<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=windows-1252" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2919.6307" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>Dear Willis,</DIV> <DIV>I am honored and humbled by your response to my message.  I still look = to you as an one of the best examples of teaching excellence in our = organization.  Your classes have gone a long way to help many of us improve our skills throughout the years.  Thank you so much for that.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't know about the young part, but I am thrilled to be able to give = back to PTG even a small portion of what I've received.  Thank you, again, </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>jeannie</DIV> <DIV> Jeannie Grassi, RPT Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal = <A href="mailto:jgrassi@silverlink.net" target=_blank>mailto:jgrassi@silverlink.net</A> = </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader>-----Original Message----- From: = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Vilsnyder@AOL.COM Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 1:30 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Jeannie Grassi = post on teaching </DIV>Dear Jeannie, What wonderful. good, solid advice you have given about = training someone new to the piano service field. This post should be = reprinted in the PTG Journal. It sure is accurate  & is based on a lot = of experience, & well meaning. One of the advantages that a = starting Tech had many years ago was that most of the music stores had large = numbers of stock pianos on the floor & in inventory, waiting to be = sold & Techs would go to work for the dealer & do stock tuning every = day  & this would help to develop their skill. The charge to the = dealer was 1/2 the price of the tuning price to the home. When I = started, the average home price for a standard tuning was four dollars!. = Also, after a piano was sold, the store Tech would go out & give = a "free" tuning to the customer. The Tech was paid 1/2 the regular = customer charge & in some cases, the Tech was allowed to keep the = customer as their own, & thus could build a business. Othe dealers kept = the customers for themselves & all future service was done through the = store. All that system is mostly gone now, & so, it is a lot more = difficult for a new Tech to get established. Our trade needs = new people, & your words of wisdom are a helpful guideline to = those training & those desireing to become Piano Technicians. One = final word to you & others- It's wonderful to see young people such = as yourself,  come along and take the reins of leadership in our = trade & PTG, which will ensure it's future & be better. Regards,    Willis Snyder =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;    =            &nb= sp;         =            &nb= sp;       </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>