February 2018

PTA Vice-President Andrew Giller with

PTA Executive Council Meeting 2 CONTENTS

Editorial — 4 President Writes — 5 PTA Useful Contacts — 5 Membership News — 6 Advertising Rates 2018 — 6 PTA Annual Convention and AGM Programme — 7 Meet the PTA Event with Rick Wakeman — 8 PTA Tuning Reminder System — 10 Allay PTA Test Fears — 12 Letters to the Editor — 14 Stop, Think, Act — 16 We’ve all had these … — 17 Council Report — 18 PTA Diary of Events — 19

To advertise in PTA News, at very reasonable rates, please contact: Tania Staite, Tel: 020 8677 4422 Flat 8, Deepdene, 15 Streatham Common Northside, London SW16 3HQ Email: [email protected]

The next deadline for PTA News is: Friday 23rd March 2018. PTA News is the Newsletter of the Pianoforte Tuners’ Association. All views expressed are those of the contributors, not necessarily reflecting those of the PTA or the editorial team. Please send items for publication to ‘The Editor’, preferably via email with photographs sent separately from the text. Posted items can only be returned if accompanied by an SAE. Please obtain the necessary permission before submitting copyright items. PTA News, 49 South Hamilton Street, KILMARNOCK KA1 2DT Email: [email protected]

3 EDITORIAL ANNE BURTON

The Meet and Greet the PTA Event with special guest Rick Wakeman could be a really interesting day; all the information about the opportunity to meet PTA Members along with Rick Wakeman is on page 8. Completed Booking Forms are to be returned to Annette Summers by the end of February. The PTA is very grateful to Andrew Giller for sponsoring and organizing this event. A theme seems to have emerged in this newsletter, “Become a PTA Member” — for which I make no apology. The PTA Membership Test is often thought of as a daunting prospect before it is attempted. Having learned to tune and having learned basic repairs, through enough good practice (include timing your work and pushing yourself) you can have confidence to achieve consistent results in an exam environment. On page 12, Roberta Caradine writes to encourage Associates and Students to aim for something really worthwhile, Membership of the PTA. If Roberta’s article isn’t enough to get you applying for Membership, the helpful short article, ‘Stop, Think, Act’, donated by Bill Kreis, on page 16 could be just the impetus that may lead those who have not yet applied for Membership to finally make the positive decision to do so. Printed on page 7 is the Programme of Technical Classes for the Convention to be held at the Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington in May. The PTA is sponsoring PTA Examiner Andrew Jamieson’s ‘How to Pass the PTA Test’ class, so that there is no charge for anyone attending this class. Matthew Gough has written an excellent article on page 10 about how to make good use of one of the excellent benefits of Membership of the PTA, the Tuning Reminder System. If you are considering advertising your business, why not try the PTA’s own publications as the Year Book has a circulation circa 900 and the newsletter c 300. The current rates for these are to be found on page 6 and details of how to contact Tania Staite are on page 3. I’ve been reminded that the BBC4 programme ‘Handmade: By Royal Appointment’ about Steinway, featuring the PTA’s Honorary Life Member Jeff Prett, may still be available to view on the BBC iPlayer for only a few more days. Roberta Caradine has written about something that happens perhaps too often, see page 17. Included in the Letters to the Editor on page 14 is Dr Alastair Laurence’s thank you letter to all who assisted in supporting the John Broadwood objection after his request in last August’s Newsletter. As I don’t have any stock of articles waiting to be published, articles and photographs for publication are eagerly sought. You may have noticed that this Newsletter is thinner.

