Teaching Tuning

[Shawn Brock]

Don't forget the Emil Fries School.  Like NBSS and Western Ontario they are an accredited school, which is where it counts!  Plus, they are one of the oldest schools that teaches Piano Technology now days.  Its a shame that they don't except sighted students anymore...  That's a bad move in my opinion, But who am I to say.  

Shawn Brock, RPT
www.shawnbrock.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: paulrevenkojones at aol.com 
  To: tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net ; pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:49 PM
  Subject: Re: Teaching Tuning


  CSPT (Chicago School for Piano Technology)!  NBSS (North Bennett Street School)! 

  Yup, it's difficult. You can find our entire curriculum out on our website, Tom. It's taken years to develop, and we're not done, ever.  While you're there, take a look at the graduates page, see what they're doing after one year of training.

  Paul





  -----Original Message-----
  From: Tom Sivak <tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net>
  To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
  Sent: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 5:24 pm
  Subject: Teaching Tuning


I have a new-found respect for those of you who teach others to tune.  I took on 
a student, albeit a not-too-serious one, this summer.  I have taught piano for 
nearly 20 years, I used to teach college level music theory; I thought I could 
be a good tuner-teacher, too.   Not so.  Knowing what you're doing doesn't 
necessarily make you able to teach that to others.

My theory, as to why this was so difficult for me, is that I basically taught 
myself how to do all this stuff.  Sure, I had tutoring sessions with various 
RPTs here in my area, but for the most part, I read, I watched others 
critically, I attended all the PTG meetings and Institutes I could, and I bought 
old junker pianos and regulated, reconditioned, and partially rebuilt them.  

I didn't really do it all by myself, but there was no curriculum I followed, nor 
any logical course of action other than trying to absorb everything that came my 
way.

So when it came time to pass this knowledge down, I had no idea how to form 
basic lesson plans that progressed from one step to another, or create aural 
tuning exercizes to help this youngster learn how to tune.  

Perhaps a more serious student might have made me feel a little better about the 
job I did, but I don't blame the student.  I think I'm just no good at it.  I 
don't foresee taking on any other students in the future.

No response necessary from anyone on this post.  Just wanted to express my 
gratitude to those who helped me get a start, and my admiration for those of you 
who have the talent to teach others.

Tom Sivak
Chicago

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