In message <a4.1f2fa6f1.296d9b5a@aol.com>, AlanRMorrison@AOL.COM writes >Dear List, > >I wonder if any of you can help. I live in London and am looking for a >technician or workshop willing to give me some training and experience >rebuilding pianos. I am thirty years old with a background as a pianist. I >have a degree in music (for what it's worth) and presently work as a >freelance music copyist. I'm basically looking for a change of direction >which is fulfilling even if it won't make me rich! Not may company's in the UK take on apprentices most who come into the trade in the UK go to college. > >It seems that the training options here in the UK are somewhat limited. For >the time being, I'm less interested in earning a living tuning pianos and >more interested in getting experience doing restoration work which I feel is >best learned in a workshop. I am looking for experience more than I am >looking for paid work. Depends how much you wish to get paid someone will take you on if the pay is low >I follow the list with much interest and wish that I could find the same >level of helpfulness and enthusiasm from people here in the UK as there is in >the US and other parts of the world. Maybe I've been talking to the wrong >people :) The attitude in the UK to part time or none college learners is awful compered to the US that is manly due to way we train tuners in the UK manly in college The entrance criteria for the "pro orgs" is bias to the college trained tech as well. OTOH most who train US do it by apprenticeship or distance learning so there is a willingness to share knowledge. The college trained techs in the US are in the minority. The PTG allows members in form day one of their learning of the craft Yet in the UK you have to be at it for 5 years for the PTA and pass an entrance exam for the ABPT up to 3 years and have passed the exams The ABPT has changed their entrance criteria they now recognise colleges out site the UK and some external exams. However, to give an example for some one in the US to become a member they will have had to have attended college for 2 years mim and passed all the PTG test. We have one guy join last year. The PTA and ABPT do allow none members to attend seminars sort of.... Also, the UK supply houses offer some training days and are open to all but are limited to certain fields or products they are pushing. There are lists like this one in the UK However, they are closed lists you have to be members. :-( > >Any encouragement would be welcome! > Not much above but Try Bluthners 8 Berkeley Square, London W1X 5HF. Tel: 0207753 0533 Markson's Pianos 8 Chester Court, Albany Street, London. Tel:020 7935 8682 Piano Warehouse 30 Highgate Road London NW5 1NS Tel: 020 7267 7671 ROBERT MORLEY & COMPANY LTD. 34 Engate Street London SE13 7HA Telephone No: 0208 318 5838 Places to visit Institute of Musical Instrument Technology http://www.imit.org.uk/ PTA http://www.pianotuner.org.uk ABPT http://www.abpt.org.uk list of UK colleges are at: http://www.uk-piano.org/ Good luck Kind Regards Barrie, -- Barrie Heaton PGP key on request http://www.a440.co.uk/ AcryliKey Ivory Repair System UK © http://www.acrylikey.co.uk/ The U.K. Piano Page © http://www.uk-piano.org/ Home to the UK Piano Industry
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