4 THE PRESIDENT WRITES BARRY CARADINE

As you receive this copy of PTA News, a copy of the PTA Questionnaire is winging its way to you. We have deliberately kept it short with only a few questions as we want to get as many answers as possible. I don’t think there is anybody who hasn’t got enough time to fill in 9 simple questions. Those with email will receive it via email, others via “snailmail”. If you don’t receive your copy soon, please contact Annette as your opinion matters to us. For those of you who are willing, there is an option to receive a longer, in-depth Questionnaire and I encourage all of you to do this. The more we know about what you are thinking the better our Association can become. This is not just open to Members but to everyone involved in our Association as the collective opinion is being sought. We are also approaching members of the wider piano trade to hear their views of our Association. This questionnaire is not a trick, there are no right or wrong answers. What matters is what you think. You don’t even have to tell us your name but as there are no wrong answers, I urge you to do so. By doing this it helps us understand your opinion and gives us a chance to ask you to help clarify what you think. And, of course, enables your name to be put in to the hat for our Prize Draw. The PTA has evolved over many years. Some things it does pretty well, others less so. Criticism and opposing opinions are always hard to listen to. But only by listening and considering other points of views can anything or anyone hope to evolve into something better. Having said all of this, if you think we’re doing all right please let us know! By obtaining an overall view of what everyone is thinking, I hope that we can develop a plan to move our Association forward for the betterment of us all and for all those who join our profession in future years.

Barry Caradine PTA President

USEFUL PTA CONTACTS [email protected] Tel: 01563 551530 [email protected] Tel and Fax: 0845 602 8796 [email protected] Tel: 020 8677 4422 Librarian, Mr M Backhouse Tel: 01686 627970

5 MEMBERSHIP NEWS ANNETTE SUMMERS An application for Membership has been received from: Mr Rupert J Taylor 1 East Road Wymeswold LOUGHBOROUGH LE12 6ST Tel: 0116 237 4553 Mob: 07748 201584 Email: [email protected]

Please send all changes of address, telephone and email to The Secretary using the contact details on Page 19.

ADVERTISING RATES 2018 FOR PTA YEAR BOOK AND PTA NEWS PTA Year Book Full Discount * Quarter Page (87 x 62 mm – portrait) £77.55 £69.80 Half Page (87 x 125 mm – landscape) £136.73 £123.06 Full Page (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £203.06 £182.75 Centre Page (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £222.45 £200.20 Inside Cover (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £244.90 £220.41 Back Cover (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £306.12 £275.51 * 10% discount applies to advertisers who book space in 6 consecutive issues of PTA News PTA News Single Issue 6 Issues * Quarter Page (87 x 62 mm – portrait) £46.94 £211.23 Half Page (87 x 125 mm – landscape) £73.47 £330.62 Full Page (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £107.14 £482.13 Inside Cover (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £114.29 £514.31 Back Cover (180 x 125 mm – portrait) £127.55 £573.98 * Advertisers in six consecutive issues of PTA News pay for four and a half adverts only.

6 ANNUAL CONVENTION AND AGM 2018 TECHNICAL CLASSES PROGRAMME

DEADLINE FOR PTAN ARTICLES: FRIDAY 23rd March 2018

Please email articles, letters and photos to: [email protected] or post them to the address on page 3. Please email photographs in jpeg or png format separately. Photographs within documents generally are not of a sufficiently high quality for the print process.

7 MEET AND GREET THE PTA, WITH SPECIAL GUEST, RICK WAKEMAN BY ANDREW GILLER

For our next PTA event, Vice President Andrew Giller is delighted to announce a ‘Meet and Greet the PTA’ on 10th March from midday to 4pm (approximately). The location is at Andrew and Jill’s Old Granary Studio and the Giller Pianos Workshop in South Norfolk which lies just north of the Broads market town of Beccles. Attendees are more than welcome to explore both premises at Priory Farm which is sited on a historic Norfolk Estate owned by England’s premier Baronet, Sir Nicholas Bacon. The informal event will include a light lunch with rock star Rick Wakeman who for several years has followed the work of the PTA and met several of our Members tuning in concert venues! He will be only too pleased to share his huge passion, experience and knowledge of pianos, with many amusing anecdotes of 50 years in the music industry where he was originally classically trained at the Royal College of Music. He will also perform some of his popular repertoire on his ‘favourite’ Steinway D which has covered all of his piano recording work in the last 10 years. Rick needs no introduction as one of the world’s foremost keyboard players, renowned for his international work with , The Strawbs and the progressive rock band, Yes. His most recent 2017 piano ‘Piano Portraits’ has reached almost 100,000 sales and was a top 10 hit upon release. As a result Andrew received one of only three silver record discs issued for his contribution to the success of the recording. Some of Rick’s CDs will be on hand to purchase which he will gladly sign. The premises has a licensed bar, onsite parking and it is possible to arrange transfers from Beccles railway station. Please indicate this on the enclosed booking form. Whether you are a Student, Patron, shop owner or a prospective Member you will be most welcome! There will be a brief talk about the PTA with questions and answers before lunch. This free event is an opportunity to bring as many people as possible together in the heart of the attractive Norfolk countryside in the historic farm buildings with a major celebrity for chat, networking and fun! Location address and contact information for the day: The Old Granary Studio, Maypole Green, Toft Monks, Beccles NR34 0EZ 01502 679088 [email protected] The enclosed booking form is to be returned to the PTA Secretary.

