<html> <body> Yeah, but you're kind of a self-starter. Besides, I can remember when you first started asking "thousands" of questions!!!!! :-D Avery At 12:46 PM 8/5/05, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> Whereas I have little doubt a mentor would be a great asset, one can "go it alone" also. I did the Potter course without any input from any technician ....... and look at me!   Oh, yeah, okay, forget it. Bad idea......   ;-)   Terry Farrell   I suggest you hire a technician for lessons.  Randy recommends this with his course.  You will need to have someone mentoring you through the process on a regular basis.  Also, join the local chapter of PTG.  Good luck,   jeannie   Jeannie Grassi, RPT Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal <a href="mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net">mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net</a>     <dl><div align="center"> </div> <dd>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" eudora="autourl"> mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of nancy downs <dd>Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 5:43 AM <dd>To: pianotech@ptg.org <dd>Subject: learner with some questions <dd>  <dd>Hi, <dd>  <dd>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. <dd>  <dd>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.  <dd>  <dd>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.  <dd>  <dd>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.  <dd>  <dd>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? <dd>  <dd>Any way, just hoping someone here might have some insight.  <dd>  <dd>Thanks,  nancy <div align="center"> </div> <dd>Yahoo! Mail <dd>Stay connected, organized, and protected. <a href="http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html">Take the tour</a> </dl></blockquote></body> </html>