Executive Outlook

A Tuner, a Telescope, and the Times in Which We Live

PTG President

 

A PhD in What?

PTG President

 

Is Our Mission Possible?

PTG President

 

Back in the Swing of Things

By Norman R. Cantrell, RPT

PTG President

 

While I am not the biggest fan of Major League Baseball, I cannot ignore some of the more famous quotes by baseball legend Yogi Berra. Perhaps the most obvious at the moment for me and the PTG is, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Hopefully, some of you recognize my lovely mug shot from the past and realize that this is the second time around for me as your president. So, for better or worse, we are working together again.

Another famous quote by Yogi Berra is, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” In other words, the PTG’s future lies before us, and we can choose what to make of it. I am very excited to have just returned from the Annual Convention and Technical Institute in Crystal City, which had almost 750 in attendance Of those, more than 150 were first-time convention goers. That is an exciting change in direction from the last few years. There are a multitude of reasons for that uptick in numbers and we may never know exactly the reasons so many people showed up, but it is a surge of energy that we can build upon. Many thanks go out to Morgan Cowell, RPT, and the Institute Team for all their work. People come for classes, so thanks also to the many instructors. We also sold out the exhibit hall for the first time in a while, so our hats are off to those who exhibited and sponsored this successful event from start to finish.

Yogi Berra also had a comment on spring training drills: “Pair ‘em up in threes.” This was an accurate description of something else that happened during the convention. The board of directors is charged with staffing our committees. My stated desire was to staff committees with people who had a passion for the type of work the respective committee is charged to pursue. I served on the board in the past for nine years, and this was my tenth go-around at the everdreaded “committee staffing” session. We literally had more volunteers than we did slots available. If you volunteered and don’t see your name on the list, it is simply because we were full up for that group. Please don’t give up — we kept your name and you will be at the top of the list next year. I am very excited about the spirit of volunteerism that showed up this summer.

As I wrap this up, one more Yogi Berra quote comes to mind: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” The PTG has a bright future. I was excited by all the first-time faces, many of which were quite young. In our ad hoc marketing meeting following Council, one of the themes that emerged was the high value of an active chapter. If you attended this year’s convention, be prepared to share some of your valuable educational experience with some of those in your chapter who were not able to attend this year. If nothing else, share the links to the Education Hub. There’s a year’s worth of chapter technical presentations on that website alone.

I’m looking forward to walking alongside you once again.

Who’s Next?

By David Stoneman, RPT

PTG Vice President

 

It’s August and there has just been a PTG Annual Convention and Technical Institute. This also means that there has just been an election of PTG board members, some continuing, and some new. This new board will work to maintain the Guild, better the Guild, and, I hope, modernize the Guild; as the world changes, so must the organization. New leadership is required for the organization to thrive, and as a 501(c)6 organization or business league, our leadership is meant to be volunteered. Where leadership comes from and how it is nurtured by the membership is a difficult thing to explain.

Leaders must be willing, hopefully enthusiastic, and with any luck, also experienced and knowledgeable in the talent set that makes them good leaders. The leaders we have had, currently have, and will someday have are all culled from the membership. They are you and me. They don’t go to leadership camp; they do piano work. They don’t usually have advanced degrees in business management; they do run their own businesses. They can’t give all their time to running the Guild; they do want to see it run well, now and into the future. They need to have the ability to decide things for themselves; they need to have the ability to listen to ideas other than theirs and respectfully debate in a manner that can allow them to change others’ minds while being open to the chance that the mind that needs changing is their own.

But enough about the executive committee and the seven regional vice presidents who make up the board of directors. What about your own chapter? It too needs leaders. Leaders are needed to arrange meetings, complete paperwork, and foster good will between the chapter and the local piano-using community. Who takes care of these concerns? Your chapter president needs to coordinate these efforts as well as be the chapter’s main contact with your RVP; usually the chapter vice president schedules meetings and arranges for presentations; the chapter secretary notates attendance and informs the Home Office of personnel changes; and the treasurer keeps track of all the finances. (Did every chapter send in their IRS Form 990 this year?) Where do these people come from? Again, they are us.

Why worry about this now? Because we should be constantly aware of our volunteer leadership needs. The few hours before election is not the time to be wondering who will be on the ballot. If you currently hold a position in your chapter, you should have at least one name of a person who would be a viable replacement for you. Smaller chapters may have more of a struggle to successfully change officers on a regular basis, but I would suggest that officers at least trade positions. This is how talent pools are nurtured and expanded. Newer members can often do well as chapter secretaries: It keeps them involved and gives them a better chance to learn the names of their new colleagues, which helps ensure continued membership. I know one chapter that has had the same treasurer for several decades; the consistency can be good, but what happens when that person steps away? Has their talent set been shared so a replacement is ready? And what if the loss of an expert is unexpected and a replacement is needed before the long-term expert can train others? Sharing knowledge and leadership duties on an ongoing basis within the chapter is a way to avoid the loss of legacy talents.

For the national positions, we have a nominating committee. This group is in charge of gathering the names of parties interested in running for a position. It does not absolve the rest of us from being on the lookout for those who could be our next leaders. We may have a “named” nominating committee of several members, but we are ALL needed to be on the lookout for those who might be good and willing to assist with running the organization. The search for leaders needs to be constant, and it needs to be shared by all of us.

Make sure that you’re always looking for the next group of leaders whom you could trust to look after the good of your Guild. Of course, while you’re looking, don’t forget to check in the mirror.

What Makes Up a Board of Directors

By Jim Fariss, RPT
Vice President, PTG

As this July copy of the Journal reaches you, we are weeks away from the PTG Annual Convention and Technical Institute in Washington, D.C. What? You haven’t registered? Besides presenting the widest variety of piano technology classes in the areas of technical, tuning, and business practices, we will be hosting the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians (IAPBT). This is a chance to interact with fellow technicians from around the world and experience our differences. For example, if you mention “letoff,” they’ll look puzzled and then reply, “Oh, you mean setoff.” It will be a great place to not only learn new piano tuning and repair techniques, but also to exchange other cultural differences and similarities. Don’t hold off any longer; get over to convention.ptg.org and be part of this unique and special event at our nation’s capital.

Many of you will be volunteering your time, arriving early as delegates to attend Council prior to the start of the convention. Important voting will take place to elect our next executive committee (president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer), and then delegates will break into regional caucuses to elect the seven regional vice presidents, who, along with the executive committee, comprise your board of directors.

Elections will determine the future direction of the Piano Technicians Guild. Delegates representing their chapters, and by extension our entire membership, need to be aware of the views of those running for office and their visions for the future of the PTG. What is their background and experience in leading a large organization? This goes far beyond being an RPT.

If we were looking for qualified personnel to staff our committees, such as examination and test standards, college and university technicians, teacher relations, or chapter health, then the RPT credential would indeed be an important qualifier. However, a competent member of the board needs to know more than tuning, repair, or regulation. A board member is an elected officer of the Guild, charged with making decisions on finances, staffing, promotion, recruitment, and education, and serving as the direct connection between the board and members by providing a two-way flow of communication.

Most of our board members are sole-proprietorship piano technicians — loveable, well-meaning, and hardworking — who lack a background in leading a group of over 3,000 individuals. This is not the fault of the delegates electing board members nor those elected and serving faithfully to the best of their ability. Our bylaws are quite clear:

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS, NOMINATION, ELECTION, AND DUTIES B. Qualifications 1. Any Registered Piano Technician in good standing shall be eligible for nomination and election to office.

Thus, we end up with the best RPTs, not necessarily the best candidates, to fill our board. Most board elections are uncontested, as it’s a struggle to find even one person to run in each of the ten board positions. While thankful and appreciative for those willing to serve, Council and regional caucuses afford the opportunity to at least hear from each candidate about why they are running, what makes them qualified, and what their vision is for the future of the Piano Technicians Guild.

Why PTG?

By Marc Poulin, RPT
President, PTG

If you peruse social media in the piano technology realm, you see this question pop up quite frequently:  Why PTG? We have approximately 3,000 members and know that there are many more people in the field who are not members. I can’t speak to why these people aren’t members, as it’s an individual decision, but I can speak to why I’ve chosen to be a member for the past 27 years.

I joined the PTG in 1996 because my instructors at North Bennet Street School told me to join. Every faculty member of the piano technology program was a member, spoke frequently of the high-quality educational offerings, and encouraged us students to attend the regional conference held outside Boston. Sounded good to me as a 20-year-old newbie technician making my way into the business.

At first, the most amazing part of PTG for me was simply the people. The Boston chapter has always been huge, with meetings loyally attended. From meetings at NBSS, the Harvard piano shop, and a few local rebuilders’ shops, the variety of technicians seemed endless. I loved the encouragement, the chats about obscure technical problems over coffee, and the feeling of being accepted into a larger community of likeminded people. 

The PTG Annual Convention and Technical Institute is an opportunity sadly underutilized by many members. There are multiple class offerings, as well as more private discussions in the hallways and seating alcoves spread throughout the venue. Everyone is willing to help everyone else regardless of their title, age, or the letters next to their name. If you leave with an unanswered question, it’s either because you didn’t ask, or because your brain is so overstuffed with information that you have the answer but cannot remember it. Information overload is a real thing at the convention. 

I quickly found my way into the examiner community and became a CTE barely three months after becoming an RPT. The examiner community is a tight-knit, passionate group of people dedicated to their craft. If you want a high-level aural tuning educational experience, come assist with a master tuning or a tuning exam. The number of different interval checks, tricks, and explanations of how each member tunes their own way is astounding. Working with such a group, learning a thing or two, and being part of a team when a member becomes an RPT at the end of that last exam can’t help but bring a smile to your face.

Then there are the politics. I’ve served on the nominating committee twice, belonged to numerous task groups and committees (frequently as chair), been a delegate to council for more than a decade, and was on the institute team for four years (the last year as director). Eventually, I decided to run for the board  because, while our council and board have always been made up of very skilled members with the best of intentions, few have experience in the management of a large organization. 

Leadership is not taught; it’s learned over a lifetime. It requires vision, planning skills, and a deep understanding of personality types and learning styles. Because of my scouting days (yes, I’m an Eagle Scout), military service, law enforcement leadership service, and experience as a leadership instructor in multiple organizations, I believed it was a good fit to continue that service in the PTG. 

The PTG calls to each of us for different reasons. For me, it has been about the people, the friendships, and the service to others. Ask yourself why you’re a member. Speak to others about why you’re a member. When others ask you, tell them. We are all members for a reason. Share your “why” with anyone who will listen. We are our own best advocates for “Why PTG”?

For Solutions, Look Close to Home

By David Stoneman, RPT
Secretary-Treasurer, PTG

I’ve been reading for most of my life that acoustic pianos are, if not dead, on their way out, to be fully replaced by their ever-improving electric counterparts. I don’t believe that will happen. The electronic instrument’s goal is to imitate the acoustic instrument as closely as possible, and it does, but the imitation won’t ever BE the original. And the original, acoustic instrument will always need our care. I don’t believe our profession is threatened or that there will be, in my lifetime or any current member’s lifetime, an end to traditional piano maintenance.

When discussing the Guild, the current state of the organization tends to lead the conversation. Predictions become dire in an instant and the “end of our organization as we know it” is pronounced to be imminent and unavoidable. That’s certainly one possibility. The world changes, the economy changes, and how our career is seen by the public changes. But pianos will continue. I’ve been working in piano technology for barely 15 years, so I missed the glory days of the early 1990s when membership numbers were over 4,000. That’s a healthy number that may be difficult to get back to from our current ranks of just over 3,000, but I believe the Guild will continue, though it may go through some needed, unforeseeable changes.

As a guild, we work to codify best practices for piano care, to share efficiencies, to increase profitability, and to support each other technically, professionally, and emotionally. We do this at the national convention and institute and at the regional conferences. Most importantly, we do this at chapter meetings.

I joined the Guild for one reason: As a beginner, I needed more than books to learn the profession. At 50, I wasn’t going to go to a school. The person who had taken care of my piano stated that he was simply too busy to tutor me, but he did offer to take me to my first Guild chapter meeting. I found this to be the key to unlocking the reality of what I was previously only able to read about. Tuning, regulation, and, in time, voicing all became real to me at the monthly local chapter meetings.

I learned about the regional and national conventions, but money was tight, making travel to them out of the question. But I could spend one evening a month at a chapter meeting. In my case, it even came with a free meal sponsored by whichever of the local dealers was hosting us that month. In time, I was encouraged or even prompted to ask questions. All questions were granted answers — sometimes voluminous answers, sometimes contradictory answers — but my willingness to absorb information was met by a flood of well-intentioned expertise. The chapter meetings were indispensable to my start in the business, and the chapter remains indispensable to me today.

As the Guild moves into the future, however it works as a whole, the only real threat to its existence would be if it should fail on the local level. The health of the chapter is the true pulse of the organization. It’s at the chapter level that we form our most intimate professional relationships with other practitioners of the craft. At this local level, we best measure our progress. And it is at the local level that we are best able to show our welcoming attitude to those who might be interested in making their own attempt at our art. If the Guild is to expand, this is where expansion will happen.

It’s at the chapter meetings where newcomers find out if piano tuning will be a good career fit for them. It’s there that they find that their fellow techs can be a support system for developing the craft and a business. Who wouldn’t be attracted to this supportive and welcoming situation? It’s at the chapter level that the Guild can best recruit new members. Any national effort aimed at enlisting new members can’t compare to the advances that can be made by having chapters look to the potential new members in their own area: people they may already know, and some already in the business, who are interested in finding more ways to improve their talents and skills in the business.

Make your chapter a more active and welcoming place. This is where growth will happen.

Embrace Change

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President

In my former life as an aerospace engineer, the company I worked for got on the bandwagon with the latest efficiency programs, like Continual Process Improvement (CPI), and catch phrases, such as “empowering the employee,” or “think smarter, not harder.” As an engineer with real work to do, I resented being forced to spend time attending training on these flash-in-the-pan programs. One saying in particular puzzled me: “embrace change.” What’s wrong with the way we’ve been doing things for years, even decades? Why fix something that’s not broken?

The reality is that the world continues to change both technically and socially. No company or organization is immune to that change, even our own Piano Technicians Guild.

Technology Evolves

In the late 1970s, a small company called VisiCorp created the first spreadsheet computer program called VisiCalc, released for use on the Apple II. Two years later, IBM launched a competing program called Lotus 1-2-3. Lotus greatly outmatched VisiCalc, and VisiCorp, which failed to innovate further, faded out almost overnight; it was bought by Lotus and discontinued.

From the 1980s into the 90s, Lotus was the standard for spreadsheets, databases, and word processing. Lotus was on top of their game. Their offerings were fine just the way they were until…Windows, or Microsoft, if you prefer. Lotus never saw the graphical user interface of Windows as serious competition and gave little effort to embracing that new technology. In the early 1990s, Microsoft surpassed Lotus, which never recovered. Just as Lotus bought VisiCorp, Microsoft purchased Lotus and discontinued its programs.

Society Evolves

Many once-accepted societal norms have evolved to be unacceptable, often due to some major event. This is not to say that everyone accepts or agrees with those changes, but rather that society as a whole does. Consider, for example, the American Civil War, which ended the broad acceptance of slavery as a practice, or the Civil Rights Movement 100 years later, which helped change attitudes about racism and segregation. World War II provides another example of changing societal norms, as it opened up workplace opportunities for women, who had previously been expected to stay home and raise children.

The PTG Evolves

In the realm of technology, even before there was a PTG, there were electronic tuning devices, starting with the Stroboconn in 1936. In the almost 90 years of these ETDs’ existence, they have developed into powerful tools used by most piano tuners today. That development will only continue, and the PTG must be prepared to adapt to those changes or find our exam going the way of VisiCalc and Lotus.

Let me stress, there is absolutely no effort currently underway to change our RPT tuning exam. What is being discussed is the dual challenge of the declining number of examiners combined with the advancement of ETDs. How does the PTG manage that change?

The PTG’s social characteristics and demographics have also changed. The average age of PTG members continues to increase, from 55 in 2006 to 59 in 2017, with the number of women members constant around 12%. If we keep on that trend line, the PTG will literally die out.

