<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><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 id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#d8d0c8 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 = rightMargin=7> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">I'm happy to be able to contribute for once!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">There are two full-time nine-month = program programs, held September through June every year.  There are also = one-week workshops held during the summer, mostly entry-level.  The schedule = is 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, leaving some time for work during the week.  The = school is open later for work on your own.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">The first year teaches you everything = you need for your RPT: aural tuning, field repairs, some shop repairs, regulation, = and some voicing.  (It's up to you to practic</FONT><FONT face="Verdana = Ref">e to get down to the time limits.)  There is a balanced mixture of = classroom time and individual tuning time, with one-on-one coaching.  We've = got about 25 pianos of all kinds squirreled away in different rooms (mostly very = nice grands).  The facility consists of three (or more?) interconnected buildings, right in downtown Boston next to Old North = Church.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">The second year focuses on rebuilding, = with other advanced topics.  Grands are torn down, plate removed, soundboard = shimmed or replaced, bridges recapped and notched, new pinblock fitted, action = and keys refurbished.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">If you have prior experience, you can = apply right to the second year program, or just continue on from the first year (or = just end after the first year).  No piano experience is required for the = first year.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">Tuition for the first year was around = $15K this year, including about $600 of tools.  The school is accredited, and = helps you with financial aid.  Students get discounts on health insurance = and commuter passes.  Applications are due April 1 for the following = September, and there was a waiting list for the first year program this year = (maximum about 15 students).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">They've been teaching piano since the = 60's, and you probably already know the instructors from conventions: David Betts, = Debbie Cyr, Christine Lovgren, and Jack Stebbins.  They're all first-rate, = knowledgable, and patient coaches -- and are all still tuning in the = field, keeping the knowledge current.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">For more info, contact David = Betts, head of the piano department: David Betts <A href="mailto:pianotech@nbss.org">pianotech@nbss.org</A>, and see <A href="http://www.nbss.org">http://www.nbss.org</A>.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">--Cy--</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">N. Bennet Street School</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref">Class of '06</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=Erwinspiano@aol.com href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</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> Wednesday, January 11, = 2006 9:34 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> North bennett = street</DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document = face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Can some one tell me a bit about North Bennett st. school. Cost = length etc.</DIV> <DIV>  Thanks</DIV> <DIV>   Dale <DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 PTSIZE="10" = FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><B>Dale Erwins Piano Restorations</B> <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-577-8397 cell 209-985-0990<BR><B><U>Featuring Custom = Restoration Services<BR>& Sales Of Restored </B></U><BR><B><U>Steinway ,and = Mason & Hamlin Pianos</B></U><BR><A = href="http://www.Erwinspiano.com">www.Erwinspiano.com</A></FONT></DIV><= /DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>