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Job Openings

  • 1.  Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 10:12
    Greetings All

    if you know of a position which will become available in the future please encourage your administrator to contact shawn@ptg.org so a listing can placed in the PTG Journal.

    ------------------------------
    "PTG - Expand your Horizon. Share the Vision"
    "Providing Quality Service for the World's Pianos"
    "Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest. 'Til the good is better, and the better best."

    George W.R. "Bill Davis", RPT, SERVP
    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE
    Marietta GA 30066-2113
    CP: 770-778-6881
    bill@pianoplace.net
    www.pianoplace.net
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 10:27
    Hi Bill,
    I think we pretty much all do that - advertise openings in the Journal - but it is also a good idea to spread the word here, give people an early heads up. We seem to be entering a real deluge of retirements. I'll be retiring the end of the academic year, end of May 2020. When we get together the job posting and so forth, it will be advertised officially.
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Brecht




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 11:11
    Thanks Fred

    This is a great forum and I know there are many techs who who are not PTG members who participate. I just wanted to
    make sure everyone had shawn's email. 

    I really appreciate your contributions.  Can't imagine you as "retired"😉

    ------------------------------
    "PTG - Expand your Horizon. Share the Vision"
    "Providing Quality Service for the World's Pianos"
    "Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest. 'Til the good is better, and the better best."

    George W.R. "Bill Davis", RPT, SERVP
    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE
    Marietta GA 30066-2113
    CP: 770-778-6881
    bill@pianoplace.net
    www.pianoplace.net
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 12:01
    Retired is a relative term. I will retire from my job at UNM, will no longer spend 30 hours a week there, thus freeing up time to do what I want to do (including making some money). 34 years is enough in one place, more than I would ever have dreamed.




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 23:35
    The Texas Tech School of Music will also be posting a job opening for this fall as I have resigned my position as well. It is for a full-time Lead Piano Technician. There are 100 pianos, 3 recital venues, and 2 harpsichords.

    ------------------------------
    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 11:15
    Posting openings on the CAUT forum is in the present. Waiting for the Journal to post the opening can take up to 3 months.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-19-2019 11:25

    True that, Wim.

     

    I nearly missed the closing date for here at U of SC!  Thank you CAUT forum 2014!




    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Job Openings

    Posted 07-19-2019 12:19

    Hi all:

    A couple quick notes from the guys who posts job openings.

    1. There's been a big increase in the number of university jobs that are coming open. I did a quick search before convention and it's close to 40 of them in the last two years.

    2. Very rarely do help wanted ads appear in the Journal anymore as deadlines just don't allow enough lead time. Most of the time, I get an ad from a University, I post it on line at www.ptg.org and it comes down in anywhere from two weeks to a month. I'm posting one later today that's scheduled to run for 12 days.

    3. There's is a charge associated with posting a help wanted ad on www.ptg.org but it's quite reasonable. ($30 will get you up to 55 words and I prorate partial months). In addition, I'm usually able to get the job posting up on the same ay I receive it. Most universities will post a short synopis and link to the complete position announcement on there own internal HR site.

    4. If you're a PTG member, you can join the Piano Jobs community on my.ptg.org and get instant notification anytime I post a job at www.ptg.org. If you're not a member I'd encourage you to check out the classifieds at www.ptg.org frequently

    As always, if you have any questions, drop me a note shawn@ptg.org



    ------------------------------
    Shawn Bruce
    Marketing Manager
    Piano Technicians Guild
    Kansas City KS
    913-432-9975
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Job Openings