For the PTG to be a healthy, vibrant organization that grows and thrives, we need to be aware of changing attitudes and norms. Our PTG online communities have had spirited discussions concerning ethics, inclusiveness, gender, and even religion. These same issues have been around forever and, because we are all human, will never fully resolve. What the conversations have accomplished is bringing these issues to the light of day.

The over 3,000 members of the PTG are some of  the most friendly, helpful people you will ever get to meet and work with. When someone asks about joining the PTG, my response is always, “Everyone shares their knowledge with anyone, without hesitation.” That is the PTG I know.

Perseverance

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President

Many are familiar with the life and story of George Mallory (June 1886 – June 1924), the English climber who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s.

Mallory was a student at Winchester College when a teacher recruited him for an excursion in the Alps. During this trip, he discovered his strong natural ability for climbing. After graduating, he became a teacher, though continued to hone his skills as a climber in the Alps. He served in the army during World War I and fought at the Somme.

After the war, Mallory returned to teaching but soon resigned in order to participate in the 1921 British Mount Everest expedition to make the first ascent of the world’s highest mountain. In 1922 he took part in a second attempt, during which his team achieved a record altitude of 26,980 ft (8,225 m) without supplemental oxygen. When asked by a reporter why he wanted to climb Everest, Mallory famously replied, “Because it’s there.” During their 1924 summit attempt, Mallory and his climbing partner disappeared on the northeast ridge of Everest.

Why am I repeating this story? While we don’t expect piano technicians to die on their mountains, Mallory is a prime example of perseverance in the face of adversity, which we can all learn from. After multiple failures, he continued to push forward. How many technicians fail to push forward in the face of adversity? This is seen most often in two areas of piano technology: aural tuning and voicing.

In my conversations with technicians at conventions over the years, quite often they speak of not being able to aurally tune or voice a piano. Getting deeper into the conversation, it becomes clear that it is not so much their inability to do the skill, but their fear of getting out of their comfort zone and thus hesitating to dig in and actually learn the skill. For many, aural tuning and voicing are part of the daily job of piano service, but for many others, mastering these skills is their personal Mount Everest. It’s a goal for many and they dream of climbing it — yet fail to do so. Why is this the case? I cannot answer this question, as it’s a very personal matter for everyone. What can we do about it?

For those whom I’ve tutored, it usually comes down to failing to take the time to get out of their comfort zone and practice these skills. I don’t have the time. I don’t want to damage the piano. I don’t have someone to help me. Insert excuse here.

Climbing your mountain takes time. It takes effort. Every day on every piano, take 15 minutes to tune a handful of intervals aurally. Tune the temperament. Tune a few octaves. Check it with your machine and see where you are. You don’t need an examiner or RPT with you to take those steps every day at every piano. Invest a little time in yourself.

The same goes for voicing. Finish your tuning and regulation touch-up. Pick out three or five notes that sound “off.” Even if you are a newbie, you will know what that sounds like. Do a little voicing. Try some needling, filing, and fitting the hammer to the string. It’s easier than you think to make a large difference in the tone without a whole lot of effort.

However, any growth requires you to take that first step. It requires you to take a few steps every day. If you truly commit to trying every day, you will quickly find that your Mount Everest is not some impossible goal and that you won’t die on the slope while attempting it. It’s a goal that every technician should strive for, not only because it’s there, but because it’s worth it. Persevere in the face of adversity, and you will thank yourself someday.

It's Time to Make a Statement

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

We are about pianos. We are a group of people who are drawn together because we care about the maintenance of these wonderful musical instruments. In the past, we have been as many as 4,000 members; currently, we have just over 3,000. That’s still a lot of people. We have old members, new members, well-to-do members, and financially strapped members. We have members of many different backgrounds, varied religious beliefs, and a broad spectrum of gender identities. And all of us are about pianos. We are pink ones, we are green ones, we are blue ones, and yellow ones, but we’re not all made of ticky-tacky and we’re not all just the same. (My apologies to Malvina Reynolds, composer of the song “Little Boxes.”) But we are, all of us, about pianos.

It’s February, and the winter board meeting has just concluded. After more than 60 years, it is likely that our governing documents will now include a clause that notes our diversity as individuals and our willingness to include piano-interested individuals of all types as members. Back in 1957, the idea of an inclusivity statement was outside of the Guild’s founders’ understanding of the universe. Our mission is to promote the industry’s highest possible standards by providing members with every opportunity for professional development, recognizing and promoting technical competence through examinations, and advancing the interests of each of our members. We have other documents that state that we act democratically, and nearly all of the instructions on how we are to communicate explain that we are to be respectful and keep the communications about pianos. In the subtlest way possible, these statements and policies imply that we are inclusive in our membership and accepting of all who wish to join and learn more about the care of pianos. We are about pianos.

When I first joined the organization, someone told me that the PTG is a diverse group and that if we were to see a look-alike for Pee-wee Herman walk across the convention floor, it’s most likely that no one would bat an eye. This is a kind of inclusivity, although of a passive sort. As I say, some form of inclusivity statement has likely been added to our documents at the winter board meeting. With any luck and many hours of consideration and discussion, the board has crafted wording to cover inclusivity that will work well for the health of the Guild and the peace of mind and sense of safety of each of its members. The need for such a statement is likely well overdue, and the current understanding of any organization’s obligations to its members makes it obvious that it should be addressed now.

Is it perfect? I can’t know that. As I’m writing this in December, I don’t know what we’ve managed to accomplish at the winter board meeting. The work of the board often moves slowly, perhaps frustratingly so. This is partly because we have an obligation to move correctly and for the good of the Guild and its members. My own hope is that we’ve managed to create a statement that is fully inclusive. This often means a more vague and simple language than some would want, and it should be attached to our mission statement as part of corporate policies. These are the tenets of a well-conceived diversity statement.

We are a cross section of society; every kind of person can learn piano technology. Society has come to recognize that there are marginalized individuals that can be aided by reassurances that they are safe and included. It is time that we recognize this and make a statement saying so. If we can all feel included, then we can all continue to pursue our passion and our living.

We are, after all, about pianos.

Can We Try?

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President 

When I retired from a 30-year career in aerospace, my wife, Sandy, told me that I could retire but that I needed to find something to do. I was not allowed to hang around the house. She was right — as an anal-retentive engineer, I’d probably end up alphabetizing the spice rack.

In my previous career, we sometimes faced major changes in the way we did things. One such instance was an entirely new computer and operating system. The crews would ask, “What was wrong with the old one?” The operations manager (a position I would later assume at a European facility) would listen to the complaints about having to learn something new, smile, and ask, “Can you try?” The new system was coming whether we liked it or not, so the choice was: “Be part of the change and thrive, or be left behind wondering why your position was phased out.” I have always liked that phrase, and I use it as the company motto for my piano business.

In 2020 the world shut down, and we all became isolated and hid in our homes. Sandy and I decided to do something absolutely absurd and crazy in 2021. We kicked around many ideas and settled on taking a motorcycle trip down Route 66.

It would be a change of pace, and only a few minor details needed to be worked out to make it happen: We had to get a motorcycle and re-learn how to ride it after a 30-year break. Other than that, what could go wrong, eh? After getting my motorcycle endorsement, I tried out various brands and decided on an Indian Roadmaster. It was easy to maneuver by myself, but I had trouble moving slowly with the two of us on board. Should we give up or can we try?

There is a company that can convert a motorcycle by adding two wheels to the front. This holds the bike upright while stopped or moving slowly, yet releases when at speed and allows the bike to lean. We had the conversion done, started off on a ride and… down we went. Give up or can we try?

I tried learning in empty parking lots and one day found myself off the lot and stuck in a muddy field. I told Sandy, “That’s it, I’m selling this thing!” Fortunately, she responded, “Not an option. What are you going to do about it?” Can we try?

I took private lessons, spent time with the designer, developed a support network, practiced, and gained experience in a deliberate and methodical way. Instead of giving up, we looked for solutions, went on that trip, and got to experience something unique and rewarding.

The piano technician profession is not immune to the major economic challenges heading our way. To help weather some of these challenges, why not expand your repertoire of piano services, such as regulation, new keytop installation, high-gloss polyester repair, string and hammer replacement, or voicing?

What’s holding you back? Don’t know where to start? Begin with your very own PTG website under the tab titled Education. Don’t have anyone to help or support you? Seek out your chapter and ask for technical topics on what you want to learn. Is your chapter inactive? Host a playground or get a few of your fellow chapter members together for a technical. Need other ideas? Contact your regional vice president — they are there to support you and your chapter.

The Piano Technicians Guild is our support network. The power to succeed, grow, and learn lies within us. Can we try?

Burnout, Servant Leadership, and Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President

Burnout. It’s a nasty thing, but it’s all too real in these days of irregular work schedules, lack of work/ life balance, or not taking enough personal time for your own mental health. In volunteer organizations, it could be a result of too much work with too few people to do it. How many past PTG presidents have disappeared for a few years after leaving office? If you ask any of these missing members why, the answer is usually the same: “I was burned out and just needed a little time off.” That statement can be true for many of our other hard-working volunteers.

People volunteer for many different reasons; recognition, filling space in their lives, and giving to others are common motivations. Here is another reason to volunteer that we talk about frequently in the scouting community: servant leadership.

Servant leadership is a philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. This is different from corporate leadership, where the leader’s primary focus is the health of the organization. A servant leader shares power, puts the needs of the members first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Instead of people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. As stated by the founder of the modern service leadership movement, Robert Greenleaf, a servant leader should ask, “Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servant leaders?” When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they benefit just as much as their members in that their members acquire personal growth, while the organization grows as well due to the members’ growing commitment and engagement. It’s a circular process; a win for both the individual and the organization.

Greenleaf believed the betterment of others to be the true intention of a servant leader: “I serve” rather than the traditional “I lead” mentality. The “I serve” mentality is evident in people who define their role through public service. From the “I serve” mentality come two premises:

• I serve because I am the leader
• I am the leader because I serve.

The first premise signifies the act of altruism. Altruism is defined as the practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. Greenleaf declared that servant leadership begins with the natural feeling of wanting to serve first. Only through the act of serving does the leader guide other people to fulfill their capabilities. The second premise of servant leadership begins with the ambition to lead.

In a volunteer-run organization, you can see the benefits of the servant leadership model. We are all in this together. Every member of our organization should understand that the more each of us gives to the health of the PTG and its members’ professional growth, the more each of us takes away. The more we give, the more we receive. Isn’t that the foundation of the PTG? Helping each of us grow in our knowledge and skills?

Here is where it gets tricky. Piano technicians seem to be by nature rather solitary or even introverted creatures. Stepping outside of our personal space and comfort zone can be daunting. However, for personal growth, each of us needs to stretch those boundaries. For example, every chapter looks for people to lead technicals. What subject in piano technology is your strong point? Pick that subject and develop a technical presentation. Don’t like to speak publicly? Become the chapter secretary or, better yet, the president. Push yourself into these roles to help you with growth. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Give of yourself and your talents. Push yourself to become a servant leader. You will get back more than you give.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. Serve and thou shall be served.”

Did You Ever Consider…

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

Do you ever reflect on how the PTG benefits you as a professional piano technician? What would your world be like if the Guild didn’t exist? Of course, many of us would still be tuning, repairing, and regulating pianos. But were the Guild to  suddenly disappear, our professional world would be vastly different and greatly diminished.

No Guild would mean that we would each be lone entrepreneurs, who, through reading, schooling, or acquaintance and apprenticeship, might have managed to gather enough knowledge and skills to be competent enough to make a living as  technicians. We might have a small support group of colleagues who could answer our day-to-day questions, but a grand network of friends in the industry for support and knowledge-sharing would likely not exist.

No Guild would mean no chapters. Through the Guild, we all belong to local chapters, each of which has bylaws and a recommended structure. This helps ensure that  members  have  a  local  collective  of  colleagues  who  can socialize, share business and technical skills, and offer support to each other. This was essential to me when I started my journey as a piano technician, and my chapter still remains a foundation of my sanity.

No Guild would mean no conventions. How could such a large endeavor as our annual Convention and Technical Institute ever take place without the  organizational oversight of the Guild, the professionals at the Home Office, and the efforts of volunteers on the institute team who make the annual gathering possible?

No Guild would mean no monthly Journal. The work it takes to publish a trade magazine is extensive, and our team of editors,  together with their designer, works tirelessly to get a high-quality and informative issue out each month.

No Guild would mean no regional events. You might say, “But the regional events are independently organized and funded. Surely they could still exist!” Maybe, but prompted by whom and using what as a structure? Regional events, including the classes and the  structure, are all based on the national convention model and still require a large amount of organization. Where would the impetus come from without the Guild?

No Guild would mean no presentation of a recognized standard. Without the Guild’s standards for tuning and technical skills, there would be no “line in the sand.” Yes, schools would grant certificates of accomplishment or even degrees, but the PTG’s Registered Piano Technician designation represents a baseline level of competence that is a nationwide standard.

No Guild would mean no Foundation. The Foundation maintains a library of historical publications and periodicals, a museum of keyboard instruments and piano technician  tools, a scholarship fund, a research grant initiative, and even a disaster relief fund. What would pull all the needed energies together to create and fund such efforts were it not for the unifying umbrella of the Guild?

The Piano Technicians Guild is a large body of people with a shared interest. The Home Office staff, volunteer board  and  chapter  officers, convention instructors, the Foundation board, piano industry leaders, from instrument to tool manufacturers  —  all  are made available to you through the existence of the Guild.

Would I still be a technician without the Guild? Maybe, but I would not have a national friendship network. I would not have had the chance to discuss Pythagoras with a man from Pennsylvania, the merits of the fixed-do system of solfège with a woman from West  Virginia, or the opportunity to “time travel” with Norman Neblett and Helga Kasimoff in Las Vegas were it not for the existence of the Guild and my participation in it.

If you love the Guild, then nurture it. If you hate the Guild, then still nurture it. There are those who say it’s not for them, and for a very few that may be true. But do not tell me that it is unfixable, doomed, or not worth the effort. I have too much evidence to the contrary.

Performance Review

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President 

The term of office for the 2021-2022 board of directors you elected at the Orlando convention last year ended with the election of a new 2022-2023 board of directors at the Anaheim convention. What did your board accomplish? What worked out? What didn’t? What challenges lie ahead for the new board to tackle? Here is a summary of the board activities, with a much greater detailed report to be found on ptg.org > PTG Members > Documents. Click on Board Documents > 2022 and look in Folder Contents for Priorities and Accomplishments. Select January and August 2022.

RPT Examiners and Exams

The board approved the creation of an exam task group with instructions to create no fewer than two outlines for an alternative/ modified/new tuning exam. This need not be a completely developed procedure, but rather an outline of the main process steps and written explanation of intent for each point of process. We encourage you to read the most recent report submitted by this task group in ptg.org > PTG Members > Documents > Council Documents > 2022/2022. Select Council Agenda from the right folder.

Council Role and Board Relations

The board approved the creation of a “council as committee” task group, with the goal to provide council the authority to act as a committee throughout the year with the ability to propose, draft, debate and submit RFAs (requests for action). The RFA submitted to the pre-council board meeting can be found at ptg.org > PTG Members > Forms & Documents > Board Documents > 2022/2022 Pre-council Board Agenda.

Assessment of Member Benefits

This topic proved to be much more extensive than what could be tackled at one monthly board discussion, and, while important, must be broken up into workable tasks. This was moved to be part of the next priorities.

Recruitment – Grow Membership

On ptg.org, if you click on Become a Tech, this will lead you to an introduction video created by our marketing task group as a hook to enter your name to investigate further. The board has been reaching out to RPTs Tim Barnes and Chris LaBarre to understand what support they require to continue with this successful endeavor to draw in new members.

Education Goals – “Where do I go for training?”

People call the Home Office asking what they recommend for training. The Home Office does not have a clear response to that question. Another priority, “Collaboration with Piano Technical Educational Services,” served to address that issue.

Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, and Leadership Development

Committee members were asked to participate in writing an article for the Journal explaining what they do. The July 2022 issue has an example from the members’ rights committee.

