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Joined: Dec 2011
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Hi all,
I am looking at a career change and would like to learn to tune pianos (including repairs of course). Based on your experiences, what would you recommend to be the best way to pick up this skill - apprentice only? Take a course(s) followed by apprenticeship?
I am more keen to start off with taking a course first but I am not too sure whether such courses are advisable by the people in the industry. I am looking at the Piano Technology course offered by the University of Western Ontario. Are there any schools that you will recommend? Are there any in Europe?
Thus far I have read related books and watched videos borrowed from the library. No hands on experienece as I am too scared to spoil my own piano.
Suggestions and recommendations are welcome thank you!
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I spoiled my Dad's piano practicing tuning and other repairs.....well, it needed rebuilding anyway. You will want to get access, or purchase a used piano to practice on if you don't want to practice on yours. Perhaps some of our European posters can help with piano tuning school suggestions. Randy Potter's course is recommended in the USA.
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I paid a lot money to music school, far more than buying a new piano to practice. I learned tune perfect fourth, bump and shake the hammer and use WD40 to spray the piano. The music school only use piano older than my wife, with ultra loose pin. What I learned, take more than half hour to tune a unison on a brand new Hailun.
Once discuss tuning new piano with the high paid, tens years experience mentor, he said:"New piano is far more easier than old piano, my tens years experience guarantee if you could tune old piano, you find new piano very comfort."
If you start learning, be careful in hunting your mentor. Include a new piano in your budget, and budget on tools.
Last edited by Weiyan; 12/11/11 11:19 PM.
Working on:\
J.S.Bach Prelude in C Min: No. 2 from Six Preludes fur Anfanger auf dem Am Abend No. 2 from Stimmungsbilder, Op. 88 60s Swing No. 1 from Swinging Rhythms
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Hi all,
I am looking at a career change and would like to learn to tune pianos (including repairs of course). Based on your experiences, what would you recommend to be the best way to pick up this skill - apprentice only? Take a course(s) followed by apprenticeship? Are there any schools that you will recommend?
Are there any in Europe? Which Country do you live in jjc? - is your English good? (it appears so from your post ) The training course I did was at Newark College, which is widely regared as the best available. In my day it was a 3-year course, but I believe it's 2 years these days. Nevertheless,you will get a top-quality education. CLONK HERE for more info.
John Schofield. NTC Dip. , C.G.L.I. Professional piano tuner/technician since 1982. myspace
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Hi John,
Thanks for sharing. I live in Singapore so Newark College is a possibility. I have come across Newark College's course but am a little hesistant due to the programme running over 2 years - more expensive tuition fees and also longer stay in UK means more money spent.... Also, I'm really not sure if spending time and money in a school is actually worth while? Compared to maybe apprenticing instead? What is your opinion on this?
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Joined: Feb 2009
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I paid a lot money to music school, far more than buying a new piano to practice. I learned tune perfect fourth, bump and shake the hammer and use WD40 to spray the piano. The music school only use piano older than my wife, with ultra loose pin. What I learned, take more than half hour to tune a unison on a brand new Hailun. I've read a lot of your posts Weiyan, & even taking into account the language difficulties, I'm finding myself increasingly concerned as to what EXACTLY 'training' at this 'music school' taught you? If you paid "far more than buying a new piano" to "bump & shake the hammer / use WD40 to spray the piano / & take more than half an hour to tune a unison", then I'm sorry, but I'm deeply sceptical about the credibility of this 'school'.
John Schofield. NTC Dip. , C.G.L.I. Professional piano tuner/technician since 1982. myspace
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Hi John,
Thanks for sharing. I live in Singapore so Newark College is a possibility. I have come across Newark College's course but am a little hesistant due to the programme running over 2 years - more expensive tuition fees and also longer stay in UK means more money spent.... Also, I'm really not sure if spending time and money in a school is actually worth while? Compared to maybe apprenticing instead? What is your opinion on this? The old-time 'accepted' time for an apprentice to become qualified to be 'let loose'! on the public was 7 years. Certainly you need good guidance to correctly know the ins-&-outs of a piano, how to set a scale, tune intervals/octaves/unisons, etc. If you want to PM me?, I'll try to help as best I can. Good luck !
John Schofield. NTC Dip. , C.G.L.I. Professional piano tuner/technician since 1982. myspace
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jjc12345 From Singapore you may consider a new course that has started up in Melbourne: http://australasianpianotechnology.com.au/index.phpThe course has only just begun this year. Weiyan might consider this also.
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The course at Newark, UK is 3-years, 3-days per week. I know this because I was on it very recently.