    Posted 07-19-2019 15:19
    These are good recommendations, as a recent retiree  from Boston University/Music after 33 years as Head Tech. I would recommend that you (the piano tech.) review and refine and update the job description  along with  the Department before the posting goes out. If this is  a Head Piano Tech position then certainly at least 5 years  of experience  is essential  and preferably in a school situation. If the program has a  busy  student/faculty recital program then again its essential that the candidate has experience in concert  level tuning and regulation/voicing. Of less importance in my opinion are the rebuilding skills, soundboard replacement and  pin block installs, much more important are solid  action replacement skills. Major rebuilds can more cost effectively go to sub contractors  who do this work all the time as opposed to CAUT techs whose primary focus is  maintaining a fleet  of 200 pianos. Having strong piano business skills and keeping abreast of current marketing offered by the large companies is I think crucial and one reason why a staff piano technician as opposed to a  contract situation is  more beneficial, often the major  manufacturers would wine and dine the  senior administration and faculty with a new and improved sales pitch and I  was able to provide counter arguments to the school to ensure a more  appropriate  purchasing plan and  course of action, often a contract tech does not have this relationship with the school.....martin.
    www.snowpianos.com


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    Martin Snow
    South Burlington VT
    617-543-1030
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2019 10:04
    One comment I would make is that some job postings in the past have had a wild mismatch between what the position was (or claimed to be) and compensation. This example didn't run but conveys the essence:

    "Piano Technician Position. Candidate must be able to tune 40 hrs a week, regulate, and construct a new concert grand using only a swiss army knife. Excellent compensation package starting at $14/hr." 

    It would be good to have some kind of mechanism to separate valid positions from the junk. Perhaps refer listers to the CAUT Guidelines?

    ------------------------------
    Keith Akins
    Akins Pianocraft
    Menominee MI
    715-775-0022
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Job Openings

    Posted 07-20-2019 12:00
    haha...So a reality (although unwritten in the postings)  is does the  advertised position enable the flexibility to develop  some  additional private client work  $$$,  I counseled a school  administration/faculty recently who were searching for a head piano tech position and ''no I did not want to come out of retirement!!"....martin.
    www.snowpianos.com

    ------------------------------
    Martin Snow
    South Burlington VT
    617-543-1030
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2019 12:08
    It all comes down to who is writing the job description.  It appears that job was given to a low level clerk who has no idea what a piano tuner does.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-20-2019 12:49
    Keith's description was tongue in cheek, but I know that when my job was first created and posted , somebody in HR butchered the language I had provided, and classified the job at a personnel level that corresponded to $8-13/hr, I guess thinking it was on a level with a basic entry level physical plant tech. This was over 20 years ago, and surprisingly enough nobody applied. I got them to upgrade the classification and repost. 

    The point being that the department doesn't necessarily control what goes into the description. It took me ten years to get them to change the description from claiming that the job entailed lifting no more than 15 pounds. 
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Brecht




    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-21-2019 10:39
    In general, when a job posting is likely to generate numerous qualified candidates it is best to have narrow 'Required Qualifications'; when the pool is likely to be quite small, it is best to have more 'Preferred Qualifications'. For instance, having a music degree is very desirable for a head piano tech position, but I've had several quite skilled and competent employees over the years who did not have a degree. 

    Our Director told me that some faculty postings can bring in over 100 applications. These piano tech postings are unlikely to generate a qualified pool of even 10, and probably less.


    ------------------------------
    Charles Ball
    Austin TX
    512-923-2311
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-21-2019 13:06

    I have a BS in Political Science/Public Adminstration from Oregon State Univ.  However, I played piano since the age of 8 and understand frustrations with pianos that is easily understood.  I have been a technician for nearly 30 years and a CAUT since 2006.

     

    No University I ever applied to has demanded a degree in Music, although the RPT was very desirable.  It's actually not that important, but being a pianist is. I studied for 12 years and actually desired to go into piano performance when I went to college, but of course, dad, the ultra-conservative, encouraged me to get a "real" degree to get a "real" job having been born in 1922 and very old school.

