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<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Mr.
Bremmer and the list members,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Thank
you for your questions. As volunteers, we always want to get as =
much
information out to the membership, to make the best use of =
our invested
time, and this affords me an excellent opportunity to provide some
information to the list members. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Perhaps some elucidation is in order. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>The Institute
Committee is made up of individuals just as is the Piano Technicians
Guild. Each year the Director is responsible for making choices =
concerning
what classes and subjects to include and exclude. Therefore, each
Institute's makeup is based on the decisions of the director for that =
year, with
input from many others, and not necessarily upon the decisions of prior
directors.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>We
attempt to balance the course offerings based upon experience, prior =
attendance,
new opportunities, requests and available facilities. I'm =
sure that
no one ever thinks we get exactly the right mix but my goal is to meet =
the needs
of the greatest number of individuals as I can perceive it at this point =
in
time.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>I'm
not exactly what is meant by the thought of giving "lip =
service."
Every communication and request is given serious consideration even if =
each one
can't be accommodated. In very short order the entire membership =
will
receive the complete convention schedule in the mail and the website =
will be up
and running. In order to attempt to meet the members' desires I =
requested
proposals while in Reno, with a notice in the Journal and by posting to =
the
email lists. After receiving the responses to those requests we =
also
sought additional classes in an attempt to balance the course offerings =
as I saw
fit. Mr. Brooks is no longer serving on this committee but I have =
great
respect for his commitment and service to PTG and the
Institute.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>The
vitriolic comments about players confuse me as well, this year we have =
Norman
Cantrell offering one class on pneumatic players. This is an =
important
area for some and I'm sure that the folks who spend a lot of time in =
this area
feel that we don't offer adequate coverage for that particular subject =
compared
to the number of classes offered on tuning. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Yes,
this is a fairly large task, I just finished proofing articles, replying =
to
messages and working on other details after I got my son to sleep. =
Actually, I feel quite honored to be fortunate enough to work in =
the ranks
of the past and future Institute Directors. Their dedication to =
this
organization and this field serves as a constant source of inspiration =
to me in
carrying out this task. In fact, I am constantly pleased by the =
level of
volunteer dedication within our organization to teach, experiment, =
communicate,
work together and advance our science and art.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002></SPAN><SPAN =
class=720294308-15032002><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>This
year's offerings include David Lamoreaux presenting his very =
well-received
presentation on Choosing a Temperament. Margaret Hood and Ed =
Kottick
address issues concerning historical instruments. The rest of the =
tuning
lineup includes such luminaries as Jim Coleman, Sr., Al Sanderson, =
Virgil Smith,
Gina Carter, Dean Reyburn, Fengsheng Chen, Sandy West, Carl Lieberman, =
Tom
Sheehan, Jim Geiger, Dan Levitan and more. Many of these folks are =
more
than familiar with Historical Temperaments and include the subject in =
their
presentations. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I don't view Equal =
Temperament
and Historical Temperaments as mutually exclusive. I see all
temperaments as part of a continuum that we as piano technicians can use =
as
tools to meet the needs of out clients. At one point in time, it =
was
commonplace to place a similar distinction on Aural versus ETD assisted
tunings. Over the years, many of us have learned that =
these
methods can be integrated into a whole rather than opposing
points.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>We
also cover regulation, repairs, voicing, moving, materials, business, =
health,
technology and other areas. The balance between these areas is =
carefully
planned and scheduled in an attempt to offer a wide variety to all =
attendees at
all times.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>We
look forward to input and I always enjoy receiving emails and forwarded =
emails
concerning what our members want to see offered in the Institute. =
Of
course, I will be serving only one more year on the committee after this =
but I
will always be glad to forward information to the director and/or =
committee
at the time. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT =
face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>I hope
this answers a few of your questions and I further hope that you as well =
as
everyone else can attend the Convention and Institute in Chicago this
June. The opportunities to learn and advance are numerous and
varied. Most of the classes are new or entirely revamped.