Technical Palace – Universally Available Technical Library

The original concept was to “Provide support to chapters for technicals.” We narrowed our focus towards a campaign to highlight what information is available on our website and how to access it.

Website Improvement

Initially, we considered doing a survey. An insightful question was asked: “We’ve already received a ton of feedback about the website via our discussion groups. Why do we need more feedback?” The decision was made to not pursue another survey, but instead use our next priorities meeting to address a specific, known issue — the search function — within our website.

The search function works, but you must wade through those results to find the one applicable to your needs. Searching on the proper website would help. Ptg.org and my.ptg.org produce different results. Think of ptg.org as administrative and my.ptg.org as technical.

Your Home Office welcomes and strongly encourages your call should you have difficulty navigating our website, and encourages your complaints, concerns, and suggested improvements.

Collaboration with Piano Technical Educational Services

Fourteen piano technology schools were invited to a virtual meet and greet with the board. Six participated with the question, “How can the PTG help your school, and what can you do for the PTG?”

Michael Stillwell (Piano Technician Academy) has created a 60-second promotional video that can serve as a model for other schools wishing to make their own. It was also proposed that we modify the ptg.org home page to have a prominent button that says Schools.

When this article goes to press, a new board will have been elected that must deal with navigating new challenges in an uncertain world. Business as usual will not steer us past the icebergs looming on the horizon.

Change or Die

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President 

Has anyone heard that phrase before? I’m sure you have at least once in your lifetime. Yes, it’s a strong phrase to be used at the start of an article from one of the representatives of your organization, but sometimes strong language gets the message across when other means fail.

I’m sure you have all heard of Kodak, Nokia, Blockbuster, Blackberry, Xerox, and many other corporations consigned to the dustbin of history. Why were these once-powerful dominant corporations taken from their height of success into bankruptcy and eventual dissolution? Simple answer: failure to innovate and adapt.

The reason why major companies fail to innovate isn’t a lack of willingness to do so. Rather, the problem is that they’re too late in recognizing opportunities (and threats) because they’re too focused on sustaining their core business. History has proven that the best moment to search for innovation is when a product is at its prime. Our current membership numbers show we are not at our prime.

We constantly hear feedback, including, “Why are our member numbers shrinking? Why is convention attendance declining? Why don’t we have more young people joining the Guild?”

Does our current business model reflect what the younger generations are looking for? Our convention format hasn’t changed in decades. Our exam processes haven’t significantly changed in decades. Our chapter meetings haven’t changed in decades, other than meeting online. Our current structure best serves the generation that has been around the longest and has the loudest voices. Younger generations don’t want to be “joiners”— they want information and education, and they want it NOW! They don’t want to debate bylaws in Council, and they don’t want to argue over what method to tune is best. They want to learn how to fix pianos and have successful businesses.

The PTG used to be untouchable when it came to providing educational opportunities outside of brick-and-mortar schools. That is no longer the case. The print Journal is a core part of the PTG, but a fully digitized online version — perhaps even a stand-alone app — should be part of our vision for the future.

We provide chapter meetings, at which attendance has dropped precipitously, a situation I doubt will improve due to high gas prices. Chapters are dissolving and many are completely dysfunctional for lack of participation. We have our exams, which, once completed, award a nice title: Registered Piano Technician. But fewer members are challenging our exams, and fewer members are willing to volunteer their time to administer the exams. We have our yearly convention and technical institute, which provides a wealth of class offerings, yet this year we are predicting a record low attendance.

I have been a member of the PTG for 26 years. I love this organization for what it has provided to me. However, the last few years when my dues invoice arrives, I’ve had to ask myself, “Is PTG membership worth the cost?” I continue to pay my dues, so my answer is obviously yes. But for many, the answer is no. Why is that their answer? The PTG no longer provides what people are looking for, whatever that may be. So, what do we do about it?

We must begin to look at EVERY facet of what PTG does and determine if it provides a direct member benefit. Is it something we like to have, or is it something that some members feel good about having? A board member recently admitted that his attendance at PTG events is primarily for socializing, but he recognized that might not be enough for many younger members. Our board, council, and committee structures, our convention frequency, location, and length, our Home Office staffing and functions — all have serious issues. ALL of this must be looked at to see what needs to be changed to ensure the very survival of PTG.

Many people are upset by change. They are comfortable with the way things are. They know exactly what to expect, as they have experienced it before. It’s far past time for us to get out of this comfort zone and stop looking to the past, hoping for the days of yore to return. They are not going to. We must look to the future of the organization if we wish to have a PTG for future generations to join. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.

It’s Time to Commune

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

It’s August, and those of us who can afford the time, travel, and registration are almost certainly at the PTG’s biggest annual get-together, the 2022 Convention and Technical Institute. Here we have the opportunity to converse — not the usual course for us, we fortunate few who practice this avocation. Our daily routine nearly always puts us alone in a room with an instrument that we’re hoping to appreciatively improve in something between an hour and two hours’ time. There, in that lonely room, we turn our practiced skill into a livelihood. The product we sell is nothing more material than our ability to concentrate. It’s a lonely life, and the contrast to our annual gathering is stark.

Social scientist Brené Brown, Ph.D., tells of a community at the turn of the last century, where people would go down to the river to wash their clothes together. During the chore, they would chat, share stories, learn from each other, and feel a sense of connection through shared experiences and problems. Then came the washing machine, and not long after that, there was an outbreak of depression. This was due to the lack of social interaction from doing things together and the accompanying loss of a sense of community. The loneliness of our work can be a stumbling point for a mind not well calibrated to solitary hours. At convention we have the chance to converse with those few people who know what we each know: that the work is hard and remaining competent and current with our skills is a continual journey. Since we can’t work and chat on a regular basis, our chances to commune are cherished. Annual conventions, chapter meetings, and, in my case, a somewhat regular breakfast club are all ways to offset the loneliness.

Once, waiting outside a concert hall, I was drawn to chat with a fellow technician. People who know us both were surprised to see that we were having an animated conversation. “How did you get him to talk to you? He’s always so quiet,” they asked.

My reply was, “But he’s another piano tech. We can talk for hours about things that we can’t discuss with anyone other than another tech.” Client experiences, old pianos, new pianos, old tools, new tools — these aren’t things we can discuss with those who aren’t in the profession. Recognizing that we can only converse with each other about this job is what pulls us to the opportunity offered by the convention. Listen in the hallways, restaurants, elevators, and open spaces and you’ll hear talk — quiet talk, loud talk, some complimentary talk — and complaining — lots and lots of complaining, oh, so much complaining! Of course you will. It’s a good thing.

How can all the complaining be a good thing? We need it, and we need it to happen when we’re together. I can only imagine that it would take years for a professional therapist to get up to speed on the inner workings of a technician’s mind. Unloading, complaining, bellyaching, whatever you want to call it, can clear our minds and allow us to find ways forward that wouldn’t be open to us without the empathetic ear of another one of our own.

You can tell we’re different by the remarks we get from the non-techs we come across: “What’s your ‘real’ job? Can you do this full-time? How does a person even find a piano tuner?” And a recent favorite: “You say there are female piano technicians?” The general public, yes, the “muggles,” don’t see us or recognize us as we walk among them. We are mythic stuff to many, like unicorns. Perhaps we don’t notice or appreciate each other for the unicorns we are. That’s understandable. As members of the Guild, we spend huge amounts of time on the unicorn farm and in scheduled unicorn gatherings big and small.

If you came to the Anaheim convention, thank you for coming. Please take the information you gained back to your chapter members who couldn’t attend. That’s right, talk to them. If you didn’t make it to Anaheim, make sure to ask questions of those in your chapter who did. That’s right, again, talk to them. Please cherish your fellow technicians — talk, share, compare, complain to them, and clear your minds through the therapy of community.

Take a Swing on the Playground

Small Beginnings

Can we talk?

Why RPT? Why Examiner?

What's Your Elevator Speech?

Rescued: How It Is That I’m on the Board of Directors

The First Four Words

Focus and Direction

PTG President

My entry into the world of the piano began in 1979. I was four years old and was fascinated by the piano that had arrived at our house. I still remember the day, shortly before Christmas, when the movers struggled to bring the brand-new Wurlitzer studio upright into our living room. Even more memorable was the day the technician, Dale Howe, arrived to tune and service it for the first time.

After begging and pleading with my parents for the next two years, my mother arranged for me to begin piano lessons at age six. Little did I know, my teacher, Richard Shadroui, was a World War II veteran and graduate of Julliard, modestly stating that immediately after the war, they would let anybody in. Richard would become a second father to me over the course of 15 years of lessons. He was encouraging and patient with a small child’s ignorance and lack of practice. He was also always willing to talk about almost anything as we worked our way through a lesson. He offered advice, sometimes indirectly, sometimes more directly. He stoked my love of the piano in multiple ways by simply being himself. He just quietly set the example. He passed away at age 97 a few weeks ago.

Fast forward to spring 1995, when I toured the North Bennet Street School. The first staff member I met was Jack Stebbins. Jack immediately introduced himself with his traditional big smile and handshake, followed by a bad joke. Again, little did I know over the next two years working with Jack at school, and then in the next 25 years working with him as an examiner, I would take away the temperament I still use today, now commonly known as “Jack’s Stack.” (If you don’t use it, try it. It’s great!) I would also learn how to be compassionate to those stressing out over exams, and eventually I had an observer in a piano prep for a master tuning tell me, “You tune just like Jack.” That was about the highest compliment I could ever receive! Jack is one of the most kind, talented, and skilled teachers I have ever met, and he accomplished this simply by being himself. Jack is usually anything but quiet, but he quietly challenged me and all his students, just by setting the bar high with his example.

Shortly before I graduated from the first-year program, I was looking for work. My uncle mentioned he had been talking to an old college classmate from the University of Vermont who happened to be a piano technician and was looking for help. That technician was Dale Howe, whom I had first met as a small child. I accepted that job for the summer after my first year at NBSS and took a full-time job after completion of year two. Dale was an old-school small-town Vermonter who had such a way with people. Seeing him interact with customers on the sales floor or in their homes, and on the stage prepping for a performance, he taught me more about human interaction than any class I’ve been through in law enforcement. Being honest and open to the point of bluntness served him well, and I have continued in much the same vein from his example. Every now and then, when I’d be on the shop floor tuning or regulating, Dale would wander over, ask a question or two, and wander off again, leaving me to ponder his suggestions. I quickly became a better technician under his quiet guidance and commentary. He didn’t demand anything be done “his” way, but he made a large impact with just a few words or a moment of demonstrating. That was just how he did things.

Now that I’m finished telling war stories with tears in my eyes, I come to the point of this essay: Be that person to someone. Be kind, helpful, and supportive to those who are under your care, come to you for help, or that you run across in your daily life. All three of my mentors were just being themselves. They didn’t have to go out of their way, but they made remarkable impressions on me just by being who they were and are. Be that person. You never know what impact you can and will make.

Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President
pres@ptg.org

PTG President

Greetings to you all!

Shortly after I joined the Piano Technicians Guild in 1996, I met PTG President Marshall Hawkins at a regional seminar held outside of Boston. He took the time to chat with me about where I was heading after my training, why I got into piano technology, and a bit about his history within the Guild. Little did I know then that I would be following him as PTG president 25 years later. Thank you all for your confidence and support in my PTG involvement and piano technology career. I will try my best to leave the presidency and PTG in better shape when I leave office than when I took office.

A little about me, for those of you whom I have not met, spoken with, or given exams to over the years: I am from Barre, Vermont, where I live with my wife, Melanie, who is also a piano technician. I studied mechanical engineering in college before attending and graduating from North Bennet Street School. I served in the Army for seven years in the artillery branch before being medically discharged. I worked for a local piano dealer for a few years before venturing out on my own, eventually entering a career in law enforcement. I recently changed employers and am currently an officer for the Vermont Capitol Police in Montpelier. I am an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver award winner, all from the Boy Scouts of America, where I continue to serve in multiple roles.

I joined PTG in 1996, became an RPT and Certified Tuning Examiner in 1997, served on the Examination and Test Standards Committee as a member and tuning sub-chair until 2007. That same year I joined the institute team, serving until I was institute director in 2011. I returned to the ETSC as chair after becoming a technical examiner that same year. I became the Northeast Regional Vice President in 2015 and have served on the board ever since. With any luck, at the end of my term as president, I will return to the exam rooms, which is my first love.

 

Speaking of exam rooms, and ALL the other myriad jobs that make PTG run…

We are a volunteer organization.

Let’s start with the basics. What is a volunteer?

vol·un·teer

• noun: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task without being paid.
• verb: freely offer to do something. 

It sounds simple enough, right? It takes a TON of volunteer work to make PTG operate. Years ago, getting people to volunteer seemed to be easier. There were more members to ask, and society seemed more willing to step up and get things done. PTG and society have both changed. Since we changed to board governance in 2017, we hear an awful lot of The board needs to do this, that, and the other thing. The board is comprised of ten people. PTG is comprised of almost 3,000. Who is better able to get things discussed, created, and accomplished? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have thousands working vs. ten. All of us are capable and necessary to get the business of PTG completed. A volunteer “freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.” We have many people who freely offer to take part in an enterprise but seem to fail on the “undertake a task” part. Our committees lie

dormant with a few exceptions. Our tuning examiner pool is at a critical low level. Every year there are pages and pages of discussion on my.ptg regarding changes to PTG policy and bylaws. What comes out of these discussions? Not so much. We need more people stepping up to the plate, getting things done vs. endless talk and argument. We all are PTG and are all needed to help. Let me end here with a brief story, titled “Whose Job Is It, Anyway?”

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

Marc Poulin, RPT

PTG President

PTG President

The last two years have been quite a ride, to say the least. Despite the challenges, I was honored to be your president and tried to properly fulfill my duties to the best of my ability. I laid out my goals in my election speech. As is often the case, some were realized and others got placed on a back burner. Unexpected turns occur and some goals take longer than two years to accomplish. In some small way, the broadside of the Covid-19 pandemic made me feel what it must be like to be a wartime president.
   I would be remiss if I did not credit the help and guidance provided by Vice-President Marc Poulin, Secretary-Treasurer Jim Fariss, and all seven RVPs. The entire Home Office staff under the direction of our Executive Director, Barbara Cassaday, did a remarkable job despite their reduction in personnel. I wish to thank all the past presidents that I reached out to for their guidance. In particular, I am indebted to our esteemed bylaws chair, Allan Gilreath, for his continued dedication to the betterment of PTG.
   Many members have asked how I find the time to do this job and keep my business going. My answer has two parts: (1) If you want to get something done, ask a busy person, and (2) I felt compelled to give back to PTG because of all I have received from PTG over the years. When you are committed to serve, you find the time to do so. It also doesn’t hurt to have a very supportive wife. I would encourage all of you to get more involved and volunteer for service at the chapter level or for one of our committee positions. You will get back more than you give from the experience. Please join this dedicated group of volunteers. We need you!
   I was invited to travel to China by Basilios Strmec of Hailun USA, and this visit strengthened our relationship with the Hailun company. It helped solidify the production of an exam-quality three-note upright action model for our exam testing process. We have a contract for the production of this action model, which will be fulfilled as soon as travel restrictions are lifted for the final inspection procedures before delivery. Also, I represented PTG at the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians, (I.A.P.B.T.) conference held in Japan in May of 2019.
   The speed of communication between the board and the membership regarding requests for action, (RFAs) has increased exponentially since I joined the board over ten years ago. It has gone from once a year to twice a year, then 60 days in the Board Update column in the Journal. Most recently, they are posted in the regional forums as soon as they arrive. Please remember that they can be submitted at any time.
   Our long-range plan is bearing fruit in many areas, but most especially regarding educational opportunities. We will continue to grow the PTG Academy Online. We will soon have an index for most of the Journals to facilitate locating information. In the Education Hub, an index has already been created to search all of the TT&T articles. There is a new form for posting your online chapter technicals to our newly minted events calendar. One of my unrealized goals was to establish a system of continuing education units (CEUs). This project began with past-president Norman Cantrell. The good news is, it is part of our long-range plan. Stay tuned!
   I cannot express my firm belief strongly enough that we must retain an in-person Council at all costs, as well as an aural component to our RPT exams. As I said in my election speech, “I never thought I would see the day when it would be considered controversial to expect an RPT to be able to demonstrate the ability to hear.” Let’s maintain my catch phrase, “Progress with Respect for Tradition.”
   My presidency can best be described in an often-repeated favorite quote of mine. Its origin dates to a writer in the 1957 Reader’s Digest named Allen Saunders and is often attributed to John Lennon: “Life is what actually happens while you are making other plans.”
   Finally, I wish to thank the membership for giving me the opportunity and privilege to serve as your president. I sincerely hope to see as many of you as possible this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Orlando at Sea World!
   If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

PTG President

To entice you to participate in our 2021 PTG Convention and Technical Institute on August 4-7 in Orlando, Florida, I present the following list of classes. Commentary is provided by your Institute Director, Ingrid Kraft, RPT.

