome to the list, and welcome to piano technology second-career-land.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You are wise to have reservations about correspondence courses as your only education source.  As others have pointed out recently, guided practice is the only way to achieve proficiency.  Consider the correspondence course in combination with apprenticeship.  Study new knowledge and skills on  your own, use your time with your mentor to practice what you have already studied.  Randy Potter has an excellent course.  <A href="http://www.pianotuning.com/">http://www.pianotuning.com/</A>  Contact Randy for a booklet explaining in 20 pages what I just wrote 2 sentnces about:  How to use his course as an apprentice.  Good luck.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>could be worse:  My sister-in-law just gave up horse breeding-training-racing and went back to work as an accountant.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Mike</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=deanslist@comcast.net href="mailto:deanslist@comcast.net">deanslist</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 5/1/2006 2:00:33 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Yet another newbie</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As an introduction, I am changing direction career-wise. My former career of horse breeding </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>does not exactly mesh well with being a mother. The hours were outrageous and unpredictable. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am a serious piano student with an eye toward getting a second degree a few years down the </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>road, this time in music. So I've naturally become interested in how the piano works and what is </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>required to maintain it. Now I am ready to pursue learning to tune, regulate, repair, etc. Having a </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>useful and marketable skill would be a good thing.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So far, I have looked at the correspondence courses, but have not committed. I have serious </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>reservations. Ideally, I  would prefer to find someone willing to take on a part time apprentice in </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the fall. (My kid will be in all day Kindergarten.) The packet from the PTG arrived the other day, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and I see that I will need a sponsor to join. Any tips on finding one? I've been emailing back and </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>forth with Ruth Webb of Allied Piano (it's not far from me.) Also, I will be calling the local PTG </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>chapter president (Southeastern PA) this week to try and get some direction. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My practice piano - a vintage 1920 Somethingorother upright will be arriving on May 16th. Brand </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>is unknown because the second previous owner antiqued the thing, ruining a beautiful case, I </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>am told. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sorry this is so long. I would appreciate any advice you can provide that wasn't already in today's</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> other Newbie thread. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One other question: How do you search the archives? I did read the FAQ, but did not see a </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>search function anywhere on the archive pages.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sara Nash</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>