<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> To Marshall and other beginning tuners, I feel compelled to mention a thing or two.  I appreciate = the pressures you feel to begin providing a living for your family, and the eagerness you are expressing to feel more competent and confident.  (Usually they occur in that order.)  But you are going to need to = realize that it takes TIME to learn this craft.  It is commonly accepted = that in a full-time daily course, it might take as much as two years to be able to = go out on your own.  Given that you have no direct instruction it will = take much longer...no doubt about it.  Speed takes time.   Now, I don't want to quell your enthusiasm, however, a dose of = reality and practicality is in order here.  You are seeking a career in a = technical field.  You have some special needs in learning and carrying out = your work.  You absolutely need to invest in your education, just as you = might in any other new career.  This means, perhaps, paying for detailed = and consistent training from a "qualified" mentor.  You might = find such a person in your immediate area.  Several people have = mentioned joining PTG.  It might take a while of attending meetings before = people will respond to your needs.  The members may not jump up and come = to your rescue just because you showed up. Give them a chance to see how serious = you are about learning, to get to know you and appreciate you as a = person.  I've seen it happen time after time..... after this "getting to know = you" period, someone may just step forward and take you under his/her = wing.  PTG is a great resource, but like anything else, it's up to you to make = most of the effort to learn.  And you owe it to yourself to learn = thoroughly and well.    If you need to get financial aid to make this investment in your education, you will want to look into that.  Think of this as an investment in yours and your family's future.    So far, the discussion has been limited to just tuning.  = There is so much more that you will need to know.  How are you going about that?  I know how it feels to be under pressure to earn.  = Don't short change yourself, or your customers by jumping in too soon.  =   This can be a rewarding field, if you feel = well trained and know that you are providing good service to the people who = are paying you good money. Take (make) your time and good luck.    Jeannie Grassi, RPT Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net   -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of pianotune05 Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 6:20 AM To: ed440@mindspring.com; Pianotech Subject: Re: Message for Marshall   Hi Ed, Thanks for the e-mail.  Fortunately, I understand how = pianos can go ut of pitch and muting, I'm just not quick at it.  I'm sure there = are techniques that the Emil Fries school could teach me in terms of finding = pins etc.  I"m going out of town next week to get more hands on with an RPT who = has been assisting me through e-mail.  I've learned tunig through = another excellant RPT in Chicago and the Rand y Potter course I hae here as a reference.  I'm practicing quite a bit on hammer technique, but I just need to = increase my speed and develope a quicker method for finding pins, or the = right pins and muting.  Right nw, I count the pins and use both hadns as a = guide, and both to help find the right strings to mute.  So there's lost = time there.  Once I'm on the right pin and in the right set, I'm usually fine, but = if I accidently move the lever, then I have to count all over again = and get repositioned.   I have nothing agaist Emil Fries school. I think their = great!  I'm just in a position where I cannot relocate, place bound as some call = it.  If I we didn't have my wife's cleaning service which is our source of = income a new baby, and financial diffiiculties, I might consider just packing = up and heading west, or North West.  It might take a little = longer, but I'm sure I'll discover a pattern that workds for finding the pins etc, = works in speeding up the tuning process.  Fortunately, I do quite a = bit of reading, gleaning from this awesome list we're on, and the constant = tuning practice.   As for pitch falling, loose tuning pins, cracked bass bridges, = cracks in the plate or sound board all can contribute.  Of course that = piano being close to the front door of the store isn't that great for the piano = either.   Well have a great day.  Write again.  Talk t oyou = soon. Marshall ----- Original Message ----- From: <ed440@mindspring.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 8:53 AM Subject: Message for Marshall     > Dear Marshall- >  > The impressions I get from your messages are that you can't identify the > causes of severe instability in a piano, or don't = understand how to raise > pitch, and that you don't understand basic techniques for = muting and > finding tuning pins. >  > If you really want a career as a piano technician, I = believe the most cost > effective path to a good income will be for you to attend = the Emil Fries > school, which specializes in training people with sight problems.  It will > be worth making a great effort to attend this school.  = Then you will be > able to begin your career knowing you know what you need to = know to call > yourself a piano technician, and you will not worry what = customers think > of you. You will not have to "fake it" because = you will know how to do it. > Five years from now you will be earning more, working on = good pianos, and > building a reputation that brings you good customers by = referral. >  > Sincerely, > Ed Sutton >  >  > = _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: = https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives   _______________________________________________= pianotech list info: = https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </div> </body> </html>