From Rocks to Cream Puffs: Voicing Difficult Hammers, with Don Mannino, RPT. Take the fear out of voicing as you learn how to deal with difficult hammers. I got to view this class at a regional convention about 15 years ago. It’s so good.

Street Pianos – Not Just a Pretty Case, with Gina Bonfietti and Amy Tiernan, RPT. Learn everything about community pianos, from proper prep, finding a location, dealing with your municipality, and promoting your piano. A fascinating class, because we all see these pianos every summer.

Grand Action Rebuilding – Making the Right Choices, with Rick Baldassin, RPT, Renner USA, and Carl Teel. Learn to make correct choices with measurements and action geometry, then test your choices before committing wholesale. Finally, learn efficient key weigh-off. Fabulous class.

Dampers from the Ground Up, with Steve Brady, RPT. Learn everything from installing felts, regulating damper and sostenuto pedals, along with troubleshooting damper problems. I think we can’t get enough classes on learning how to refine our damper skills.

Relentless Repetition, Relentless Repetition, with Mike Reiter, RPT. This class will focus on rapidly repeating notes on grand actions. Mike will demonstrate the ins and outs of some of the finer points of grand regulation.

Rebuilders Grab Bag, Action Edition, with David Hughes, RPT. This class will discuss the merits of installing new keys, new capstans and backchecks, keyboard weigh-off, action stack build-up, hammer weight management, damper system installation, trapwork goodies, and more. As David says, “This class is where the action is.”

You Don't Know Jack, with Nathan Mills, RPT. This class will demystify the concept of double escapement and will also present a simple method for getting simultaneous escapement consistently. What a great title for a class.

Harpsichord Basics for Piano Technicians, with Jason Cassel, RPT. Many of us have opportunities to service this instrument. This class goes over harpsichord repair. I have taken it. I was glad CAUT offered it this year.

Grand ActionWeigh-off Simplified, with Bruce Stevens, RPT and David Vanderlip, RPT. Gain confidence with this class through an innovative quick-and-easy method using balance weight protocols. The second period will cover considerations of geometry, action ratio, inertia, pattern key leading, parts selection and hammer preparation. Bruce and David do an excellent job with this class.

Just in case you cannot be there in person, for the first time you can register for a Live Stream Pass on our website, my.ptg.org/2021convention/registration. That pass will allow you to view 12 select Institute classes online. Several of the above are included in this grouping.

I sincerely hope to see as many of you as possible this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Orlando at Sea World!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

We all have certain obligations in life. The same is true for PTG. We have an obligation to continue to provide a long list of benefits to the membership and to expand that list whenever possible. We enter into contracts with major hotels in order to provide the facilities to hold our annual conventions. Our current contract with the DoubleTree Hotel in Orlando was negotiated and signed well before Covid-19. The only thing that was changed in that contract was the date of the event when we rescheduled to 2021, due to the pandemic. We have an obligation to fulfill that contract this year. The hotel is taking the position that by August, they will be able to fulfill their obligations and expect us to do the same.

FYI, all hotel contracts for large events have a cancellation schedule. The closer you get to the date of the event, the more you are obligated to pay if you cancel. This makes sense, because the later you cancel, the more difficult it is for the hotel to resell the facility. Our last cancellation date in this schedule with the DoubleTree was March 16th of 2019, at which time we would be obligated to pay nearly $250,000.00 and receive nothing if we did cancel.

We reserved a room block of 1,774 sleeping room nights that would provide the hotel with an anticipated revenue of $220,718.00. Furthermore, we agreed to spend $50,000.00 on food and beverage, which provides us with complementary meeting space. This represents a typical arrangement when contracting a hotel for our conventions in a pre-Covid-19 world. Given the demographics of our membership and the rapid rollout of multiple vaccines, your board of directors feels confident that we will be able to meet, while following CDC guidelines regarding masks, etc. The hotel assures us that they will provide extraordinary sanitation during the event.

As I have written in previous president’s messages, we have prepared several contingency plans and recently decided to hold our very first hybrid convention. There will be an in-person convention in Orlando from August 4 through August 7 this summer. In addition to this, one of the classrooms will be set up as a television studio and will broadcast a total of 12 classes over the Internet for a fee. 

I am making an appeal to you all, that you come to Orlando this August and please stay at the DoubleTree Hotel to help us fulfill our obligation to purchase as many room nights as possible. Yes, it is in Florida, in the summer, but as our former president and Floridian Phil Bondi often said, “We do air conditioning well here!” 

To see many of you in Florida this summer, I would be much obliged!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Over the years, the Piano Technicians Guild has come to mean many things to our membership.

1.  Our mission statement states: Our mission is to promote the industry’s highest possible standards by

• Providing members with every opportunity for professional development
• Recognizing and promoting technical competence through examinations
• Advancing the interests of each of our members

2.  Strategic Initiative 1 from our long-range plan (LRP) states: Professional Development: Develop and implement well-curated, relevant, high quality education and certification programs that advance the skills of our members, and ultimately the quality of service for the world’s pianos.

3.  One more thing: In a subheading from the LRP, Tactic 1.1.3, Develop Phased Curriculum, Action 1.1.3.3, CEUs: Study the possibility of adding “Continuing Education Credits” (CEUs) for all programs. As I said in a previous president’s message, “RPT is a benchmark, not a destination.” In the near future, I would like to see PTG follow the model used by many professional organizations in requiring our members to amass a certain number of CEUs every two years. The net result of instituting this change would increase attendance at all levels for chapter meetings, one-day seminars, regional conventions and our annual convention. This would raise the bar and bring us into alignment with both our mission statement and what we’ve already agreed to do within our code of ethics. See number four below.

4.  Item #7 on the back of your membership card states: I will strive to upgrade my professional skills and I will encourage and help others to do the same.

5.  Our Institute incorporates a three-tiered system. There are classes for everyone (E), intermediate level (I) and advanced (A). PTG has always been about education.

6.  One more thing: Our certification process has evolved over time. It is consistent and fair. We now have the capability to provide our written exam online.

7.  One more thing: PTG has always been a social experience. The pandemic has brought many things into focus for me that I truly miss:

• Seeing old friends, making new ones, shaking hands, and exchanging hugs
• Seeking answers in the hallways
• Taking home the new tip that made it worth the trip
• Showing camaraderie during the call and response to our “List of States” at our opening ceremony
• Hearing our barbershop chorus, just to name a few

I would proffer one more thing: The diversity of PTG is who we are, and this represents our greatest strength. By no means does that define us as a rudderless ship.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

We are all doing our level best to ensure that another year does not go by without a PTG annual convention. While composing this message in January for the March issue of the Journal, it is too early to know exactly how we are going to proceed. Much is still up in the air due to the pandemic. I do know one thing: 2021 will include a major educational event for our members in one form or another.
 
An in-person event in Orlando, Florida at the beginning of August would be the preferred way to go. Having said that, several months ago your executive committee began discussing the need for a plan B or C in the form of a virtual event. I advised our Institute Director to begin preparations for such an eventuality. Many of us have become increasingly familiar with virtual gatherings among family and friends. Producing a virtual convention is significantly more complicated.
 
In recent years several companies have cropped up to provide help in running a virtual event. In early January your institute team, along with Home Office staff and some members of the board, began auditioning some of these platforms. They varied in capabilities, training, and cost. Virtual conference platforms can simulate most but not all of what our annual convention normally provides. This would be our plan B.
 
Plan C would be a hybrid event. It would contain a combination of an in-person event along with live-streaming of at least one of the classrooms.
 
The state of the pandemic and the rollout of vaccines will shape our course of action. I hope to see all of you at our next annual convention. One thing is certain: In these uncharted waters, it will be unconventional.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

While our website doesn’t deal in virtual reality, it does provide many virtual classes that provide a true learning experience equivalent to the actual reality of an in-person event. It is important to note that a portion of our website is dedicated to online learning. It can be found on the homepage of our social media platform at the following URL: my.ptg.org/home. Make sure that you log in first as a member, then look on the right side of the page for the “Member’s Corner.” The third item in the list is entitled “PTG Academy Online.” The PTG Academy folder currently contains 19 individual class topics. They run the gamut from tuning to repairs, regulation, voicing, and business management, to name a few. However, 19 is a deceptively small number because many of the classes offered are divided into multiple segments.

For example, “Your Money Or Your Life” has seven segments. “Business 101” has 12. “Piano Technician’s Playground” has 14, and “Quick Tips – 6 Pack of Technicals” has 25. Altogether, the 19 offerings include 73 segments. If you invested your time to review and study all of these, it would be equivalent to attending more than two annual conventions. You should know that we plan on investing more of your member dollars to increase the number of these virtual classes.

Here is the really good news! All of the information contained in the PTG Academy Online is included in your annual dues at no additional charge. It is a member benefit!

Furthermore, we are planning to include some virtual classes at our next annual convention. This will be our very first hybrid event.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

I don’t know about you, but if I had the option, I’d like to mark the year 2020 “Return to sender.” As we begin 2021, there is a new hope that with the advent of vaccines and therapeutics on the horizon, the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end. However, it would be prudent to plan ahead as we wait.
   While we continue to organize an in-person annual convention in Orlando this year, there is a contingency plan in place, if required. Plan A was our 2020 convention, plan B is our 2021 convention, and the new plan C is a “Virtual Institute.” Many organizations have already gone this route. Let’s hope we don’t have to. However, this important member benefit cannot disappear for a second year in a row. We are contacting all of our instructors to assist in making this possible. We will provide guidance and resources as needed in this regard.
   Many chapters have adopted the use of online technology to hold their meetings virtually. This includes chapter technical presentations. An important member benefit would be to have a place to go to find out where, when, and on what topics these meetings are occurring. To that end, there is a new feature/repository on our home page that will answer those questions. From ptg.org, click on the heading “PTG Members” and then on “Events.” On the left side you will see the usual list of upcoming
in-person events. On the right side, there is a red button entitled “Online Education Calendar.” This takes you to our new calendar for PTG-member classes, seminars, and meetings. Although currently sparsely populated, as awareness of this feature increases, many events will be listed. To add an event to the calendar, simply click on the red button entitled “Submit your own event.” This brings you to a form that will provide the Home Office with all the details needed to post your event to this new calendar.
   In order to ensure a level of quality worth sharing with the membership, the event sponsor must be a chapter president or RVP. Events must be free to all PTG members to be added to this calendar. Please check with your presenters to make sure that they are open to inviting all PTG members to your event. And finally, please be sure to include information on how to access or attend your event, as all fields on the form are required fields.
   PTG currently owns four Zoom accounts. Therefore, we can facilitate up to four meetings per day. Please contact the Home Office to set one up for your event. Chapters can purchase their own Zoom account for a current annual fee of $149.90. Chapter members could easily share this expense, given savings on gas not used to attend in-person meetings. This works out to a chapter expense of just $12.50 a month and permits up to 100 participants for meetings of any length, plus one gigabyte of cloud recording storage.
   The mention of Zoom above does not constitute an endorsement — it just happens to be the platform we are using. There are many online meeting software offerings currently available. Here is a short list: Google Meet, GoToMeeting, Skype for Business, Vonage Meeting, Polycom, Blue Jean, Global Meet, Cisco WebEx, and many more. Check them out and compare costs and services.
   The pandemic has had all of us in a valley for most of 2020. Let’s remember that when you’re in a valley, there is only one way to go, and that’s up. Here’s wishing all of us a happier and healthier new year! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Back in the Swing of Things

By Norman R. Cantrell, RPT

PTG President

 

While I am not the biggest fan of Major League Baseball, I cannot ignore some of the more famous quotes by baseball legend Yogi Berra. Perhaps the most obvious at the moment for me and the PTG is, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Hopefully, some of you recognize my lovely mug shot from the past and realize that this is the second time around for me as your president. So, for better or worse, we are working together again.

Another famous quote by Yogi Berra is, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” In other words, the PTG’s future lies before us, and we can choose what to make of it. I am very excited to have just returned from the Annual Convention and Technical Institute in Crystal City, which had almost 750 in attendance Of those, more than 150 were first-time convention goers. That is an exciting change in direction from the last few years. There are a multitude of reasons for that uptick in numbers and we may never know exactly the reasons so many people showed up, but it is a surge of energy that we can build upon. Many thanks go out to Morgan Cowell, RPT, and the Institute Team for all their work. People come for classes, so thanks also to the many instructors. We also sold out the exhibit hall for the first time in a while, so our hats are off to those who exhibited and sponsored this successful event from start to finish.

Yogi Berra also had a comment on spring training drills: “Pair ‘em up in threes.” This was an accurate description of something else that happened during the convention. The board of directors is charged with staffing our committees. My stated desire was to staff committees with people who had a passion for the type of work the respective committee is charged to pursue. I served on the board in the past for nine years, and this was my tenth go-around at the everdreaded “committee staffing” session. We literally had more volunteers than we did slots available. If you volunteered and don’t see your name on the list, it is simply because we were full up for that group. Please don’t give up — we kept your name and you will be at the top of the list next year. I am very excited about the spirit of volunteerism that showed up this summer.

As I wrap this up, one more Yogi Berra quote comes to mind: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” The PTG has a bright future. I was excited by all the first-time faces, many of which were quite young. In our ad hoc marketing meeting following Council, one of the themes that emerged was the high value of an active chapter. If you attended this year’s convention, be prepared to share some of your valuable educational experience with some of those in your chapter who were not able to attend this year. If nothing else, share the links to the Education Hub. There’s a year’s worth of chapter technical presentations on that website alone.

I’m looking forward to walking alongside you once again.

PTG in a Covid-19 Year

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

As we enter this year’s holiday season, I am quite certain that many of us share the following thought: “I wish I could give 2020 back.” Shortly after last winter’s board meeting, the pandemic hit and all our lives changed. I sincerely hope that very few if any of our members had their health severely impacted by Covid-19. I do know that many of you have been struggling financially because of the pandemic. In recognition of this fact, your directors, in conjunction with the incremental dues task group I appointed, have instituted a new organizational policy. We hope this will prove to be helpful for those who need it.

Members may now choose to pay annual PTG dues in full or in installments, utilizing the PTG Automatic Debit Plan. Furthermore, at our three-day summer board meeting on Zoom, we eliminated an increase in dues for 2021. Members who elect to make their payments in installments will be required to set up automatic payments through PTG’s website (ptg.org). You will log in and select “Pay Online & Dues Renewal.” An administrative fee of $5.00 per month will be added to the installment payments. There are no pre-payment penalties if you choose to pay off the balance at any point throughout the year. And, of course, you have always had the option to use a credit card and pay it off however you choose.

Payments or automatic payment arrangements must be made on or before December 31. Dues have always been due at the end of the calendar year. If payment or payment arrangements have not been made by December 31, your dues will be considered delinquent on January 1 of the new year. Because of the availability of the new payment plan for all members, the grace period for non-payment has been reduced to 30 days. Regrettably, you will be dropped from the membership rolls on February 1 for non-payment. Please note that your board of directors has given the Home Office some flexibility in this regard when circumstances are beyond the control of the member.

Chapters have two options: (a) collecting chapter dues directly from members, or (b) agreeing to have PTG collect chapter dues with the understanding that distribution to the chapter will only take place twice a year (August distribution for January-June and February distribution for July-December). Please note, option (b) is not available for new members in their first year of membership.

