tuning and teaching

Kent Swafford kswafford@earthlink.net
Fri Apr 26 15:14 MDT 2002


On 4/25/02 12:39 PM, "Wimblees@aol.com" <Wimblees@aol.com> wrote:

> If Kent is listening, I would like to ask if he could explain his reasoning
> for not liking the idea of splitting the position between teaching and tuning.
> I would also like to ask others on this list for your opinion.

Hmmm. I guess it is standard practice in education to split up teaching
positions, half-time here, 1/4 time there. So, I'm probably swimming
upstream on this.

While on the surface it is great that you get 2 paychecks, Wim, I would
point out that there is a whole world out there of people who work 1 full
time job for an ample salary that leaves neither time nor any need for extra
employment. I don't believe enough piano technicians fit this description.

I certainly include myself. I am part-time at a state university, and
provide the rest of my employment through private work, including this
week's gig as technician for a piano competition.

As an organization, the PTG should, in my opinion, promote piano technology
as an endeavor that is practiced by full-time highly-skilled professionals.

The fact that so many of us are part time is a indication of the low regard
there is for our line of work. What is the biggest complaint from the
part-time techs? I'll bet it is that there is more work to be done than can
possibly be accomplished in the hours available.

That's all I was trying to get at.

Kent



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