     

    Never the less, I got my degree and followed his footsteps in the banking world and then at McGraw Hill for a number of years, but there was no joy in the business world.  So ,I finally got my piano back from my cousin and had a technician come to tune. I listened to him tune and watched a repair or two and decided that is what I wanted to do, so I asked him where to learn. He introduced me to Stephen Brady at UW. I took his course and decided that someday, I would have a gig like his.  The rest is history! 

     

    Perhaps my history is a bit different than everyone else's, but I don't think that universities really want you to have a music degree. I'm a bit different from my own history, and maybe it helped.  Maybe not. The interview days at UNL and Uof SC solidified my competence and here I am.

     

    Best,

    Paul T. Williams RPT

    Director of Piano Services

    School of Music

    University of South Carolina

    Columbia, SC 29208

    pwilliams@sc.edu

     




    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-21-2019 10:34
    Hi Bill, We are placing a posting in the Journal and the PTG website, but postings take a while to wend their way through the system, so I decided to give a heads up.

    Best, 
    Charles

    ------------------------------
    Charles Ball
    Austin TX
    512-923-2311
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: Job Openings

    Posted 07-21-2019 14:05
    Paul, totally agree.....I do not think that a  ''music degree is highly desirable for a Head Piano Tech.'' I  would certainly  not include that on any  job posting requirements however a good working knowledge  of piano repertoire  AND intermediate playing skills are desirable .....martin.
    www.snowpianos.com

    ------------------------------
    Martin Snow
    South Burlington VT
    617-543-1030
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-22-2019 08:06
    Paul

    I would also agree that a music degree is a plus not  a must.  However I did pursue such a degree and got about 45 hours under my belt before leaving and pursuing musical instrument repair.  First in pipe organ service and later in piano technology. 

    In my dealings with faculty and deans of music departments having been in the trenches of receiving private lessons both in voice and piano helps me understand the protocols and helps with communication.  The curriculum design involving Juries is also unique to university life.  I will say that going back and taking courses in Business administration were some of the most practical and beneficial classes to me personally both in my private practice and when I took on those other positions on the PTG Board of Directors.  So at this time I have 60 hours toward a degree which would amount to the number for an Associates Degree and 35 years in the School of Hard Knocks for which have post graduate degrees.

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    Norman Cantrell
    Piano Clinic
    Lawton OK
    580-355-5003
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    Original Message


  • 19.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-22-2019 10:02

    I guess I had so much education in music, piano, guitar, bass, voice, played in many many ensembles all the way through college and beyond, that I just take the musician's angle on a lot of life, and also know exactly what they are talking about, musically, theory etc..  My mentor also would not have taken me on had I not been educated in piano playing and also wanted me to have earned a bachelor's, but not necessarily in music.

     

    So, I agree that it's a plus, but not mandatory to have a music degree.

     

    Paul




    Original Message


  • 20.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-22-2019 10:28
    Paul, 

    Although I have worked in music schools for 51 years, and was a music major for one year (I ran up against the unsurmountable obstacle of possessing no competency with a music instrument), my degree is in an unrelated field. I too feel that having the degree can open some doors for sure (faculty and executive searches rely heavily upon demonstrable credentials), but making it a requirement may well foreclose filling the position in the short term. There is certainly something to be said for possessing an innate grasp of the unique 'culture' of a music school. I have mostly been treated as a peer by our faculty, which helps tremendously in satisfying expectations. Job skills are essential, but so are the interpersonal connections we establish.

    Charles

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    Charles Ball
    Austin TX
    512-923-2311
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    Original Message


  • 21.  RE: Job Openings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-22-2019 10:48
    I have a Masters Degree in Music Education. While it wasn't a requirement to be hired at Alabama, it did allow me to make some extra income by teaching courses.  I taught music business, general music, and developed a course "The Care and Feeding of a Piano", which was basically a course on what and the piano works.   I had a hard time getting the faculty to approve the class. Some thought I was trying to teach piano tuning. And one of the piano professors didn't want me to teach it because she considered herself an expert on the subject and resented me for showing her up.

    ------------------------------
    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message