Considering everything being offered, I truly feel sorry for the =
individuals who
don't jump at this chance to learn and grow.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT size=2>Allan<BR>Allan L. =
Gilreath,
RPT<BR>Director - TEAM2002<BR>June 26-30, 2002 - Chicago,
IL<BR>agilreath@mindspring.com<BR><A target=_blank
href="http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm">http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm</A><BR>A=
ssistant
Directors: Gary Neie, RPT - Claude Harding, RPT - Joel Jones, RPT - =
Laura Olsen,
RPT</FONT> </DIV></SPAN>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>"If
you think education is expensive, try ignorance." - Benjamin
Franklin</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=720294308-15032002></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT =
size=2><SPAN
class=720294308-15032002><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=720294308-15032002> </SPAN>-----Original =
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
owner-ptg-l@ptg.org [mailto:owner-ptg-l@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of
</B>Billbrpt@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, March 14, 2002 12:14
PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Cc:</B>
ptg-l@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Chicago =
Convention<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>In a message =
dated 3/14/02
10:41:55 AM Central Standard Time, A440A@AOL.COM writes: <BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
TYPE="CITE">Side by side comparisons with ET have <BR>never =
failed to
waken significant percentages of listeners to the added =
<BR>resources of the
WT's, and in my experience of the last 9 years, this applies <BR>to
technicians, teachers, and pianists alike.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><FONT =
lang=0
face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 =
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR><BR>I'll bet anything
that nothing of the kind is planned for the PTG Annual Convention in =
Chicago.
Despite claims to the contrary, the Institute Committee =
historically has
resisted HT presentations as much as it could get away with doing.
"There's no room", "not enough interest", "too much =
stress"...etc.
<BR><BR>Now, they can provide for full day or multiple day =
presentations on
rebuilding but what percentage of piano technicians are involved with =
or even
interested in rebuilding vs. the percentage interested in tuning =
advancement?
<BR><BR>When has the *ever* been a recital featuring HT's besides the =
one in
Dearborn with Owen Jorgensen? For that one, I had to call and =
complain
that *no action whatsoever* had been taken on organizing the event.
Nothing in the schedule, no advance write ups, no nothing. =
I
recall that the person I had to deal with on this matter was the very =
same as
the one whom I had a great deal of trouble with later, trouble to the =
point of
me being in jeopardy of being *kicked out* of PTG. The room was =
packed
with a standing room only crowd as HT related events usually are. =
This,
with only word of mouth and passing out flyer advertising. <BR><BR>The =
Current
Director has given lip service to wanting to be responsive to what the =
membership wants and needs but I haven't heard anything at all about =
what may
be in the works regarding this topic. What ever happened to Skip =
Becker's hugely successful, standing room only, Festival of =
Temperaments?
They tried as hard as they could to make sure that as few people =
as
possible would attend by putting it on the last day of classes when =
many
people had already left. The Institute Committee refused to continue =
anything
like it. To even get my tuning done, I had to endure =
repeated
harassment from Wally Brooks who is well known for his hatred of the =
very idea
of what he calls, "Hysterical Temperaments" and "tuning the piano out =
of
tune". <BR><BR>Any complaint about this brings the usual, "I tune HT's =
myself", "we've had that before", "we have 4 classes on this subject" =
(but 5
on player pianos) [the kind with the paper rolls], "we're all =
volunteers, you
wouldn't believe the amount of work we do, blah, blah blah..." =
<BR><BR>So,
Institute Committee, what really is in the works? I keep getting =
mail
asking *me* why these things are not on the agenda. Haven't you =
gotten
any lately? <BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 =
size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Bill Bremmer RPT <BR>Madison, Wisconsin <BR><A
href="http://www.billbremmer.com/">Click here: -=w w w . b i l l b =
r e m m e r
. c o m =-</A> </FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>