Associate to associate

[Farrell]

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"Oh come on...  a "world class rebuilder"  can pass the test... sheeshh =
you'd think we were referring to the bar exam or something..... "

Not if he/she doesn't tune by ear. I hope to become an excellent, very =
knowledgeable piano rebuilder someday, but unless I can find tons of =
time somewhere along the line (and a very patient tutor), I may not ever =
learn how to tune aurally (but I would like to). I'm sure there are =
others that cannot tune well aurally and spend their time in the shop. I =
realize you and many others may find tuning relatively easy - or at =
least something you can grasp onto and study in an efficient manner. I =
find bridge making and soundboard replacement and action geometry to be =
very friendly concepts to approach and learn. Learning aural tuning for =
me is like pulling impacted molars. I have gone for tutoring at the =
conventions, only to spend 75% of the session coaxing the instructor to =
start at some elementary level where I can even begin to understand what =
they are talking about. This is very difficult material for me and I can =
only assume some other people. I think I would likely do better on a bar =
exam.=20

"Secondly we are talking about full service field techs..people who deal =
with all sides of basic service issues.."
=20
Are we? I thought we were talking about Associate members of PTG. Not =
all are full service field techs. If we restrict our topic to full =
service field techs, I would absolutely agree that achieving the skills =
necessary to pass the RPT exams should be pursued by all doing this kind =
of work. (I am doing that kind of work, and I am pursuing all those =
skills). Although, I do not believe one should need to achieve RPT =
status before charging for his/her services.

"How would you feel if you had just paid 150 dollars to attend a lecture =
from somebody, and then found out a couple days later (by what ever =
fashion) the guy had absolutely no idea what he was talking about?"

I think you will find that instructors at PTG lectures are very =
knowledgeable in their respective area of expertise - and do not stray =
far from that area. If I went to someone's class on aural tuning =
techniques - I would be disappointed to learn that his/her aural tuning =
skills were not up to par. But when I go to a class on soundboard =
design, and the instructor knows what he/she is talking about and I =
don't give a hoot whether they know how to tune a piano by ear or not. =
In the same way, if I go to a class on tuning, and find that the =
instructor has never even notched a bridge, well that's OK because I can =
learn bridge notching from others whose expertise is in belly work. The =
point being that possession of all the piano technician skills necessary =
to pass the RPT test, including aural tuning skills, should not be =
required for a tech whose qualifications lie in only one area, perhaps =
in belly work, to charge money for his/her services. I don't really see =
where this issue would be a subject of debate at all. I believe there =
are a number of PTG Associates that would fall into this category.

Richard, I write all the above with a constructive spirit - just trying =
to discuss and understand. I trust you are there with me.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Richard Brekne=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 5:55 AM
  Subject: Re: Associate to associate


   =20
  Farrell wrote:=20

    I've never joined in the foray on these types of topics, but I am =
curious about one point: Richard, with reference to "anyone who can not =
pass the RPT test has no business accepting money to work on someone's =
piano. Period." Are you really saying that a world-class rebuilder that =
does not tune pianos should not work on someone's piano for pay?=20
    Oh come on...  a "world class rebuilder"  can pass the test... =
sheeshh you'd think we were refering to the bar exam or something.....=20

    Secondly we are talking about full service field techs..people who =
deal with all sides of basic service issues.=20
     =20

    I could run off a few names of very prominent and highly respected =
Associate members of PTG that are very skilled at what they do and =
regularly lecture at PTG Annual Conventions (because they are good!).=20

    As I have said... this in no way changes the fact that if they can =
not pass the test they have no buisness accepting pay for working on =
pianos. There is no conflict in these two statements Terry. But to put a =
point on it...grin... How would you feel if you had just payed 150 =
dollars to attend a lecture from somebody, and then found out a couple =
days later (by what ever fashion) the guy had absolutely no idea what he =
was talking about ?=20
      Come on Richard, broaden your horizons. I am a licensed =
Professional Geologist in the state of Florida. I had to take a day-long =
test to get my license. It was a good thing to do, just as I agree with =
most that it is a good learning experience to get your RPT thing. Maybe =
I will someday if I ever figure out how to tune by ear good enough. =20
     Well, enough is enough. I usually enjoy your posts quite a bit, but =
this one seemed to me to be a bit narrow minded. Be kind to me. ;-)=20
     =20

    I see no need to personalize this discussion. I think it would be =
best if people avoided calling each other narrow minded or suggesting =
they need to broaden horizons... grin.. especially when we probably =
aggree wayyyyyy more then you might at the moment think.... re-read =
closely what I wrote and I think you will see I have said nothing =
controversial at all.=20
      Terry Farrell=20
    Piano Tuning & Service=20
    Tampa, Florida=20
    mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com=20

      ----- Original Message -----
      From: Richard Brekne
      To: pianotech@ptg.org
      Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 6:15 PM
      Subject: Re: Associate to associate
       You certainly will get a lot of  differeing replys to this kind =
of posting. I encourage you regardless to persue your RPT status. I =
would also simply say in the face of all the notes that totally and out =
of hand simply ridicule your views... that anyone who can not pass the =
RPT test has no buisness accepting money to work on someones piano. =
Period. The test is simply too easy as it is.=20
      I would also like to point out that if there has been too much =
"associate bashing" in the past... the present is beginning to wear thin =
on "RPT ridiculing". The goal to attain RPT status is a fine one and =
honorable one.=20

      Finnally, in contrast to some of my colleagues on this list, I =
find nothing about your posting that is "garbaged" or "prejudiced". You =
shared your view points in a matter of factly way, and deserved to be =
treated with respect in replies. We dont have to all aggree, but we can =
disaggree with out being rude.=20

      btw..how does one insure one knows the "tone" of an =
email.....shheeeshh.=20
      =20


  --=20
  Richard Brekne=20
  RPT, N.P.T.F.=20
  Bergen, Norway=20
  mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no=20
   =20


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