Piano Technology Education

 [ Dave Bovell wrote in 120307 MMDigest

> My sad feeling is that tuning is a dying trade. [snip] Apparently
> there is little opportunity for training of this caliber any more,
> not only in tuning, but also repair and regulation.

Not true -- piano tuning and servicing is alive and well!  I've been
a piano technician for 20 years and I can tell you there is plenty of
work out there.

Getting quality piano tech education requires hard work and dedication
but you don't have to look far for resources.  The North Bennet Street
School in Boston has a huge and comprehensive 2-year piano tech program.
They will teach you everything from tuning to soundboard replacement.
It is an accredited program and financial aid is available.

  http://www.nbss.edu/education/programs/piano-technology/index.aspx 

Another program is the Chicago School of Piano Technology, which also
has a comprehensive 2-year program:  http://www.pianotechschool.com/ 

Another is the Minnesota School of Piano Technology,
http://www.mnschoolofpianotech.com/  and a program at the University
of Western Ontario, http://www.pianotech.uwo.ca/ , and an advanced
master of the arts program in piano technology at Florida State
University, http://www.music.fsu.edu/Areas-of-Study/Piano-Technology 
This is only a partial list.

Some of these programs also offer a less comprehensive 1-year program
to learn the basics.  The Randy Potter correspondence course has also
received high praises:  http://www.pianotuning.com/rpseminars.htm 

One of the primary functions of the Piano Technicians Guild,
http://www.ptg.org/  is education.  There are annual national as well
as regional conventions that focus specifically on piano tech education.
Over several days you will attend short and all-day classes on every
topic imaginable from tuning to comprehensive rebuilding, all taught by
industry experts including techs from piano manufacturers.  Piano tech
supply companies are also present demonstrating and selling every tool,
jig, and equipment a piano tech could ever need.

After gaining experience an affiliation with a local piano dealer, even
a loose one, will typically be enough to get you on the list for
continuing education from manufactures.  Yamaha, Kawai, Mason & Hamlin,
and Steinway all have week-long hands-on programs.  All but Steinway
are completely free including your hotel room and most meals.  PianoDisc
and QRS also have free week long training programs to become certified
for installing their player systems.

Persistently ask around, work the phones, and sit in on some local
chapter PTG meetings, you can often find a tech who will be willing to
spend at least some time with you.  Personally I began my formal
training during my undergraduate years by getting to know and working
with the music department piano tech.  After graduating I continued at
an accredited piano tech school and then almost immediately went into
full-time grand restoration for a major dealership.

At the moment the economy is way down but several years ago, at its
peak, the local dealer was selling multiple grand pianos each week,
many of which were sold with PianoDisc players.  As their certified
installer I was installing some 40 player units a year.

Bottom line:  piano technology and education is alive and well.  Anyone
taking quality mechanical music machine restoration seriously would
benefit +1001%.  Don't worry, digital pianos will never replace
acoustic pianos.  A paper cone speaker can not replace a real vibrating
wire on a wood soundboard, and MIDI interfaces, both in and out, are
available.  Pianos aren't going anywhere.  Case and point: electric
guitars have never replaced acoustic guitars either, and they've been
around a lot longer then digital pianos!

Rob Goodale
Las Vegas, Nevada