Please share the above information with your fellow chapter members. Questions may be addressed to either Sandy Roady (sandy@ptg.org) or Jason Hensley (jason@ptg.org) at the Home Office.

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Over the history of the PTG, your annual dues have roughly been the equivalent of 2.5 tuning fees when adjusted for inflation. A tremendous amount of good has been accomplished with this investment in our organization. Please do not consider these dues to be an expense, even though it is a tax-deductible item for your business. All of our careers have been advanced exponentially, provided we participated in what PTG has offered. The education provided in our classes, the sharing of knowledge gained from online forums and videos, at chapter meetings, at all-day seminars, during regional and annual conventions, and even in the hallways at all of these events is astounding. The full list of the benefits of membership can be found on our website at tinyurl.com/ra5haw9. The willingness to share by “passing the torch” is something that in many ways is unique to PTG and needs to be celebrated. None of this would happen without a combination of your membership dollars and the generosity of all the volunteer hours that many of your fellow members willingly contribute. It is all available for the taking, and this alone is reason enough to maintain your membership.

Another investment that I would like you to consider is starting to collect chapter dues or increasing what you do collect. Without a significant investment at this level, it is difficult or impossible to present high-quality chapter technical programs or purchase training equipment, e.g., action models, etc. Home Office staff have informed me that there is a wide range of disparity among the chapters in this regard. It runs the gamut from zero to $110 per year. Approximately 25% of our chapters do not charge any dues at all. I implore all chapters to begin to make a change in this regard. One sure-fire way to maintain and add members to your chapter is to provide professional technical presentations. We have help on this topic at our website, where you will find an extremely extensive set of documents called the “Chapter Toolkit.” It would literally take you a month of Sundays to study half of what is contained here. It can be located at tinyurl.com/r653wzj. Also, I would direct your attention to the “Healthy Chapter Profile” document. This will help you evaluate where your chapter sits along the spectrum. It can be found at tinyurl.com/w4llg88.

Let’s continue to invest in our future together!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

The title of this message is not meant to take way from the importance of achieving your RPT designation and credential. It is an accomplishment that should be savored and celebrated. Having said that, please look around you at all the PTG events and chapter meetings you attend. You will see many members who have attained their RPT long ago.

Why are they still showing up? It is because they know there is always more to learn, even if it is just a new approach to a task they have been performing for years. I have always maintained that whenever you show up, “Just One Tip is Worth the Trip.” This is especially true for our annual convention. The cost of attending should never be viewed as an expense, but rather as a tax-deductible investment in your career.

I would like to implore all of our RPTs, especially those who are newly minted, to encourage other members to challenge our exams. I know there are two main reasons that most members delay the process: fear of failure and the embarrassment that may follow.

Let’s address them both. I know many of my fellow chapter members who did not pass on their first attempts. Yes, they were extremely disappointed and frustrated. However, two things followed: They discovered what they did not know and what they needed to do to pass on their next try, and secondly, all of the members were very supportive, understanding, and willing to help them succeed. No one looked down on them.

We have many forms of assistance available to all members to help achieve your RPT status. Contact your RVP with questions. Here is a list of a few items that will help:

1. Purchase the two exam source books from the PTG store.
2. Ask an RPT in your chapter to evaluate your tuning. They could utilize our pre-screening manual to assist in this pursuit, found at: tinyurl.com/tcwdgrd.
3. Attend an “Exam Prep on the Road” all-day class wherever it is offered.
4. Attend the “Piano Technicians Playground” all-day class with multiple stations on various repair techniques at convention.
5. Purchase the On Pitch book and related DVDs by Rick Baldassin, RPT.
6. Make use of the educational resources available on our website. 
7. Apply for an exam scholarship through the PTG Foundation.
8. Log into my.ptg.org to download and print the RPT certification study guides at tinyurl.com/vcdvv2u.

FYI, it has been determined that the actual cost in equipment and volunteer hours to offer our exams at the convention exceeds $4,000.00. Even if the current price of $180.00 per exam increases, they are still a bargain.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Well, it’s a brand-new year. We all fall into familiar patterns in all aspects of our lives. While change is often perceived as loss, I maintain that an effort to pursue a different path can be very rewarding. A new challenge of any type can produce a refreshing experience. I am not referring to major New Year’s resolutions that quickly dissolve into the ether. Here are just a few suggestions:

1. Experiment with an impact tuning hammer. By reducing repetitive stress and utilizing new muscle groups, you can increase your career’s longevity. You can probably borrow one from a fellow chapter member. Be sure to get some instructions on how to use this tool. I would suggest using it only for pitch raises at first.
2. Try tuning an upright piano with your left hand. This is a technique recommended by many and will also reduce repetitive stress. Keep in mind that any new technique will slow you down at first, so perhaps try it on only one section of the piano.
3. Take the Piano Life Saver exam to get certified as an installer.
4. Purchase and utilize all six PTG technical bulletins to expand your service offerings and your income. They really help educate your customers as they are geared for the piano owner.
5. Offer a discount to all your clients for any referral they supply that results in a new customer.
6. Proper business attire gives a very professional first impression, and we all know you only get one shot at this!
7. Nothing happens until something is sold. Read a book or two on sales techniques and how to close a deal.
8. Save time in the office by purchasing and utilizing a macro program that will instantly type large volumes of text with a single keystroke. This is particularly useful when you need to repeat the same information to multiple clients.
9. Practice a seldom-used repair technique that requires a seldom-used tool.
10. Treat yourself to that new tool you have considered purchasing. It will probably save you time, and therefore money. Plus, you will feel great each time you reach for it.

                                                       Let’s Try Something New This Year.

Once again, I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

                                                   Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Many of you were not present in Tucson when our new long-range plan was introduced. Following is a brief explanation/overview focusing on “seeing the forest for the trees.”

Six strategic initiatives (SIs) are in our plan. These were the result of a brainstorming session that took place during a two-day planning meeting at the home office prior to the usual winter board meeting. We developed the following list:

1. Professional Development
2. Membership Engagement & Equity
3. Building Chapters
4. Marketing & Outreach
5. Our People
6. Operational Excellence & Financial Sustainability

The plan is located in the Member Area in Forms & Documents on ptg.org. I will go into a little more detail here on strategic initiatives #1 and #2. 

• Goals: There are multiple entries for each in the plan.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): These will act as proof that we are in fact reaching the various goals. There are 12 for initiative #1 and 8 for initiative #2.
• Tactics: How do we go about reaching the goals?
• Actions: What do we need to do?
• Responsible Party (RP): Who is responsible? Many areas are yet to be determined.
• Time Frame/Date Range: This gives us a target date for completion.
• Resources Planning Summary: What will we need?
• Strategic Plan Oversight: Who can make changes and at what level?
• Goal Assignment List: What committee or task group has a specific goal?

I hope this helps bring some clarity and focus to a very extensive document. The board will be reviewing this plan on a quarterly basis.

I wish all of you happy holidays and a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Here is one suggested approach regarding a new client:

I am sure most of us ask when the piano was last tuned and if there are any repair issues to be addressed. The next thing I like to assess is who is playing the piano, at what skill level and for how many years. Since you only get one chance to make a first impression, you should assess the vehicle you’re driving, its cleanliness, and the clothing you are wearing.

I always provide a free evaluation of the piano’s condition on my initial service call. After determining the pitch of the instrument, I often provide a PTG technical bulletin on pitch raising for the client to read while I proceed with my examination. The assessment of the piano invariably produces a list of items in need of attention. I discuss this list with the client while keeping in mind the level of the piano player and the family’s budget. Often times, small and inexpensive changes like taking up lost motion by regulating the capstans can produce significant improvement in the response of the piano for a young musician. Although many of us are capable of concert-level action regulation, the expense curve rises geometrically as the circle of refinement proceeds and is not always warranted for a particular instrument or player.

Before presenting your evaluation, you would be wise to assess if there is any emotional connection to the instrument. This will often times override whether spending the client’s money makes any economic sense. I will supply additional PTG technical bulletins on regulation or voicing etc. that are pertinent to my assessment of the piano for the client’s consideration to be performed at an additional appointment.

Finally, you need to assess your skill level regarding any needed repairs. You will often gain the client’s respect and loyalty if you bring in a substitute technician for a particular aspect of the work. I have been asked by RPTs to replace broken agraffes on a Steinway grand on more than one occasion.

Assessing your own needs can best be determined by challenging the RPT exams. The worst that will happen is that you will know what you don’t know and have yet to learn.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at pres@ptg.org.

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

In my election speech, I said the following regarding the board governance model:

“I believe it’s more critical than ever to obtain ‘member buy-in’ regarding large sweeping changes to the organization. This is not to obtain permission, because all decisions now rest with the board of directors, but to provide guidance. To that end, the board will need to provide earlier notification to the members.”

Beginning with this issue of the Journal, there will be a new column inserted on an as-needed basis, entitled “Board Updates.” This will provide notice in a more timely manner of any significant information available. If a minor issue is raised that involves a small change or correction, we consider that “housekeeping” and we will not include that in this world of information overload. There may be times when there is nothing to report. Generally speaking, the board meets twice a year. In between those meetings, often times, nothing is happening.

Keep in mind that while there is a 65-day deadline for submitting a request for action (RFA) of any type, RFAs can be submitted at any time prior to that deadline. As soon as we receive them, they will be added to the next issue of the Journal in this new column.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at pres@ptg.org.

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

During our 2019 convention in Tucson, there were numerous requests to improve communication. The following is a list of the current opportunities for communication. These can provide dialogue among our members and between members and the PTG board of directors (BOD).

• 264 forums on my.ptg.org.
• Regional forums produced by each regional vice president (RVP).
• PTG-L, our political forum available to all members, providing you opt-in.
• Council Long Range Planning, found online at tinyurl.com/y3237vbx. This is where the discussion will continue after the long-range plan was presented to Council, approved at the post-Council board meeting and posted online at ptg.org in the Member Area, Forms & Documents section.
• RVP newsletters. Hard copies are snail-mailed to each member three weeks after each BOD meeting.
• Regional vice presidents:
Chris Labarre, RPT – nervp@ptg.org
George W.R. "Bill" Davis, RPT – servp@ptg.org
Douglas Garman, RPT – scrvp@ptg.org
Michael Gutowski, RPT – cervp@ptg.org
Jim Coleman, Jr., RPT – cwrvp@ptg.org
David Stoneman, RPT – wrvp@ptg.org
David Stocker, RPT – pnwrvp@ptg.org

• Executive Committee:
Paul Adams, RPT – pres@ptg.org
Marc Poulin, RPT – vp@ptg.org
Jim Fariss, RPT – sec@ptg.org

• Other avenues of communication include: PTG E-News, Leader Letters, the Journal online, PTG Academy Online and Journal President’s Message. All of the above are posted on the PTG home page in the Member’s Corner section, on the top right-hand side of my.ptg.org.
• Our main website, ptg.org
• Facebook
• Phone
• Texting
• Facebook Messenger
• Attending meetings. All board meetings are open to all members.
• Face-to-face at events
• Surveys: Our last poll from the Presidential Task Group had only a 16% response.
• There will be a new column added to the Journal, as needed, entitled “Board Updates.” Any questions or concerns should be posted to your Regional Communities.

Since one of the top ten ways to cause the demise of any organization is to not participate, I implore all of you to do so. We have many communication avenues already in place. Direct any questions or comments to me at pres@ptg.org. I look forward to hearing from you at any time. Please remember, “Communication is a Two-Way Street.”

Why PTG?

By Marc Poulin, RPT
President, PTG

If you peruse social media in the piano technology realm, you see this question pop up quite frequently:  Why PTG? We have approximately 3,000 members and know that there are many more people in the field who are not members. I can’t speak to why these people aren’t members, as it’s an individual decision, but I can speak to why I’ve chosen to be a member for the past 27 years.

I joined the PTG in 1996 because my instructors at North Bennet Street School told me to join. Every faculty member of the piano technology program was a member, spoke frequently of the high-quality educational offerings, and encouraged us students to attend the regional conference held outside Boston. Sounded good to me as a 20-year-old newbie technician making my way into the business.

At first, the most amazing part of PTG for me was simply the people. The Boston chapter has always been huge, with meetings loyally attended. From meetings at NBSS, the Harvard piano shop, and a few local rebuilders’ shops, the variety of technicians seemed endless. I loved the encouragement, the chats about obscure technical problems over coffee, and the feeling of being accepted into a larger community of likeminded people. 

The PTG Annual Convention and Technical Institute is an opportunity sadly underutilized by many members. There are multiple class offerings, as well as more private discussions in the hallways and seating alcoves spread throughout the venue. Everyone is willing to help everyone else regardless of their title, age, or the letters next to their name. If you leave with an unanswered question, it’s either because you didn’t ask, or because your brain is so overstuffed with information that you have the answer but cannot remember it. Information overload is a real thing at the convention. 

I quickly found my way into the examiner community and became a CTE barely three months after becoming an RPT. The examiner community is a tight-knit, passionate group of people dedicated to their craft. If you want a high-level aural tuning educational experience, come assist with a master tuning or a tuning exam. The number of different interval checks, tricks, and explanations of how each member tunes their own way is astounding. Working with such a group, learning a thing or two, and being part of a team when a member becomes an RPT at the end of that last exam can’t help but bring a smile to your face.

Then there are the politics. I’ve served on the nominating committee twice, belonged to numerous task groups and committees (frequently as chair), been a delegate to council for more than a decade, and was on the institute team for four years (the last year as director). Eventually, I decided to run for the board  because, while our council and board have always been made up of very skilled members with the best of intentions, few have experience in the management of a large organization. 

Leadership is not taught; it’s learned over a lifetime. It requires vision, planning skills, and a deep understanding of personality types and learning styles. Because of my scouting days (yes, I’m an Eagle Scout), military service, law enforcement leadership service, and experience as a leadership instructor in multiple organizations, I believed it was a good fit to continue that service in the PTG. 

The PTG calls to each of us for different reasons. For me, it has been about the people, the friendships, and the service to others. Ask yourself why you’re a member. Speak to others about why you’re a member. When others ask you, tell them. We are all members for a reason. Share your “why” with anyone who will listen. We are our own best advocates for “Why PTG”?

For Solutions, Look Close to Home

By David Stoneman, RPT
Secretary-Treasurer, PTG

I’ve been reading for most of my life that acoustic pianos are, if not dead, on their way out, to be fully replaced by their ever-improving electric counterparts. I don’t believe that will happen. The electronic instrument’s goal is to imitate the acoustic instrument as closely as possible, and it does, but the imitation won’t ever BE the original. And the original, acoustic instrument will always need our care. I don’t believe our profession is threatened or that there will be, in my lifetime or any current member’s lifetime, an end to traditional piano maintenance.

When discussing the Guild, the current state of the organization tends to lead the conversation. Predictions become dire in an instant and the “end of our organization as we know it” is pronounced to be imminent and unavoidable. That’s certainly one possibility. The world changes, the economy changes, and how our career is seen by the public changes. But pianos will continue. I’ve been working in piano technology for barely 15 years, so I missed the glory days of the early 1990s when membership numbers were over 4,000. That’s a healthy number that may be difficult to get back to from our current ranks of just over 3,000, but I believe the Guild will continue, though it may go through some needed, unforeseeable changes.

As a guild, we work to codify best practices for piano care, to share efficiencies, to increase profitability, and to support each other technically, professionally, and emotionally. We do this at the national convention and institute and at the regional conferences. Most importantly, we do this at chapter meetings.

I joined the Guild for one reason: As a beginner, I needed more than books to learn the profession. At 50, I wasn’t going to go to a school. The person who had taken care of my piano stated that he was simply too busy to tutor me, but he did offer to take me to my first Guild chapter meeting. I found this to be the key to unlocking the reality of what I was previously only able to read about. Tuning, regulation, and, in time, voicing all became real to me at the monthly local chapter meetings.

I learned about the regional and national conventions, but money was tight, making travel to them out of the question. But I could spend one evening a month at a chapter meeting. In my case, it even came with a free meal sponsored by whichever of the local dealers was hosting us that month. In time, I was encouraged or even prompted to ask questions. All questions were granted answers — sometimes voluminous answers, sometimes contradictory answers — but my willingness to absorb information was met by a flood of well-intentioned expertise. The chapter meetings were indispensable to my start in the business, and the chapter remains indispensable to me today.

