<<Like others here, I was frustrated with the amount of time it took for my assignments to come back to me while finishing Randy's course.? When they DID arrive, I was very pleased with Randy's very thorough evaluations and attention to detail.? In retrospect, I consider the waiting period training for the waiting period required to schedule the various tests....:-).>>
Tests to become an RPT, that is.
Dave Stahl
-----Original Message-----
From: David and Jean Weiss <djweiss at ntelos.net>
To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 5:29 am
Subject: Re: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not Harry
Matthew,
?
There are 3 ways to get trained; home study,
apprenticeship, and attending school.? I did all three so please allow me
to make some suggestions.?
?
I started with Randy Potter's course.? On the
phone he was always encouraging, but I ran into the same problems as others did,
he would not return my recorded or written materials, so it was impossible to
get any feedback.?Although?I finished the course in about a year, it
doesn't take long to realize you can't learn this profession through
correspondence.? Still, his course is a great introduction.?
?
I then found a technician would let me work in his
shop.? My?"day gig"?was 4 day a week position, so I had 2
days?every week to spend with him.? He was an excellent technician, a
great teacher, and a great guy.? I spent about 3 years with him and learned
a lot.? But he was running a business and in spite of his best intentions
it wasn't his primary focus to train me.?
?
By this time I wanted to quit my?day
gig?and become a full time technician, but I knew my skill level was not
good enough, and the pace of my learning was too slow.? ?Finally I bit
the bullet and attended the program at the University of Western Ontario.?
It was the best decision I could have made.? I moved up to Ontario with my
wife and 2 kids.? We spent a year there.? The training was absolutely
great.? 12 students and 4 instructors whose only goal was to teach
us.? The program was intense and demanding but at the end I felt was
ready.?
?
If it is at all possible, and even if its not, I
recommend you attend one of the schools.? (I think Western Ontario is the
best, but I'm biased.)? If you are really committed to becoming a highly
skilled technician, I think attending a school is the only way.?
?
David Weiss, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From:
Matthew Todd
To: Pianotech List
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 7:25
PM
Subject: Re:The Potter Dilemma, Randy not
Harry
Just to give you all an update, I was able to talk with Randy this
afternoon.? I believe we are heading toward a resolution, so we'll see
what happens.
?
Thank you all for your posts!
Matthew
James H Frazee <jimfrazee at msn.com> wrote:
Matthew,
?
I, like you, signed up and paid for the complete Potter course about
four years ago.? It is beyond question an?excellent course in
terms of information provided, tools issued, video tape/DVD's to listen to
and the thought of having your tuning exercises listened to, graded and
comments provided.? The problem I faced, like you, was getting the
cassettes back in a reasonable amount of time.? I finally gave up
after?the last one?took seven months, more than half a year!?
Note that when I did get them back, the grade and comments sent back were
absolutely finest kind, spot on.? And, I almost always got my graded
homework back in a fair amount of time, also with excellent comments.?
But I figured I'd be well into Social Security before I could tune.
?
The difference for me is that I began studying with Russell Gordon, my
mentor, who's superb.? The (growing) problem for Randy is, I think,
that he's just one person.? (Yes, they've hired other people I think,
but I don't know.)? I for one would prefer to have him grade my
cassettes but just think of the schedule:? off to this convention, that
convention, a regional meeting, then his own school, then more conventions -
not to mention trying to have a real life with real family members!? In
the beginning I was frustrated, as you probably are now, especially from a
pragmatic standpoint?since he already had my all my money and I had,
what, well, exactly what - I had all the course work which I also
continually use?it as?reference, I had all the tools that came
with the course which, at least, got me started, I had all the videotapes
and, lo and behold, I was already out tuning and learning (and continuing to
the learn) the craft, and repairs and joined the PTG.
?
Now, I've met Randy at two conventions (Rochester and Philly)?and
I think (somewhat cautiously in the beginning)?he knows who I
am.???And I think he's really a fine fellow that cares about
all the above and about the PTG.? I also think, for these very reasons,
he spreads himself way, way, way?too thin and, if you ask him, he
probably would even do that more.? I believe you can't learn tuning and
the craft just from reading.? I think having mentor?or a school or
a very active PTG chapter will go along way.
?
So, in the end, am I frustrated?or worse or not.? No,
considering all I did get, I'm happy and I'm on my way.?
Whether?we like it or not, caviar wasn't what we expected the first
time either.
?
Jim Frazee
Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join
Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.
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