Piano Technician
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Thanks for the suggestions. I've previously looked up the course in Australia too but is is a little pricey (at $25,000) as compared to other courses offered in the USA.
Was wondering how did most of you professionals out there personally picked up the skill initially? besides Newark College, are there other schools one will recommend based on experience in the industry? I am pretty much against online correspondence courses though..
dancarney: how was your experience at Newark like? Invaluable?
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You could get in contact with Bill Bremmer to learn his way of setting a temperament and from there tune the whole piano. I think it is a kind of natural way of tuning. If I should learn tuning today, I would call Bill and pay him for lessons, if he has the time. Video link might be an option.
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The course at Newark, UK is 3-years, 3-days per week. I know this because I was on it very recently. I stand corrected! When I did the course in the early 80's it was 3-yrs, 5 days a week. What did you think of the course Dan?
John Schofield. NTC Dip. , C.G.L.I. Professional piano tuner/technician since 1982. myspace
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Was wondering how did most of you professionals out there personally picked up the skill initially? Whilst you are correct that piano tuning IS a skill, you do need to have a natural aptitude for it. (I would've loved to have been a footballer, but my 'talent' didn't match my ambition - no amount of training would ever change that). I am pretty much against online correspondence courses though. I would strongly agree with you there. You need constant supervision by an expert to guide you through / point out where you're going wrong etc, etc. I believe that 'hands-on' is the only way to learn a skill like this.
John Schofield. NTC Dip. , C.G.L.I. Professional piano tuner/technician since 1982. myspace
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Joined: Oct 2011
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I paid a lot money to music school, far more than buying a new piano to practice. I learned tune perfect fourth, bump and shake the hammer and use WD40 to spray the piano. The music school only use piano older than my wife, with ultra loose pin. What I learned, take more than half hour to tune a unison on a brand new Hailun. I've read a lot of your posts Weiyan, & even taking into account the language difficulties, I'm finding myself increasingly concerned as to what EXACTLY 'training' at this 'music school' taught you? If you paid "far more than buying a new piano" to "bump & shake the hammer / use WD40 to spray the piano / & take more than half an hour to tune a unison", then I'm sorry, but I'm deeply sceptical about the credibility of this 'school'. The worst thing is he taught me to tune perfect fourth. Tune unison on the go. The 'school' is totally no credit. It should be careful in choosing school/mentor. For my mentor, is second highest price mentor in my city. After each lesson, I have to post here to ask opinion. Its better off to self learning. Sorry for my poor language, as you know, my mother tongue is not English.
Working on:\
J.S.Bach Prelude in C Min: No. 2 from Six Preludes fur Anfanger auf dem Am Abend No. 2 from Stimmungsbilder, Op. 88 60s Swing No. 1 from Swinging Rhythms
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 888
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The cheapest way to attend tuning school: going to China. Go to Shanghai, attend three months course. Entry requirement is secondary education(around 9 years schooling), no music knowledge required. After 3 months training, you could take the exam and have the government official certificate.
Pear River also have training course.
Working on:\
J.S.Bach Prelude in C Min: No. 2 from Six Preludes fur Anfanger auf dem Am Abend No. 2 from Stimmungsbilder, Op. 88 60s Swing No. 1 from Swinging Rhythms
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Joined: Aug 2009
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jjc12345,
Another resource to look into is the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA, USA.
They offer a 2 year program in piano technology. The first year you study tuning, maintenance, and basic repairs - enough to start up a home tuning service or to work for a piano dealer. The second year is optional - you advance your skills learned in the first year, and you complete a full rebuild of a grand piano.
It's probably not as exhaustive as the apprenticeship program one might find in Germany. But then again, it's much more complete than a correspondence course. If you have the resources to study piano technology full-time in the US for a one year or two year program, it may be worth looking into.
Good Luck.
Chris Storch Acoustician / Piano Technician
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Hi jj You can try asiapiano.com.sg They offee piano tuning class
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Hi there everyone.
It is good to see that you are taking your piano tuning knowledge seriously by searching for good piano tuning schools. Honesty is one of the required quality of a good piano tuner-technician.
I agree with you that the on line or correspondence piano tuning courses are a joke but I came across good valuable YouTube videos you can take advantage off right now.
There are a lot of piano tuning books too you can purchase on line and get going in your learning of the piano tuning business. You will find them on my pianotuninghowto site with comments I personally added to guide you.
Best of luck to you.
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I stand corrected!
When I did the course in the early 80's it was 3-yrs, 5 days a week.
What did you think of the course Dan? The website did state that it is a 3-day per week course..
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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