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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mickey:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Your suggestions =
about aiming
convention classes to associates is a good one. I wonder if local =
chapters
could also help along those lines. Our Syracuse chapter and many =
others
have an "associates day" when we have rotating groups learn about =
tuning, repair
and regulation so as to give more individualized instruction. The =
groups
are small, it involves all the members and everyone benefits.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mike Kurta, =
RPT</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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=mickeykes2@uf.znet.com =
href="mailto:mickeykes2@uf.znet.com">Mickey
Kessler</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> Sunday, July 21, 2002 =
9:24 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: pianotech-digest =
V2002
#1169</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=3>At 01:54 PM 7/21/2002 -0600, you =
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite type="cite">Associate and RPT are NOT =
the same
status and they don't create the same <BR>impression in this =
trade. I
know this because I have been both. If you get <BR>the chops =
up and
submit yourself to the testing required to become RPT's, you =
<BR>will find
out the same thing.<BR>Regards, <BR>Ed Foote RPT
</BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Just thought I'd add my two cents worth to this
thread. <BR><BR>Rather than get into the tussle of Associate vs. =
RPT-only classes (I'm an Associate member who'd rate himself at =
apprentice
level), I'd like to make a suggestion.<BR><BR>Maybe at future =
regionals and
nationals, there could be a series of classes specifically designed to =
help
train Associates to pass the RPT exams. Hands-on tuning, =
hands-on
regulating, and hands-on basic repair classes, focused directly on the =
skills
needed to pass the exams, would undoubtedly up the number of RPTs
dramatically. <BR><BR>I've only been to one convention (San Diego last =
February) and I was overwhelmed with the amount of great material and =
support
I found there. I had a wonderful time. But seminars =
where
experienced tuners could work with those of us who are less =
experienced, with
the specific aim of bringing us up to speed for the exams, would have =
been
terrific (well, for me, anyway). And classes on the basics of =
regulation
as required for the exam, as well as basic repairs, would certainly =
help a lot
of people. Moreover, the skills required to pass the RPT exams =
are in
fact the basic skills any piano technician should possess, so such a
consistent series of such classes could not help but advance the
trade.<BR><BR>San Diego had great seminars on many subjects (and so =
did
Chicago, judging by the agendas I was sent). But a series =
designed
specifically for those who, like me, seriously aspire to RPT status =
would
increase the number of well-trained and capable technicians in the =
field, and
ultimately, the total number of RPTs.<BR><BR>Tossing modesty to the =
wind for a
moment, let me just add that I have experience in Industrial Training =
design
and am currently a college professor, so if there's any interest in my =
suggestion, and if I can be of any help, I would be more than happy to =
help
put together such a curriculum.<BR><BR>Just my two pennies. =
<BR><BR>Mark
(Mickey) Kessler<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>