Bill Maguire's statements about the PTG and RPTs cannot go
unanswered, because they are filled with unsupportable generalities
and misinformation.  I quote him, followed by my responses:

> The biggest weakness of most RPTs as I see it is mechanical
> inclination.  I believe most player technicians are more mechanically
> inclined than most RPTs.

Anyone who works on pianos has to have higher than average mechanical
ability, or they'll quickly find themselves in another line of work.
To achieve RPT status requires a high level of manual dexterity,
ingenuity, specialized skills, and understanding of how complex piano
actions work.

What evidence is there that player techs have more mechanical ability?
It's comparing apples and oranges; they work with different parts and
systems that require other skills.   I've done both, so I speak with
knowledge.

> ... piano rebuilding, most action reconditioning, moving, refinishing
> and most repairs are not covered on any PTG tests, with the exception
> of a few true or false multiple choice questions on the written test.

This is completely untrue.  The technical portion of the RPT exam tests
for action regulation of both grands and uprights, installing strings,
repairing broken strings and hammer shanks, repinning flanges, rebushing
flanges and keys, filing hammers.  If you can perform these properly,
you have many of the skills necessary for rebuilding & reconditioning.

It isn't possible or necessary to test for every skill needed in
rebuilding pianos (for example removing a plate, repairing soundboards,
reweighting keys). The stated and proper purpose of the RPT exams is to
insure _minimum_ skill levels, not to test _every_ skill needed by a piano
technician.  For skills beyond the basics, there is a wealth of written
material in the Piano Technicians Journal and other literature they
provide, plus ongoing seminars given at national and regional PTG
conventions that cover the latest information on these topics.

Piano moving and refinishing are not properly part of a piano
technician's skills.  They require specialized equipment, skills
and training, and it's not necessary or appropriate for most piano
technicians to get involved in these.  That's why there are specialists
in piano moving and refinishing, who conversely don't usually do
tuning, repair and rebuilding.

To expect piano technicians to do everything in their field is like
demanding that your car mechanic install car stereos, detail your
interior, and provide auto financing and insurance; he would be
spreading himself too thin to do a good job at anything, and there
are specialists who are better equipped to handle these things.

> Surprisingly, the PTG does not even test voicing.  A big strength of
> most RPTs (from my perception) is what I call a good ear.  Passing all
> RPT tests says little about a piano technician in the areas not covered
> by testing.

Voicing is a skill it would be difficult or impossible to test.  It
takes years to learn to do this well, and there's no consensus on
either the best method, or the effect(s) you're trying to achieve.
Even the most experienced and skilled voicers say they continue to
learn new techniques and that many are equally valid.  The best test
is if you can satisfy the customer.

The RPT designation tells you a _lot_ about a technician.  There's
no requirement from the government or the PTG to do this, and many
technicians are successful without ever obtaining their RPT, so
obviously one who voluntarily undergoes this rigorous battery of
tests is strongly motivated to be good in his profession, and wants
to demonstrate that to himself, his colleagues and customers.  It's
not necessary that he be tested on everything he needs to know; he's
proven he's conscientious and trustworthy, and you can rely on him
doing the best he can.

> I think the Piano Technicians Guild is out of touch not only with
> the needs of automatic musical instrument owners but with servicing
> approaches for the vast majority of piano owners.  I would go as far
> as to say they have contempt.  PTG policies are dictated more by the
> mentality of most piano technicians who are PTG "big shots" than by
> customer needs.

I haven't seen anything to confirm any of these statements, and much
that strongly contradicts them: the PTG's mission statement, the fact
that they test for competence and vigorously proselytize members to
participate in continuing education, their liaisons with piano
manufacturers, and the simple economic truth that any piano tech who
has contempt for his customers or their needs will ultimately not be
successful.

Larry Lobel
Virtuoso Piano Service
Petaluma, California  USA
(707) 762-5800