<!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 text=#000000 bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hi John,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sorry I gave you the impression that one stops = at RPt and doesn't keep learning.  I should have mentioned that more clearly = in the  e-mail ,but I was in a hurry as usual to get moving with the day.  I agree, never stoplearning. I told someone that the other = day.  I said that this is a great trade, always more t o learn.  = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>When you say find what works, are you referring = to, strip muting one section then using mutes in another verses strip muting the = entire piano for example?  I do different things especially when I get to = a point on a grant where no mute will stay because the space is so great between = the last string and the strut. I haven't figured out what to do on that one yet.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>My biggest challange and headahce frustration = aggrevation is speed.  I just cannot seem to speed up.  I mean how many = pianos do I have to tune before I get past 3hours. does a little light and buzzer = go off when I reach the 2 hour mark? :) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Well anyway, sorry I gave you the impression = that I'm going to stop at RPT an d sit back and say, ah, I'm done learning.  = No, I'm not done, and that's why I asked so many questions on here and got a few = upset with me. Oh well, I guess there's nothing I can do but keep moving on = and learning. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marshall</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=john@formsmapiano.com = href="mailto:john@formsmapiano.com">John Formsma</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 11, = 2006 9:46 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: = Upgrading.....</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=-1><FONT = face=Verdana>Marshall,<BR><BR>First, it's important to recognize that RPT is not the "prize." It's a recognition = of proficiency, not a recognition of maximum ability. We should go on = from RPT to higher levels, both in tuning and other areas of piano technology.<BR><BR>Second, PTG has a number of resources available to = help a person attain the RPT goal.<BR><BR>You've heard the saying, "practice = makes perfect." That is only true if you practice correctly. :-) So, I'd = recommend using the old noodle to think through these things rather than doing = them a certain way only because "so and so piano guru" says that's the way. = Find what works, and understand <I><B>why</B></I> it works. (I'm still working = on that, by the way.)<BR><BR>John Formsma<BR></FONT></FONT><BR>pianotune05 = wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid002b01c62f15$d2effe00$1174b143@eva12marshal0g type="cite"><META http-equiv=Context-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <DIV>Here's another question. What can one do in order to start = preparing for the PTG exam even though it's premature or early?, ie. tune a = zillion pianos, shape a gillion hammers, rebulid a loughhead piano to make = it sound better. :)  what can an assocate do, and one like myself who is = a pre associate member, I haven't been to my first meeting yet, do in = order to keep RPT as the goal the prize as far as piano tuning is concerned = in their mind?  </DIV> <DIV>Marshall </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=john@formsmapiano.com href="mailto:john@formsmapiano.com">John Formsma</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 11, 2006 12:06 AM</DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> RE: Upgrading.....</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>Ron, </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>I was just about to send what I wrote to Dean when your = post hit my inbox. You have said it so well that it totally eclipsed mine = so I’m not sending it now. </SPAN><SPAN>J</SPAN> <SPAN></SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>Yes, yes – there must be a way to promote excellence. = And, “Craftsman” and “Certified” are much more descriptive. I = prefer either of those to “Registered.” </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>Isn’t it a problem that PTG comes up with the terms, = but it’s we who have to do the educating? We don’t have much time for that. = Is there a way PTG could educate the piano playing populace? I’m thinking, = wow, that would be hard. The first step could be beginning at the university = and piano teaching guilds, and hopefully it would filter down after a = while. But before that, you would have to <I><SPAN>demonstrate</SPAN></I> = that PTG people are generally more skilled. (There will always be = exceptions, of course.) I don’t think you can do that as it is currently set = up unless you get rid of the Associate status. Wow, big situation when you = start to think about it. </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>BTW, How many different places are you registered to vote = in Florida ? <g> </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>John Formsma </SPAN></P> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <DIV> <DIV><SPAN></SPAN></DIV> <P><B><SPAN>From:</SPAN> </B><SPAN><A = class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated = href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> = [<A class=moz-txt-link-freetext = href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.or= g</A>] <B><SPAN>On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>RON MAY, = RPT<BR><B><SPAN>Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, February 10, 2006 10:27 PM<BR><B><SPAN>To:</SPAN></B> = Pianotech List<BR><B><SPAN>Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: Upgrading.....</SPAN> = </P></DIV> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P> <DIV> <P><SPAN>Hi People</SPAN> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>Until the day comes that the public  becomes = educated,  aware and demands expertise and professional performance or = heaven forbid the government becomes involved and demands licensing such = as that demanded for other  trades such as plumbers and = electricians, we are just lighting a fire under and empty skillet. Now that anyone = can show themselves as a member of PTG and we have come up with = "Registered" members, which no one has the slightest idea about instead off = craftsman ratings or some other descriptive rating there is only one = motivation and that is from within.. Unfortunately not very many seem to have = this motivation or pride in their work and profession. = Whether we are RPTs, Certified Tuner Technicians,or craftsman, getting the = message out is up to we individual technicians and most of us are busy and = have become very complacent about the problem. To me Certified = says a whole lot more than registered. I'm "Registered" to vote in = Florida and we all know what that means but obviously some don't know how to do it.</SPAN> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>We as PTG just continue to shoot ourselves in the = foot on this issue. Something needs to be done and it needs to become a priority.</SPAN> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>Ron May</SPAN>   </P></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> <P><SPAN>----- Original Message ----- </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><B><SPAN>From:</SPAN> </B><SPAN><A = title=avery1@houston.rr.com href="mailto:avery1@houston.rr.com">Avery</A> = </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><B><SPAN>To:</SPAN> </B><SPAN><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> = </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><B><SPAN>Sent:</SPAN> </B><SPAN>Friday, February 10, 2006 = 4:37 PM </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><B><SPAN>Subject:</SPAN> </B><SPAN>Re: Upgrading..... </SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P><SPAN>  </SPAN></P></DIV> <P><SPAN>This subject HAS been on ptg-L. For DAYS!!!!!!!!!! = Weeks? :-( <BR><BR>Avery </SPAN></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BO= DY></HTML>