Wichita PTG September 2015

Newsletter of the Wichita Chapter, Piano Technicians Guild
4 September 2015

The mission of the Piano Technicians Guild is to promote the highest possible standards of piano service by providing members with opportunities for professional development, by recognizing technical competence through examinations and by advancing the interests of its members

Officers

PTG Wichita Chapter officers

President Joe Wisner
Vice President Gary Telleen
Secretary David Norman
Treasurer Marty Hess
Newsletter Editor Roy Howard (with assistance from Kent Willis)

Next Meeting Thursday, September 10

For previous chapter newsletters see INDEX

The September meeting will be held at 2515 N Battin, Wichita

President's notes:
Greetings all!
I hope you are looking forward to our next meeting. Gary Telleen was out of commission after the week at PTG and is now doing catch up work.
I have asked Alan Crane to present the technical---traveling hammers in verticals at this time.
I'm sure Dr Roy will have an update on his work in Ecuador.
This last month has been busy for all of us, but I always enjoy taking an evening to be with a great group of professional piano technicians.
Kathy (my wife) will probably have a very tasty treat for us.
See you at my home.
2515 N Battin
Call if you need directions.
Joe Wisner, RPT

I am looking forward to seeing all of you again.
Joe Wisner

Report of August Meeting. Members who attended National gave reports. Nine new proposals to change the bylaws were enacted. Future national dues will be $285.00 per annum. New government regulations on the use of key ivories and how they will be policed were discussed. Tax policies and regulations and how they affect our personal businesses. Our next regional seminar will be in Indianapolis in late September of 2015.
Asociación Mundial de Luthiers

Roy Howard reports that the 2015 Conferencia en Ecuador gave training during June, July, and August - PIANO (12 participants, four of whom certified as technicians); during JULY for 15 participants (including 2 technicians) in brass and woodwind repair; and 50 who attended a class in traditional instruments manufacture. Participants were from Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Panamá; and the facilitators from Spain, Puerto Rico, Quebec, and Kansas.

A major purpose of the AMLuthiers is accreditation of training and recognition of technicians and credibility in professional development, recognitions, and standards of the organizations for musical instrument repair.

Context - The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have jointly announced that World Accreditation Day 2015 was celebrated in June. Each nation proclaimed a cycle of seminars and forums to discuss the issues.

Standards for teaching and learning - Teachers in elementary and secondary schools must be certified and schools accredited by standards set by the governments of each state. Vocational and academic degrees must be accredited by independent agencies to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality in order to be approved for scholarships and grants. Governments require licensing for certain professions based on standards set by guilds and associations.

Luthiers - However, those who sell, transport, repair, rebuild, design, or manufacture musical instruments are not licensed, and training is not standardized. Associations for luthiers establish and change standards based on internal criteria without outside evaluation or recognition. Even the RPT standard of the U.S. based Piano Technicians Guild is designed as an entry level exam of a few of the key skills in regulating and tuning; PTG does not have criteria to recognize specialties or higher levels of achievement.

There is no accrediting body that examines luthier formal training, mentoring practice, chapter/association/manufacturer workshops, or describes qualifications of teachers. There is no evaluation criteria and no peer evaluation to assess whether acceptable standards are met by musical instrument manufacturers and rebuilders, or retail practice, or maintenance of instruments.

Solution: the AMLuthiers has accepted this role. See application to join.

Technical

Don't miss the September technical on vertical piano hammer travel by Alan Crane.

NEWS

Ivory Ban
You can sell the piano if you have appropriate documentation, but you can't repair or refurbish it with ivory. For details click on the Ivory Ban Information graphic.

TRAINING

Howard Piano Industries has a valuable discussion page - Forum

PianoTek Tek-Letter

Piano Technicians Journal Media on YouTube

For PTG member resources go to www.my.ptg.org

To answer questions about player pianos go to Player Care.com

On the Road to Oklahoma

Join us October 16 & 17, 2015 at Gilliam Music in Norman, OKfor the next Exam Prep on the Road.

If you are preparing to take the RPT exams, this is one of the best resources available. Cost is only $149 - but space is limited - so register by September 16 to guarantee your spot. Your registration includes: - 1-1/2 days of hands-on practice for RPT tuning and technical exams.
- Instruction, demonstration and guidance from certified examiners and expert instructors.
- An overview of exam skills and study tips.
- An opportunity to take the written exam.
- Take advantage of the discounted PTG rate at our featured hotel
Visit www.ptg.org/examprep to learn more. Register online or by calling 913-432-9975.

37 Steps in October

There are just a few slots left in the October 1 -3, 2015 PTG Grand Action Regulation in 37 Steps class. An intensive three-day skills-based course, this class will help you polish your skills in grand regulation and ensure that your clients' grand pianos are performing at full potential. To find more information or to register online, go to www.ptg.org/37steps. Don't wait!

Are You a Professional?
How you look, talk, write, act and work determines whether you are a professional or an amateur. Society does not emphasize the importance of professionalism, so people tend to believe that amateur work is normal. Many businesses accept less-than-good results.
Schools graduate students who cannot read. You can miss 15% of the driving-test answers and still get a driver license. "Just getting by" is an attitude many people accept. But it is the attitude of amateurs.
"Don't ever do anything as though you were an amateur.
"Anything you do, do it as a Professional to Professional standards.
"If you have the idea about anything you do that you just dabble in it, you will wind up with a dabble life. There'll be no satisfaction in it because there will be no real production you can be proud of.
Develop the frame of mind that whatever you do, you are doing it as a professional and move up to professional standards in it.
Never let it be said of you that you lived an amateur life.
Professionals see situations and they handle what they see. They are not amateur dabblers.
PTG National Videos Denver

Entertainment
2015 Golden Hammer Recipient Dale Probst's Acceptance Speech
Convention Wrap Up