As the Guild moves into the future, however it works as a whole, the only real threat to its existence would be if it should fail on the local level. The health of the chapter is the true pulse of the organization. It’s at the chapter level that we form our most intimate professional relationships with other practitioners of the craft. At this local level, we best measure our progress. And it is at the local level that we are best able to show our welcoming attitude to those who might be interested in making their own attempt at our art. If the Guild is to expand, this is where expansion will happen.

It’s at the chapter meetings where newcomers find out if piano tuning will be a good career fit for them. It’s there that they find that their fellow techs can be a support system for developing the craft and a business. Who wouldn’t be attracted to this supportive and welcoming situation? It’s at the chapter level that the Guild can best recruit new members. Any national effort aimed at enlisting new members can’t compare to the advances that can be made by having chapters look to the potential new members in their own area: people they may already know, and some already in the business, who are interested in finding more ways to improve their talents and skills in the business.

Make your chapter a more active and welcoming place. This is where growth will happen.

Embrace Change

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President

In my former life as an aerospace engineer, the company I worked for got on the bandwagon with the latest efficiency programs, like Continual Process Improvement (CPI), and catch phrases, such as “empowering the employee,” or “think smarter, not harder.” As an engineer with real work to do, I resented being forced to spend time attending training on these flash-in-the-pan programs. One saying in particular puzzled me: “embrace change.” What’s wrong with the way we’ve been doing things for years, even decades? Why fix something that’s not broken?

The reality is that the world continues to change both technically and socially. No company or organization is immune to that change, even our own Piano Technicians Guild.

Technology Evolves

In the late 1970s, a small company called VisiCorp created the first spreadsheet computer program called VisiCalc, released for use on the Apple II. Two years later, IBM launched a competing program called Lotus 1-2-3. Lotus greatly outmatched VisiCalc, and VisiCorp, which failed to innovate further, faded out almost overnight; it was bought by Lotus and discontinued.

From the 1980s into the 90s, Lotus was the standard for spreadsheets, databases, and word processing. Lotus was on top of their game. Their offerings were fine just the way they were until…Windows, or Microsoft, if you prefer. Lotus never saw the graphical user interface of Windows as serious competition and gave little effort to embracing that new technology. In the early 1990s, Microsoft surpassed Lotus, which never recovered. Just as Lotus bought VisiCorp, Microsoft purchased Lotus and discontinued its programs.

Society Evolves

Many once-accepted societal norms have evolved to be unacceptable, often due to some major event. This is not to say that everyone accepts or agrees with those changes, but rather that society as a whole does. Consider, for example, the American Civil War, which ended the broad acceptance of slavery as a practice, or the Civil Rights Movement 100 years later, which helped change attitudes about racism and segregation. World War II provides another example of changing societal norms, as it opened up workplace opportunities for women, who had previously been expected to stay home and raise children.

The PTG Evolves

In the realm of technology, even before there was a PTG, there were electronic tuning devices, starting with the Stroboconn in 1936. In the almost 90 years of these ETDs’ existence, they have developed into powerful tools used by most piano tuners today. That development will only continue, and the PTG must be prepared to adapt to those changes or find our exam going the way of VisiCalc and Lotus.

Let me stress, there is absolutely no effort currently underway to change our RPT tuning exam. What is being discussed is the dual challenge of the declining number of examiners combined with the advancement of ETDs. How does the PTG manage that change?

The PTG’s social characteristics and demographics have also changed. The average age of PTG members continues to increase, from 55 in 2006 to 59 in 2017, with the number of women members constant around 12%. If we keep on that trend line, the PTG will literally die out.

For the PTG to be a healthy, vibrant organization that grows and thrives, we need to be aware of changing attitudes and norms. Our PTG online communities have had spirited discussions concerning ethics, inclusiveness, gender, and even religion. These same issues have been around forever and, because we are all human, will never fully resolve. What the conversations have accomplished is bringing these issues to the light of day.

The over 3,000 members of the PTG are some of  the most friendly, helpful people you will ever get to meet and work with. When someone asks about joining the PTG, my response is always, “Everyone shares their knowledge with anyone, without hesitation.” That is the PTG I know.

Perseverance

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President

Many are familiar with the life and story of George Mallory (June 1886 – June 1924), the English climber who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s.

Mallory was a student at Winchester College when a teacher recruited him for an excursion in the Alps. During this trip, he discovered his strong natural ability for climbing. After graduating, he became a teacher, though continued to hone his skills as a climber in the Alps. He served in the army during World War I and fought at the Somme.

After the war, Mallory returned to teaching but soon resigned in order to participate in the 1921 British Mount Everest expedition to make the first ascent of the world’s highest mountain. In 1922 he took part in a second attempt, during which his team achieved a record altitude of 26,980 ft (8,225 m) without supplemental oxygen. When asked by a reporter why he wanted to climb Everest, Mallory famously replied, “Because it’s there.” During their 1924 summit attempt, Mallory and his climbing partner disappeared on the northeast ridge of Everest.

Why am I repeating this story? While we don’t expect piano technicians to die on their mountains, Mallory is a prime example of perseverance in the face of adversity, which we can all learn from. After multiple failures, he continued to push forward. How many technicians fail to push forward in the face of adversity? This is seen most often in two areas of piano technology: aural tuning and voicing.

In my conversations with technicians at conventions over the years, quite often they speak of not being able to aurally tune or voice a piano. Getting deeper into the conversation, it becomes clear that it is not so much their inability to do the skill, but their fear of getting out of their comfort zone and thus hesitating to dig in and actually learn the skill. For many, aural tuning and voicing are part of the daily job of piano service, but for many others, mastering these skills is their personal Mount Everest. It’s a goal for many and they dream of climbing it — yet fail to do so. Why is this the case? I cannot answer this question, as it’s a very personal matter for everyone. What can we do about it?

For those whom I’ve tutored, it usually comes down to failing to take the time to get out of their comfort zone and practice these skills. I don’t have the time. I don’t want to damage the piano. I don’t have someone to help me. Insert excuse here.

Climbing your mountain takes time. It takes effort. Every day on every piano, take 15 minutes to tune a handful of intervals aurally. Tune the temperament. Tune a few octaves. Check it with your machine and see where you are. You don’t need an examiner or RPT with you to take those steps every day at every piano. Invest a little time in yourself.

The same goes for voicing. Finish your tuning and regulation touch-up. Pick out three or five notes that sound “off.” Even if you are a newbie, you will know what that sounds like. Do a little voicing. Try some needling, filing, and fitting the hammer to the string. It’s easier than you think to make a large difference in the tone without a whole lot of effort.

However, any growth requires you to take that first step. It requires you to take a few steps every day. If you truly commit to trying every day, you will quickly find that your Mount Everest is not some impossible goal and that you won’t die on the slope while attempting it. It’s a goal that every technician should strive for, not only because it’s there, but because it’s worth it. Persevere in the face of adversity, and you will thank yourself someday.

It's Time to Make a Statement

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

We are about pianos. We are a group of people who are drawn together because we care about the maintenance of these wonderful musical instruments. In the past, we have been as many as 4,000 members; currently, we have just over 3,000. That’s still a lot of people. We have old members, new members, well-to-do members, and financially strapped members. We have members of many different backgrounds, varied religious beliefs, and a broad spectrum of gender identities. And all of us are about pianos. We are pink ones, we are green ones, we are blue ones, and yellow ones, but we’re not all made of ticky-tacky and we’re not all just the same. (My apologies to Malvina Reynolds, composer of the song “Little Boxes.”) But we are, all of us, about pianos.

It’s February, and the winter board meeting has just concluded. After more than 60 years, it is likely that our governing documents will now include a clause that notes our diversity as individuals and our willingness to include piano-interested individuals of all types as members. Back in 1957, the idea of an inclusivity statement was outside of the Guild’s founders’ understanding of the universe. Our mission is to promote the industry’s highest possible standards by providing members with every opportunity for professional development, recognizing and promoting technical competence through examinations, and advancing the interests of each of our members. We have other documents that state that we act democratically, and nearly all of the instructions on how we are to communicate explain that we are to be respectful and keep the communications about pianos. In the subtlest way possible, these statements and policies imply that we are inclusive in our membership and accepting of all who wish to join and learn more about the care of pianos. We are about pianos.

When I first joined the organization, someone told me that the PTG is a diverse group and that if we were to see a look-alike for Pee-wee Herman walk across the convention floor, it’s most likely that no one would bat an eye. This is a kind of inclusivity, although of a passive sort. As I say, some form of inclusivity statement has likely been added to our documents at the winter board meeting. With any luck and many hours of consideration and discussion, the board has crafted wording to cover inclusivity that will work well for the health of the Guild and the peace of mind and sense of safety of each of its members. The need for such a statement is likely well overdue, and the current understanding of any organization’s obligations to its members makes it obvious that it should be addressed now.

Is it perfect? I can’t know that. As I’m writing this in December, I don’t know what we’ve managed to accomplish at the winter board meeting. The work of the board often moves slowly, perhaps frustratingly so. This is partly because we have an obligation to move correctly and for the good of the Guild and its members. My own hope is that we’ve managed to create a statement that is fully inclusive. This often means a more vague and simple language than some would want, and it should be attached to our mission statement as part of corporate policies. These are the tenets of a well-conceived diversity statement.

We are a cross section of society; every kind of person can learn piano technology. Society has come to recognize that there are marginalized individuals that can be aided by reassurances that they are safe and included. It is time that we recognize this and make a statement saying so. If we can all feel included, then we can all continue to pursue our passion and our living.

We are, after all, about pianos.

Can We Try?

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President 

When I retired from a 30-year career in aerospace, my wife, Sandy, told me that I could retire but that I needed to find something to do. I was not allowed to hang around the house. She was right — as an anal-retentive engineer, I’d probably end up alphabetizing the spice rack.

In my previous career, we sometimes faced major changes in the way we did things. One such instance was an entirely new computer and operating system. The crews would ask, “What was wrong with the old one?” The operations manager (a position I would later assume at a European facility) would listen to the complaints about having to learn something new, smile, and ask, “Can you try?” The new system was coming whether we liked it or not, so the choice was: “Be part of the change and thrive, or be left behind wondering why your position was phased out.” I have always liked that phrase, and I use it as the company motto for my piano business.

In 2020 the world shut down, and we all became isolated and hid in our homes. Sandy and I decided to do something absolutely absurd and crazy in 2021. We kicked around many ideas and settled on taking a motorcycle trip down Route 66.

It would be a change of pace, and only a few minor details needed to be worked out to make it happen: We had to get a motorcycle and re-learn how to ride it after a 30-year break. Other than that, what could go wrong, eh? After getting my motorcycle endorsement, I tried out various brands and decided on an Indian Roadmaster. It was easy to maneuver by myself, but I had trouble moving slowly with the two of us on board. Should we give up or can we try?

There is a company that can convert a motorcycle by adding two wheels to the front. This holds the bike upright while stopped or moving slowly, yet releases when at speed and allows the bike to lean. We had the conversion done, started off on a ride and… down we went. Give up or can we try?

I tried learning in empty parking lots and one day found myself off the lot and stuck in a muddy field. I told Sandy, “That’s it, I’m selling this thing!” Fortunately, she responded, “Not an option. What are you going to do about it?” Can we try?

I took private lessons, spent time with the designer, developed a support network, practiced, and gained experience in a deliberate and methodical way. Instead of giving up, we looked for solutions, went on that trip, and got to experience something unique and rewarding.

The piano technician profession is not immune to the major economic challenges heading our way. To help weather some of these challenges, why not expand your repertoire of piano services, such as regulation, new keytop installation, high-gloss polyester repair, string and hammer replacement, or voicing?

What’s holding you back? Don’t know where to start? Begin with your very own PTG website under the tab titled Education. Don’t have anyone to help or support you? Seek out your chapter and ask for technical topics on what you want to learn. Is your chapter inactive? Host a playground or get a few of your fellow chapter members together for a technical. Need other ideas? Contact your regional vice president — they are there to support you and your chapter.

The Piano Technicians Guild is our support network. The power to succeed, grow, and learn lies within us. Can we try?

Burnout, Servant Leadership, and Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President

Burnout. It’s a nasty thing, but it’s all too real in these days of irregular work schedules, lack of work/ life balance, or not taking enough personal time for your own mental health. In volunteer organizations, it could be a result of too much work with too few people to do it. How many past PTG presidents have disappeared for a few years after leaving office? If you ask any of these missing members why, the answer is usually the same: “I was burned out and just needed a little time off.” That statement can be true for many of our other hard-working volunteers.

People volunteer for many different reasons; recognition, filling space in their lives, and giving to others are common motivations. Here is another reason to volunteer that we talk about frequently in the scouting community: servant leadership.

Servant leadership is a philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. This is different from corporate leadership, where the leader’s primary focus is the health of the organization. A servant leader shares power, puts the needs of the members first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Instead of people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. As stated by the founder of the modern service leadership movement, Robert Greenleaf, a servant leader should ask, “Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servant leaders?” When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they benefit just as much as their members in that their members acquire personal growth, while the organization grows as well due to the members’ growing commitment and engagement. It’s a circular process; a win for both the individual and the organization.

Greenleaf believed the betterment of others to be the true intention of a servant leader: “I serve” rather than the traditional “I lead” mentality. The “I serve” mentality is evident in people who define their role through public service. From the “I serve” mentality come two premises:

• I serve because I am the leader
• I am the leader because I serve.

The first premise signifies the act of altruism. Altruism is defined as the practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. Greenleaf declared that servant leadership begins with the natural feeling of wanting to serve first. Only through the act of serving does the leader guide other people to fulfill their capabilities. The second premise of servant leadership begins with the ambition to lead.

In a volunteer-run organization, you can see the benefits of the servant leadership model. We are all in this together. Every member of our organization should understand that the more each of us gives to the health of the PTG and its members’ professional growth, the more each of us takes away. The more we give, the more we receive. Isn’t that the foundation of the PTG? Helping each of us grow in our knowledge and skills?

Here is where it gets tricky. Piano technicians seem to be by nature rather solitary or even introverted creatures. Stepping outside of our personal space and comfort zone can be daunting. However, for personal growth, each of us needs to stretch those boundaries. For example, every chapter looks for people to lead technicals. What subject in piano technology is your strong point? Pick that subject and develop a technical presentation. Don’t like to speak publicly? Become the chapter secretary or, better yet, the president. Push yourself into these roles to help you with growth. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Give of yourself and your talents. Push yourself to become a servant leader. You will get back more than you give.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. Serve and thou shall be served.”

Did You Ever Consider…

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

Do you ever reflect on how the PTG benefits you as a professional piano technician? What would your world be like if the Guild didn’t exist? Of course, many of us would still be tuning, repairing, and regulating pianos. But were the Guild to  suddenly disappear, our professional world would be vastly different and greatly diminished.

No Guild would mean that we would each be lone entrepreneurs, who, through reading, schooling, or acquaintance and apprenticeship, might have managed to gather enough knowledge and skills to be competent enough to make a living as  technicians. We might have a small support group of colleagues who could answer our day-to-day questions, but a grand network of friends in the industry for support and knowledge-sharing would likely not exist.

No Guild would mean no chapters. Through the Guild, we all belong to local chapters, each of which has bylaws and a recommended structure. This helps ensure that  members  have  a  local  collective  of  colleagues  who  can socialize, share business and technical skills, and offer support to each other. This was essential to me when I started my journey as a piano technician, and my chapter still remains a foundation of my sanity.

No Guild would mean no conventions. How could such a large endeavor as our annual Convention and Technical Institute ever take place without the  organizational oversight of the Guild, the professionals at the Home Office, and the efforts of volunteers on the institute team who make the annual gathering possible?

No Guild would mean no monthly Journal. The work it takes to publish a trade magazine is extensive, and our team of editors,  together with their designer, works tirelessly to get a high-quality and informative issue out each month.

