Making the Transition

[Phil Bondi]

..as promised..

been playing the piano since age 7 - took a 1/2 semester Piano Tuning course in
my last year at Berklee - it just showed the basics - setting a pin, tuning
unisons, some action geometry - I forget what the final exam was, but I passed. I
took the course because I thought it was curious that of all the instruments in
the orchestra, the Piano is the only one that requires a 'technician' to tune
it..now I know why!

well, I always kept my little kit that came with the course, and tuned a few
pianos over the next couple of years - until I got to my Aunt's piano(console)
and tuned that one - it was really flat and for the life of me, I couldn't figure
out why the darn strings wouldn't stay where i put them!!....

In 1980, I took a position with GE in one of their plastics facilities- worked my
way up to Project Coordinator...that lasted 11 years, but in those 11 years, I
learned an awful lot about business, how to conduct one's self, meeting
deadlines, etc.  It has proven to be a good background to draw on for the Piano
Tuning And Repair And Whatever Business.

I left GE to pusue a career in just playing music - was doing OK at it - barely
making the bills and not saving any money - typical musician..

..Moved to Florida in '93 - the ex was offered a job she couldn't refuse, so down
we came - I continued to play piano full-time, playing more Standards than I ever
knew existed!!..but I had a house gig and was working 5 nights a week and playing
golf 3-4 times a week - what a life.

I wasn't happy, because I could see the writing on the wall - this gig and gigs
like it weren't going to be around for forever - so i said to myself - "self,
what could you do to make a living and stay close to what you do best?"...BINGO -
Piano Tuning.

I opend the phone book and called the tuners that were listed - I left messages
with all of them stating that I was looking to learn how to be a Piano Tuner - I
got 1 response from 8 calls - and that proved to be fuel for my fire.

I contacted the Home Office of the PTG who put me in contact with Larry( I forget
his last name) who then sent me a list of places, people, and schools that taught
this thing called Piano Tuning...I wanted to go to North Bennet because I
remember my instructor from Berklee came from there, and I was always impressed
with his delivery in the classroom - but - N. Bennet meant 2 years of hard labor
back in Boston - financially, I just couldn't handle that...so...the closest
place to me that was on the list was a guy named LB Crabb in Atlanta - I drove up
to Atlanta and visited with Larry and his sons - I was most impressed with the
fact that everywhere I looked, there was a piano in some form of disarray and/or
completion - I remember to this day what he said to me - "Once you get going and
you establish yourself, you'll never want for work again". Amen, Larry.

I've been full-time for 3 years this coming April 15, and I can see the light at
the end of the tunnel for the first time in a very long time, and it's not
another oncoming train!

I chose well.

Thanks, LB.

Rook/someone