Training to be a technician

[Openwood]

Now please don't laugh but how much money would I need to have put away in order to be able to consider training as a piano technician?

Is it a non-starter or do you think there are still openings for people who are passionate about pianos? I've been teaching music in school for nearly 15 years and I feel that if I don't make the career change soon it might be too late....

[mdw]

Enough to cover 3 years training ( or it was whenI trained). I actualy got a small grant from my local authority towards my living expenses and my training paid for. I think that just shows how long ago that was. I would research if there are likely to be any jobs in your area when you finish. Could be a bit of a shock to run up a £15 K bill for training only to find no job at the end of it. Dont know if any shops are taking any one on. If they are its most likely to be a trained Pole ( they are not just plumbers) .
Personaly I recon this job will see me out but I dont want my kids going into it.

[Barrie Heaton]

Now please don't laugh but how much money would I need to have put away in order to be able to consider training as a piano technician?.

That depends you only have 3 places to train if you move near to one of them and take a part time job teaching to support you, you will be fine but that may not be possible if you have a family but then there is the fees all tuning courses are expensive to get Gov funding instead of LEA you need to be on the dole for 2 years

You could contact a local tuner as see if they will train you and try to get block release and do your present job part time.

Is it a non-starter or do you think there are still openings for people who are passionate about pianos? I've been teaching music in school for nearly 15 years and I feel that if I don't make the career change soon it might be too late....

95% of tuners tend to go self employed and it is hard for the first 5 years but you can do teaching part time so for you not as a big problem or you can buy a tuning round



I would still come into the trade but I would buy a round if I was starting off again

Barrie,

[Gill the Piano]

If you're buying a round, Barrie, mine's a pint of Rebellion...
Where would you buy a tuning round these days? I saw lots of ads in the music press up to WWII, but wouldn't have a clue otherwise.
Openwood's problem would be finding a tuner/tech to train him; from what he's said in the past, I don't think they're exactly dropping from trees there...

[mdw]

Where would you buy a tuning round these days? ..

Or I would say WHY would you BUY a tuning round. How many tunings that you have paid for would use you, the new tuner parachuted in on them. I would just wait. Once the old tuners retired the customers will be looking for a new one anyway. From the few cases ive heard of the old tuner kept a lot of the good regulars for a bit of extra beer money to suppliment his/her pension. Ive no objection to retired tuners doing a bit on the side but they should charge the going rate not muck about doing £30 tunings just because they dont need the money.

[Openwood]

Hmm, living in the Channel Islands certainly has its benefits but an abundance of tuners looking for apprentices is not one of them. But then again I would definitely consider relocating if I could find a way to make it work. Which course do you guys reckon is the best? I'd like to make some enquiries and see if this really could be done.

[Barrie Heaton]

You get them form trade mags or advertise

50% is lost because of good will
Some clients can go for 4 years before they Oh the tuner has not phoned.
When buying a round you give a small payment up fount then a % of the profit for 3+ years scaling down to 0%

I know some tuners who started off that way and have done well out of it and some got it wrong .

When a local tuner pops their clogs their clients tend to ask around music shops is the first port of call, they want recommendation's. if they have had the guy for a log time they are not going to trust the new kid on the block if no one knows them - you will pick up a few but most will go to the local established tuners unless you are charging peanuts and the guy who popped his clogs was as well

Anyone coming into this trade needs to be very good at communicating with the great unwashed 95% of this job is tuning your clients 5% is tuning the pianos



Barrie,

[Barrie Heaton]

Hmm, living in the Channel Islands certainly has its benefits but an abundance of tuners looking for apprentices is not one of them. .

Would there be the work in the Channel Islands if you did train

There is also distance learning with Randay Potter and using a ETD but you would need a mentor (that me against the wall come the revulsion) one with in a 100 miles or one of the colleges willing to do it that way Hereford is more flexible at them moment and they are now allowing none Blindly persons into their hallowed halls you can even take the VIEW piano tuning exam that came into force this last year

They have asked the ABPT if we will look at allowing none Blindly persons into the ABPT hallowed halls and be coved by our insurance.


Barrie,

[mdw]

Anyone coming into this trade needs to be very good at communicating with the great unwashed 95% of this job is tuning your clients 5% is tuning the pianos

Barrie,

Spot on.
Which is why I wouldnt shell out much cash for a tuning round. The customer is buying you the person not just any tuner out of the Yellow Pages and that does take time to build up.

[Openwood]

Would there be the work in the Channel Islands if you did train

Nope. I'd have to move away, but that isn't something that would stop me doing it.

The distance learning option sounds interesting, but just how I'd find a mentor whilst I'm living on a lump of rock in the channel is another matter altogether. Still, the opportunity to phone someone and ask "Hello, are you Randay?" is not one that presents itself every day and I'd hate to miss out on it for want of trying. Perhaps I should get in touch with him (her?) and see what it would take. How often would I need to meet with a mentor?

The communication thing isn't a problem, I'm good at that, if I do say so myself.

[Openwood]

Looking at the thread under this one, the biggest problem is that I can't ever see myself using the word lubricant with a straight face. This is going to be a bigger challenge than I thought....

[Barrie Heaton]

Looking at the thread under this one, the biggest problem is that I can't ever see myself using the word lubricant with a straight face. This is going to be a bigger challenge than I thought....

3158 readers can't wrong about what lubricant you should use on your wooden parts.


Back to school Randy Potters School Of Piano Technology

some times you see them for sale on ebay Randy that is not the lubricant

Barrie,

[Barrie Heaton]

If you're buying a round, Barrie, mine's a pint of Rebellion.....

looks interesting not see it up here I like this

Tours take place on the first tuesday of every month
# Tours start at 7:30pm, all welcome.
# £10.00 Per head (including members).
# All you can drink and take your glass home as a souvenir.
# Notice required for groups of 12 or more, otherwise no need to book

I wonder if we can have our next piano tuners meting there

Barrie,

[sussexpianos]

think long and hard, I have had many people do a weeks work in my workshop to see if they want to work in the piano industry and I have to say, one out of 5 went to Newark. Its not an easy business and you will need to take on a second job for a few years until you build up a round/business. I worked restoring furniture for 3 years until I could get myself established enough. There are many tuners retiring but there are also not as many pianos due to electronic. I started college when I was 15 and did a 3 year course at Newark. I know for a fact I wouldn't do it as a career change as it would cost too much to train and build up the business.