No Guild would mean no regional events. You might say, “But the regional events are independently organized and funded. Surely they could still exist!” Maybe, but prompted by whom and using what as a structure? Regional events, including the classes and the  structure, are all based on the national convention model and still require a large amount of organization. Where would the impetus come from without the Guild?

No Guild would mean no presentation of a recognized standard. Without the Guild’s standards for tuning and technical skills, there would be no “line in the sand.” Yes, schools would grant certificates of accomplishment or even degrees, but the PTG’s Registered Piano Technician designation represents a baseline level of competence that is a nationwide standard.

No Guild would mean no Foundation. The Foundation maintains a library of historical publications and periodicals, a museum of keyboard instruments and piano technician  tools, a scholarship fund, a research grant initiative, and even a disaster relief fund. What would pull all the needed energies together to create and fund such efforts were it not for the unifying umbrella of the Guild?

The Piano Technicians Guild is a large body of people with a shared interest. The Home Office staff, volunteer board  and  chapter  officers, convention instructors, the Foundation board, piano industry leaders, from instrument to tool manufacturers  —  all  are made available to you through the existence of the Guild.

Would I still be a technician without the Guild? Maybe, but I would not have a national friendship network. I would not have had the chance to discuss Pythagoras with a man from Pennsylvania, the merits of the fixed-do system of solfège with a woman from West  Virginia, or the opportunity to “time travel” with Norman Neblett and Helga Kasimoff in Las Vegas were it not for the existence of the Guild and my participation in it.

If you love the Guild, then nurture it. If you hate the Guild, then still nurture it. There are those who say it’s not for them, and for a very few that may be true. But do not tell me that it is unfixable, doomed, or not worth the effort. I have too much evidence to the contrary.

Performance Review

By Jim Fariss, RPT
PTG Vice President 

The term of office for the 2021-2022 board of directors you elected at the Orlando convention last year ended with the election of a new 2022-2023 board of directors at the Anaheim convention. What did your board accomplish? What worked out? What didn’t? What challenges lie ahead for the new board to tackle? Here is a summary of the board activities, with a much greater detailed report to be found on ptg.org > PTG Members > Documents. Click on Board Documents > 2022 and look in Folder Contents for Priorities and Accomplishments. Select January and August 2022.

RPT Examiners and Exams

The board approved the creation of an exam task group with instructions to create no fewer than two outlines for an alternative/ modified/new tuning exam. This need not be a completely developed procedure, but rather an outline of the main process steps and written explanation of intent for each point of process. We encourage you to read the most recent report submitted by this task group in ptg.org > PTG Members > Documents > Council Documents > 2022/2022. Select Council Agenda from the right folder.

Council Role and Board Relations

The board approved the creation of a “council as committee” task group, with the goal to provide council the authority to act as a committee throughout the year with the ability to propose, draft, debate and submit RFAs (requests for action). The RFA submitted to the pre-council board meeting can be found at ptg.org > PTG Members > Forms & Documents > Board Documents > 2022/2022 Pre-council Board Agenda.

Assessment of Member Benefits

This topic proved to be much more extensive than what could be tackled at one monthly board discussion, and, while important, must be broken up into workable tasks. This was moved to be part of the next priorities.

Recruitment – Grow Membership

On ptg.org, if you click on Become a Tech, this will lead you to an introduction video created by our marketing task group as a hook to enter your name to investigate further. The board has been reaching out to RPTs Tim Barnes and Chris LaBarre to understand what support they require to continue with this successful endeavor to draw in new members.

Education Goals – “Where do I go for training?”

People call the Home Office asking what they recommend for training. The Home Office does not have a clear response to that question. Another priority, “Collaboration with Piano Technical Educational Services,” served to address that issue.

Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, and Leadership Development

Committee members were asked to participate in writing an article for the Journal explaining what they do. The July 2022 issue has an example from the members’ rights committee.

Technical Palace – Universally Available Technical Library

The original concept was to “Provide support to chapters for technicals.” We narrowed our focus towards a campaign to highlight what information is available on our website and how to access it.

Website Improvement

Initially, we considered doing a survey. An insightful question was asked: “We’ve already received a ton of feedback about the website via our discussion groups. Why do we need more feedback?” The decision was made to not pursue another survey, but instead use our next priorities meeting to address a specific, known issue — the search function — within our website.

The search function works, but you must wade through those results to find the one applicable to your needs. Searching on the proper website would help. Ptg.org and my.ptg.org produce different results. Think of ptg.org as administrative and my.ptg.org as technical.

Your Home Office welcomes and strongly encourages your call should you have difficulty navigating our website, and encourages your complaints, concerns, and suggested improvements.

Collaboration with Piano Technical Educational Services

Fourteen piano technology schools were invited to a virtual meet and greet with the board. Six participated with the question, “How can the PTG help your school, and what can you do for the PTG?”

Michael Stillwell (Piano Technician Academy) has created a 60-second promotional video that can serve as a model for other schools wishing to make their own. It was also proposed that we modify the ptg.org home page to have a prominent button that says Schools.

When this article goes to press, a new board will have been elected that must deal with navigating new challenges in an uncertain world. Business as usual will not steer us past the icebergs looming on the horizon.

Change or Die

By Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President 

Has anyone heard that phrase before? I’m sure you have at least once in your lifetime. Yes, it’s a strong phrase to be used at the start of an article from one of the representatives of your organization, but sometimes strong language gets the message across when other means fail.

I’m sure you have all heard of Kodak, Nokia, Blockbuster, Blackberry, Xerox, and many other corporations consigned to the dustbin of history. Why were these once-powerful dominant corporations taken from their height of success into bankruptcy and eventual dissolution? Simple answer: failure to innovate and adapt.

The reason why major companies fail to innovate isn’t a lack of willingness to do so. Rather, the problem is that they’re too late in recognizing opportunities (and threats) because they’re too focused on sustaining their core business. History has proven that the best moment to search for innovation is when a product is at its prime. Our current membership numbers show we are not at our prime.

We constantly hear feedback, including, “Why are our member numbers shrinking? Why is convention attendance declining? Why don’t we have more young people joining the Guild?”

Does our current business model reflect what the younger generations are looking for? Our convention format hasn’t changed in decades. Our exam processes haven’t significantly changed in decades. Our chapter meetings haven’t changed in decades, other than meeting online. Our current structure best serves the generation that has been around the longest and has the loudest voices. Younger generations don’t want to be “joiners”— they want information and education, and they want it NOW! They don’t want to debate bylaws in Council, and they don’t want to argue over what method to tune is best. They want to learn how to fix pianos and have successful businesses.

The PTG used to be untouchable when it came to providing educational opportunities outside of brick-and-mortar schools. That is no longer the case. The print Journal is a core part of the PTG, but a fully digitized online version — perhaps even a stand-alone app — should be part of our vision for the future.

We provide chapter meetings, at which attendance has dropped precipitously, a situation I doubt will improve due to high gas prices. Chapters are dissolving and many are completely dysfunctional for lack of participation. We have our exams, which, once completed, award a nice title: Registered Piano Technician. But fewer members are challenging our exams, and fewer members are willing to volunteer their time to administer the exams. We have our yearly convention and technical institute, which provides a wealth of class offerings, yet this year we are predicting a record low attendance.

I have been a member of the PTG for 26 years. I love this organization for what it has provided to me. However, the last few years when my dues invoice arrives, I’ve had to ask myself, “Is PTG membership worth the cost?” I continue to pay my dues, so my answer is obviously yes. But for many, the answer is no. Why is that their answer? The PTG no longer provides what people are looking for, whatever that may be. So, what do we do about it?

We must begin to look at EVERY facet of what PTG does and determine if it provides a direct member benefit. Is it something we like to have, or is it something that some members feel good about having? A board member recently admitted that his attendance at PTG events is primarily for socializing, but he recognized that might not be enough for many younger members. Our board, council, and committee structures, our convention frequency, location, and length, our Home Office staffing and functions — all have serious issues. ALL of this must be looked at to see what needs to be changed to ensure the very survival of PTG.

Many people are upset by change. They are comfortable with the way things are. They know exactly what to expect, as they have experienced it before. It’s far past time for us to get out of this comfort zone and stop looking to the past, hoping for the days of yore to return. They are not going to. We must look to the future of the organization if we wish to have a PTG for future generations to join. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.

It’s Time to Commune

By David Stoneman, RPT
PTG Secretary-Treasurer

It’s August, and those of us who can afford the time, travel, and registration are almost certainly at the PTG’s biggest annual get-together, the 2022 Convention and Technical Institute. Here we have the opportunity to converse — not the usual course for us, we fortunate few who practice this avocation. Our daily routine nearly always puts us alone in a room with an instrument that we’re hoping to appreciatively improve in something between an hour and two hours’ time. There, in that lonely room, we turn our practiced skill into a livelihood. The product we sell is nothing more material than our ability to concentrate. It’s a lonely life, and the contrast to our annual gathering is stark.

Social scientist Brené Brown, Ph.D., tells of a community at the turn of the last century, where people would go down to the river to wash their clothes together. During the chore, they would chat, share stories, learn from each other, and feel a sense of connection through shared experiences and problems. Then came the washing machine, and not long after that, there was an outbreak of depression. This was due to the lack of social interaction from doing things together and the accompanying loss of a sense of community. The loneliness of our work can be a stumbling point for a mind not well calibrated to solitary hours. At convention we have the chance to converse with those few people who know what we each know: that the work is hard and remaining competent and current with our skills is a continual journey. Since we can’t work and chat on a regular basis, our chances to commune are cherished. Annual conventions, chapter meetings, and, in my case, a somewhat regular breakfast club are all ways to offset the loneliness.

Once, waiting outside a concert hall, I was drawn to chat with a fellow technician. People who know us both were surprised to see that we were having an animated conversation. “How did you get him to talk to you? He’s always so quiet,” they asked.

My reply was, “But he’s another piano tech. We can talk for hours about things that we can’t discuss with anyone other than another tech.” Client experiences, old pianos, new pianos, old tools, new tools — these aren’t things we can discuss with those who aren’t in the profession. Recognizing that we can only converse with each other about this job is what pulls us to the opportunity offered by the convention. Listen in the hallways, restaurants, elevators, and open spaces and you’ll hear talk — quiet talk, loud talk, some complimentary talk — and complaining — lots and lots of complaining, oh, so much complaining! Of course you will. It’s a good thing.

How can all the complaining be a good thing? We need it, and we need it to happen when we’re together. I can only imagine that it would take years for a professional therapist to get up to speed on the inner workings of a technician’s mind. Unloading, complaining, bellyaching, whatever you want to call it, can clear our minds and allow us to find ways forward that wouldn’t be open to us without the empathetic ear of another one of our own.

You can tell we’re different by the remarks we get from the non-techs we come across: “What’s your ‘real’ job? Can you do this full-time? How does a person even find a piano tuner?” And a recent favorite: “You say there are female piano technicians?” The general public, yes, the “muggles,” don’t see us or recognize us as we walk among them. We are mythic stuff to many, like unicorns. Perhaps we don’t notice or appreciate each other for the unicorns we are. That’s understandable. As members of the Guild, we spend huge amounts of time on the unicorn farm and in scheduled unicorn gatherings big and small.

If you came to the Anaheim convention, thank you for coming. Please take the information you gained back to your chapter members who couldn’t attend. That’s right, talk to them. If you didn’t make it to Anaheim, make sure to ask questions of those in your chapter who did. That’s right, again, talk to them. Please cherish your fellow technicians — talk, share, compare, complain to them, and clear your minds through the therapy of community.

Take a Swing on the Playground

Small Beginnings

Can we talk?

Why RPT? Why Examiner?

What's Your Elevator Speech?

Rescued: How It Is That I’m on the Board of Directors

The First Four Words

Focus and Direction

PTG President

My entry into the world of the piano began in 1979. I was four years old and was fascinated by the piano that had arrived at our house. I still remember the day, shortly before Christmas, when the movers struggled to bring the brand-new Wurlitzer studio upright into our living room. Even more memorable was the day the technician, Dale Howe, arrived to tune and service it for the first time.

After begging and pleading with my parents for the next two years, my mother arranged for me to begin piano lessons at age six. Little did I know, my teacher, Richard Shadroui, was a World War II veteran and graduate of Julliard, modestly stating that immediately after the war, they would let anybody in. Richard would become a second father to me over the course of 15 years of lessons. He was encouraging and patient with a small child’s ignorance and lack of practice. He was also always willing to talk about almost anything as we worked our way through a lesson. He offered advice, sometimes indirectly, sometimes more directly. He stoked my love of the piano in multiple ways by simply being himself. He just quietly set the example. He passed away at age 97 a few weeks ago.

Fast forward to spring 1995, when I toured the North Bennet Street School. The first staff member I met was Jack Stebbins. Jack immediately introduced himself with his traditional big smile and handshake, followed by a bad joke. Again, little did I know over the next two years working with Jack at school, and then in the next 25 years working with him as an examiner, I would take away the temperament I still use today, now commonly known as “Jack’s Stack.” (If you don’t use it, try it. It’s great!) I would also learn how to be compassionate to those stressing out over exams, and eventually I had an observer in a piano prep for a master tuning tell me, “You tune just like Jack.” That was about the highest compliment I could ever receive! Jack is one of the most kind, talented, and skilled teachers I have ever met, and he accomplished this simply by being himself. Jack is usually anything but quiet, but he quietly challenged me and all his students, just by setting the bar high with his example.

Shortly before I graduated from the first-year program, I was looking for work. My uncle mentioned he had been talking to an old college classmate from the University of Vermont who happened to be a piano technician and was looking for help. That technician was Dale Howe, whom I had first met as a small child. I accepted that job for the summer after my first year at NBSS and took a full-time job after completion of year two. Dale was an old-school small-town Vermonter who had such a way with people. Seeing him interact with customers on the sales floor or in their homes, and on the stage prepping for a performance, he taught me more about human interaction than any class I’ve been through in law enforcement. Being honest and open to the point of bluntness served him well, and I have continued in much the same vein from his example. Every now and then, when I’d be on the shop floor tuning or regulating, Dale would wander over, ask a question or two, and wander off again, leaving me to ponder his suggestions. I quickly became a better technician under his quiet guidance and commentary. He didn’t demand anything be done “his” way, but he made a large impact with just a few words or a moment of demonstrating. That was just how he did things.

Now that I’m finished telling war stories with tears in my eyes, I come to the point of this essay: Be that person to someone. Be kind, helpful, and supportive to those who are under your care, come to you for help, or that you run across in your daily life. All three of my mentors were just being themselves. They didn’t have to go out of their way, but they made remarkable impressions on me just by being who they were and are. Be that person. You never know what impact you can and will make.

Marc Poulin, RPT
PTG President
pres@ptg.org

PTG President

Greetings to you all!

Shortly after I joined the Piano Technicians Guild in 1996, I met PTG President Marshall Hawkins at a regional seminar held outside of Boston. He took the time to chat with me about where I was heading after my training, why I got into piano technology, and a bit about his history within the Guild. Little did I know then that I would be following him as PTG president 25 years later. Thank you all for your confidence and support in my PTG involvement and piano technology career. I will try my best to leave the presidency and PTG in better shape when I leave office than when I took office.

A little about me, for those of you whom I have not met, spoken with, or given exams to over the years: I am from Barre, Vermont, where I live with my wife, Melanie, who is also a piano technician. I studied mechanical engineering in college before attending and graduating from North Bennet Street School. I served in the Army for seven years in the artillery branch before being medically discharged. I worked for a local piano dealer for a few years before venturing out on my own, eventually entering a career in law enforcement. I recently changed employers and am currently an officer for the Vermont Capitol Police in Montpelier. I am an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver award winner, all from the Boy Scouts of America, where I continue to serve in multiple roles.

I joined PTG in 1996, became an RPT and Certified Tuning Examiner in 1997, served on the Examination and Test Standards Committee as a member and tuning sub-chair until 2007. That same year I joined the institute team, serving until I was institute director in 2011. I returned to the ETSC as chair after becoming a technical examiner that same year. I became the Northeast Regional Vice President in 2015 and have served on the board ever since. With any luck, at the end of my term as president, I will return to the exam rooms, which is my first love.

