<HTML><HEAD></HEAD> <BODY>If you are willing to pay a tech to come and work on your= piano while you observe, I don't think you'll have a= problem.  But first I'd check with the local PTG chapter= and go to meetings, meet members and bring up your ideas for= learning the trade.  PTG membership and purchase of= the source books is a priority.  Learn it right the first= time.   Read everything you can by Bill Spurlock in= Basic Skills.  <BR><BR>David Ilvedson<BR><BR><BR><BR> <DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px;= PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid;= PADDING-TOP: 5px"> <HR> Original message<BR>From: nancy downs= <ERALNA240@YAHOO.COM><BR>To: <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>Received:= Fri, 5 Aug 2005 05:42:57 -0700 (PDT)<BR>Subject: learner with= some questions<BR><BR> <DIV> <DIV align=left>Hi,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm new here and trying to learn the art of piano tuning and= some of the "fixing" that goes along with it.  I have the= Randy Potter video course and also have software for palm pilot= which I think has helped me to quicken the learning= process.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am wondering if you have suggestions as to how to find= someone who might want to mentor me.  I would expect that I= could be somewhat of a nuisance as I would no doubt have lots of= questions and would want to do some hands on work.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As techs, do you feel that it would seem inappropriate to= hire someone to regulate my piano and then ask to observe the= process?  It does need some work and I'm a bit hesitant to= just dive in for fear that I might do something to the piano I'd= regret.  I have certainly tuned it numerous times and= fiddled here and there with it .   I did break a= string which also needs to be replaced and would like to observe= that as well.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'd really like to learn but wonder if other tuners would= perceive me as a pain in the rear  or potential= competition  that they'd rather do without. = </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, is there some kind of consensus as to how many pianos= a person has to tune before they are ready for the real= world?  How does one know when the time is right to start= charging rather than tuning for friends as practice?  Does= a newbie tell the customer that they're new and charge less than= a well seasoned tech?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any way, just hoping someone here might have some= insight.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,  nancy</DIV></DIV> <P> <HR SIZE=1> Yahoo! Mail<BR>Stay connected, organized, and protected. <A= href="http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html">Take the= tour</A> </DIV></BODY></HTML>