 

Speaking of exam rooms, and ALL the other myriad jobs that make PTG run…

We are a volunteer organization.

Let’s start with the basics. What is a volunteer?

vol·un·teer

• noun: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task without being paid.
• verb: freely offer to do something. 

It sounds simple enough, right? It takes a TON of volunteer work to make PTG operate. Years ago, getting people to volunteer seemed to be easier. There were more members to ask, and society seemed more willing to step up and get things done. PTG and society have both changed. Since we changed to board governance in 2017, we hear an awful lot of The board needs to do this, that, and the other thing. The board is comprised of ten people. PTG is comprised of almost 3,000. Who is better able to get things discussed, created, and accomplished? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have thousands working vs. ten. All of us are capable and necessary to get the business of PTG completed. A volunteer “freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.” We have many people who freely offer to take part in an enterprise but seem to fail on the “undertake a task” part. Our committees lie

dormant with a few exceptions. Our tuning examiner pool is at a critical low level. Every year there are pages and pages of discussion on my.ptg regarding changes to PTG policy and bylaws. What comes out of these discussions? Not so much. We need more people stepping up to the plate, getting things done vs. endless talk and argument. We all are PTG and are all needed to help. Let me end here with a brief story, titled “Whose Job Is It, Anyway?”

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

Marc Poulin, RPT

PTG President

PTG President

The last two years have been quite a ride, to say the least. Despite the challenges, I was honored to be your president and tried to properly fulfill my duties to the best of my ability. I laid out my goals in my election speech. As is often the case, some were realized and others got placed on a back burner. Unexpected turns occur and some goals take longer than two years to accomplish. In some small way, the broadside of the Covid-19 pandemic made me feel what it must be like to be a wartime president.
   I would be remiss if I did not credit the help and guidance provided by Vice-President Marc Poulin, Secretary-Treasurer Jim Fariss, and all seven RVPs. The entire Home Office staff under the direction of our Executive Director, Barbara Cassaday, did a remarkable job despite their reduction in personnel. I wish to thank all the past presidents that I reached out to for their guidance. In particular, I am indebted to our esteemed bylaws chair, Allan Gilreath, for his continued dedication to the betterment of PTG.
   Many members have asked how I find the time to do this job and keep my business going. My answer has two parts: (1) If you want to get something done, ask a busy person, and (2) I felt compelled to give back to PTG because of all I have received from PTG over the years. When you are committed to serve, you find the time to do so. It also doesn’t hurt to have a very supportive wife. I would encourage all of you to get more involved and volunteer for service at the chapter level or for one of our committee positions. You will get back more than you give from the experience. Please join this dedicated group of volunteers. We need you!
   I was invited to travel to China by Basilios Strmec of Hailun USA, and this visit strengthened our relationship with the Hailun company. It helped solidify the production of an exam-quality three-note upright action model for our exam testing process. We have a contract for the production of this action model, which will be fulfilled as soon as travel restrictions are lifted for the final inspection procedures before delivery. Also, I represented PTG at the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians, (I.A.P.B.T.) conference held in Japan in May of 2019.
   The speed of communication between the board and the membership regarding requests for action, (RFAs) has increased exponentially since I joined the board over ten years ago. It has gone from once a year to twice a year, then 60 days in the Board Update column in the Journal. Most recently, they are posted in the regional forums as soon as they arrive. Please remember that they can be submitted at any time.
   Our long-range plan is bearing fruit in many areas, but most especially regarding educational opportunities. We will continue to grow the PTG Academy Online. We will soon have an index for most of the Journals to facilitate locating information. In the Education Hub, an index has already been created to search all of the TT&T articles. There is a new form for posting your online chapter technicals to our newly minted events calendar. One of my unrealized goals was to establish a system of continuing education units (CEUs). This project began with past-president Norman Cantrell. The good news is, it is part of our long-range plan. Stay tuned!
   I cannot express my firm belief strongly enough that we must retain an in-person Council at all costs, as well as an aural component to our RPT exams. As I said in my election speech, “I never thought I would see the day when it would be considered controversial to expect an RPT to be able to demonstrate the ability to hear.” Let’s maintain my catch phrase, “Progress with Respect for Tradition.”
   My presidency can best be described in an often-repeated favorite quote of mine. Its origin dates to a writer in the 1957 Reader’s Digest named Allen Saunders and is often attributed to John Lennon: “Life is what actually happens while you are making other plans.”
   Finally, I wish to thank the membership for giving me the opportunity and privilege to serve as your president. I sincerely hope to see as many of you as possible this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Orlando at Sea World!
   If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

PTG President

To entice you to participate in our 2021 PTG Convention and Technical Institute on August 4-7 in Orlando, Florida, I present the following list of classes. Commentary is provided by your Institute Director, Ingrid Kraft, RPT.

From Rocks to Cream Puffs: Voicing Difficult Hammers, with Don Mannino, RPT. Take the fear out of voicing as you learn how to deal with difficult hammers. I got to view this class at a regional convention about 15 years ago. It’s so good.

Street Pianos – Not Just a Pretty Case, with Gina Bonfietti and Amy Tiernan, RPT. Learn everything about community pianos, from proper prep, finding a location, dealing with your municipality, and promoting your piano. A fascinating class, because we all see these pianos every summer.

Grand Action Rebuilding – Making the Right Choices, with Rick Baldassin, RPT, Renner USA, and Carl Teel. Learn to make correct choices with measurements and action geometry, then test your choices before committing wholesale. Finally, learn efficient key weigh-off. Fabulous class.

Dampers from the Ground Up, with Steve Brady, RPT. Learn everything from installing felts, regulating damper and sostenuto pedals, along with troubleshooting damper problems. I think we can’t get enough classes on learning how to refine our damper skills.

Relentless Repetition, Relentless Repetition, with Mike Reiter, RPT. This class will focus on rapidly repeating notes on grand actions. Mike will demonstrate the ins and outs of some of the finer points of grand regulation.

Rebuilders Grab Bag, Action Edition, with David Hughes, RPT. This class will discuss the merits of installing new keys, new capstans and backchecks, keyboard weigh-off, action stack build-up, hammer weight management, damper system installation, trapwork goodies, and more. As David says, “This class is where the action is.”

You Don't Know Jack, with Nathan Mills, RPT. This class will demystify the concept of double escapement and will also present a simple method for getting simultaneous escapement consistently. What a great title for a class.

Harpsichord Basics for Piano Technicians, with Jason Cassel, RPT. Many of us have opportunities to service this instrument. This class goes over harpsichord repair. I have taken it. I was glad CAUT offered it this year.

Grand ActionWeigh-off Simplified, with Bruce Stevens, RPT and David Vanderlip, RPT. Gain confidence with this class through an innovative quick-and-easy method using balance weight protocols. The second period will cover considerations of geometry, action ratio, inertia, pattern key leading, parts selection and hammer preparation. Bruce and David do an excellent job with this class.

Just in case you cannot be there in person, for the first time you can register for a Live Stream Pass on our website, my.ptg.org/2021convention/registration. That pass will allow you to view 12 select Institute classes online. Several of the above are included in this grouping.

I sincerely hope to see as many of you as possible this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Orlando at Sea World!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

We all have certain obligations in life. The same is true for PTG. We have an obligation to continue to provide a long list of benefits to the membership and to expand that list whenever possible. We enter into contracts with major hotels in order to provide the facilities to hold our annual conventions. Our current contract with the DoubleTree Hotel in Orlando was negotiated and signed well before Covid-19. The only thing that was changed in that contract was the date of the event when we rescheduled to 2021, due to the pandemic. We have an obligation to fulfill that contract this year. The hotel is taking the position that by August, they will be able to fulfill their obligations and expect us to do the same.

FYI, all hotel contracts for large events have a cancellation schedule. The closer you get to the date of the event, the more you are obligated to pay if you cancel. This makes sense, because the later you cancel, the more difficult it is for the hotel to resell the facility. Our last cancellation date in this schedule with the DoubleTree was March 16th of 2019, at which time we would be obligated to pay nearly $250,000.00 and receive nothing if we did cancel.

We reserved a room block of 1,774 sleeping room nights that would provide the hotel with an anticipated revenue of $220,718.00. Furthermore, we agreed to spend $50,000.00 on food and beverage, which provides us with complementary meeting space. This represents a typical arrangement when contracting a hotel for our conventions in a pre-Covid-19 world. Given the demographics of our membership and the rapid rollout of multiple vaccines, your board of directors feels confident that we will be able to meet, while following CDC guidelines regarding masks, etc. The hotel assures us that they will provide extraordinary sanitation during the event.

As I have written in previous president’s messages, we have prepared several contingency plans and recently decided to hold our very first hybrid convention. There will be an in-person convention in Orlando from August 4 through August 7 this summer. In addition to this, one of the classrooms will be set up as a television studio and will broadcast a total of 12 classes over the Internet for a fee. 

I am making an appeal to you all, that you come to Orlando this August and please stay at the DoubleTree Hotel to help us fulfill our obligation to purchase as many room nights as possible. Yes, it is in Florida, in the summer, but as our former president and Floridian Phil Bondi often said, “We do air conditioning well here!” 

To see many of you in Florida this summer, I would be much obliged!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

Over the years, the Piano Technicians Guild has come to mean many things to our membership.

1.  Our mission statement states: Our mission is to promote the industry’s highest possible standards by

• Providing members with every opportunity for professional development
• Recognizing and promoting technical competence through examinations
• Advancing the interests of each of our members

2.  Strategic Initiative 1 from our long-range plan (LRP) states: Professional Development: Develop and implement well-curated, relevant, high quality education and certification programs that advance the skills of our members, and ultimately the quality of service for the world’s pianos.

3.  One more thing: In a subheading from the LRP, Tactic 1.1.3, Develop Phased Curriculum, Action 1.1.3.3, CEUs: Study the possibility of adding “Continuing Education Credits” (CEUs) for all programs. As I said in a previous president’s message, “RPT is a benchmark, not a destination.” In the near future, I would like to see PTG follow the model used by many professional organizations in requiring our members to amass a certain number of CEUs every two years. The net result of instituting this change would increase attendance at all levels for chapter meetings, one-day seminars, regional conventions and our annual convention. This would raise the bar and bring us into alignment with both our mission statement and what we’ve already agreed to do within our code of ethics. See number four below.

4.  Item #7 on the back of your membership card states: I will strive to upgrade my professional skills and I will encourage and help others to do the same.

5.  Our Institute incorporates a three-tiered system. There are classes for everyone (E), intermediate level (I) and advanced (A). PTG has always been about education.

6.  One more thing: Our certification process has evolved over time. It is consistent and fair. We now have the capability to provide our written exam online.

7.  One more thing: PTG has always been a social experience. The pandemic has brought many things into focus for me that I truly miss:

• Seeing old friends, making new ones, shaking hands, and exchanging hugs
• Seeking answers in the hallways
• Taking home the new tip that made it worth the trip
• Showing camaraderie during the call and response to our “List of States” at our opening ceremony
• Hearing our barbershop chorus, just to name a few

I would proffer one more thing: The diversity of PTG is who we are, and this represents our greatest strength. By no means does that define us as a rudderless ship.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

We are all doing our level best to ensure that another year does not go by without a PTG annual convention. While composing this message in January for the March issue of the Journal, it is too early to know exactly how we are going to proceed. Much is still up in the air due to the pandemic. I do know one thing: 2021 will include a major educational event for our members in one form or another.
 
An in-person event in Orlando, Florida at the beginning of August would be the preferred way to go. Having said that, several months ago your executive committee began discussing the need for a plan B or C in the form of a virtual event. I advised our Institute Director to begin preparations for such an eventuality. Many of us have become increasingly familiar with virtual gatherings among family and friends. Producing a virtual convention is significantly more complicated.
 
In recent years several companies have cropped up to provide help in running a virtual event. In early January your institute team, along with Home Office staff and some members of the board, began auditioning some of these platforms. They varied in capabilities, training, and cost. Virtual conference platforms can simulate most but not all of what our annual convention normally provides. This would be our plan B.
 
Plan C would be a hybrid event. It would contain a combination of an in-person event along with live-streaming of at least one of the classrooms.
 
The state of the pandemic and the rollout of vaccines will shape our course of action. I hope to see all of you at our next annual convention. One thing is certain: In these uncharted waters, it will be unconventional.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

While our website doesn’t deal in virtual reality, it does provide many virtual classes that provide a true learning experience equivalent to the actual reality of an in-person event. It is important to note that a portion of our website is dedicated to online learning. It can be found on the homepage of our social media platform at the following URL: my.ptg.org/home. Make sure that you log in first as a member, then look on the right side of the page for the “Member’s Corner.” The third item in the list is entitled “PTG Academy Online.” The PTG Academy folder currently contains 19 individual class topics. They run the gamut from tuning to repairs, regulation, voicing, and business management, to name a few. However, 19 is a deceptively small number because many of the classes offered are divided into multiple segments.

For example, “Your Money Or Your Life” has seven segments. “Business 101” has 12. “Piano Technician’s Playground” has 14, and “Quick Tips – 6 Pack of Technicals” has 25. Altogether, the 19 offerings include 73 segments. If you invested your time to review and study all of these, it would be equivalent to attending more than two annual conventions. You should know that we plan on investing more of your member dollars to increase the number of these virtual classes.

Here is the really good news! All of the information contained in the PTG Academy Online is included in your annual dues at no additional charge. It is a member benefit!

Furthermore, we are planning to include some virtual classes at our next annual convention. This will be our very first hybrid event.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!

Paul Adams, RPT
PTG President

I don’t know about you, but if I had the option, I’d like to mark the year 2020 “Return to sender.” As we begin 2021, there is a new hope that with the advent of vaccines and therapeutics on the horizon, the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end. However, it would be prudent to plan ahead as we wait.
   While we continue to organize an in-person annual convention in Orlando this year, there is a contingency plan in place, if required. Plan A was our 2020 convention, plan B is our 2021 convention, and the new plan C is a “Virtual Institute.” Many organizations have already gone this route. Let’s hope we don’t have to. However, this important member benefit cannot disappear for a second year in a row. We are contacting all of our instructors to assist in making this possible. We will provide guidance and resources as needed in this regard.
   Many chapters have adopted the use of online technology to hold their meetings virtually. This includes chapter technical presentations. An important member benefit would be to have a place to go to find out where, when, and on what topics these meetings are occurring. To that end, there is a new feature/repository on our home page that will answer those questions. From ptg.org, click on the heading “PTG Members” and then on “Events.” On the left side you will see the usual list of upcoming
in-person events. On the right side, there is a red button entitled “Online Education Calendar.” This takes you to our new calendar for PTG-member classes, seminars, and meetings. Although currently sparsely populated, as awareness of this feature increases, many events will be listed. To add an event to the calendar, simply click on the red button entitled “Submit your own event.” This brings you to a form that will provide the Home Office with all the details needed to post your event to this new calendar.
   In order to ensure a level of quality worth sharing with the membership, the event sponsor must be a chapter president or RVP. Events must be free to all PTG members to be added to this calendar. Please check with your presenters to make sure that they are open to inviting all PTG members to your event. And finally, please be sure to include information on how to access or attend your event, as all fields on the form are required fields.
   PTG currently owns four Zoom accounts. Therefore, we can facilitate up to four meetings per day. Please contact the Home Office to set one up for your event. Chapters can purchase their own Zoom account for a current annual fee of $149.90. Chapter members could easily share this expense, given savings on gas not used to attend in-person meetings. This works out to a chapter expense of just $12.50 a month and permits up to 100 participants for meetings of any length, plus one gigabyte of cloud recording storage.
   The mention of Zoom above does not constitute an endorsement — it just happens to be the platform we are using. There are many online meeting software offerings currently available. Here is a short list: Google Meet, GoToMeeting, Skype for Business, Vonage Meeting, Polycom, Blue Jean, Global Meet, Cisco WebEx, and many more. Check them out and compare costs and services.
   The pandemic has had all of us in a valley for most of 2020. Let’s remember that when you’re in a valley, there is only one way to go, and that’s up. Here’s wishing all of us a happier and healthier new year! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at pres@ptg.org.

Onward and Forward with Fervent Endeavor!
Be Safe and Be Well!