8 Rick and his band rehearse in Andrew Giller’s studio

Rick and his band in Andrew Giller’s workshop

9 THE PTA TUNING REMINDER SYSTEM AND HOW IT CAN REALLY HELP YOU BY MATTHEW GOUGH

The PTA Tuning reminder system is a great benefit to PTA Members and one which I have found extremely useful and a real time saver. I was surprised to read in the PTA Council Report (PTA News, October 2017) that it is used by very few Members. You are missing out! With this in mind I thought it might be useful to explain how I use the system, which isn’t in the conventional way that it was intended to be used, but is a much better way. Firstly what is it? It is a way to remind your customers to contact you at whichever time interval they decide to have their piano tuned. Most of my customers pre-book each appointment for 6 months ahead, but many new or occasional customers do not. These are the customers who benefit most from the PTA Reminder system. I benefit too – I hardly ever need to phone, text or email anyone anymore to ask them if they would like their piano tuned, largely thanks to the PTA Reminder System. I would not be a happy bunny should it ever be discontinued. Where do I find it? At the PTA Website which is www.pianotuner.org.uk and click on the heading ‘Tuning Reminder’, which is the fourth heading along at the top of the page. How am I supposed to use it? Your customer is supposed to set this up themselves by going to the site. This rarely works because they forget to do so or can’t be bothered. How should I use it? Yourself. When you have finished tuning ask if your customer would like a reminder in 6 months, a year, two years or whichever time period they want. If they say ‘yes’, then explain that the email reminder won’t come from you personally but your professional Association, ‘The Piano Tuners’ Association’ (ok – ‘pianoforte’ if you want to be pedantic’) but that your details will be included in the reminder and that you will set this up for them. If they are happy with this, then ask for their email address, which is pretty vital ;-) Explain that they can cancel the reminder at any time using the information in the reminder itself. How do I fill the form in? Do it that evening when you get home. It’s easy and takes about two minutes. There are some tips. If you just fill in the ‘Title’ and the ‘Surname’ boxes – such as ‘Mrs’ in the ‘Title’ box and ‘Doodah’ in the ‘Surname’ box, for some very odd reason the reminder will be sent to your customer like this: ‘Dear Doodah, your piano is due for tuning…..etc.’ A little rude don’t you think? To counteract this I leave the ‘Title’ and ‘First Name’ boxes blank but put the whole name, including the title and first name on the

10 ‘Surname’ entry. The reminder might then say ‘Dear Mrs Felicity Doodah…..’ but at least you have completeness!! Under the heading ‘email’ put your customers email – not your own. I’m not sure why the ‘postcode’ entry is there but I usually put the customers post code in anyway – it doesn’t seem to make a difference because under the ‘Tuner’ heading we all seem to appear – so select yourself here of course (unless you have a customer you don’t like), (that was a joke). Under ‘Month of Last Tuning’ you may wish to select the previous month to give time for the customer to be booked in on time (Customers rarely reply straight away and unless they cancel the reminder it will always appear in their inbox at the same frequency each time). Finally, select the tuning frequency that your customer has asked for. What happens next? You will see a notice telling you that the reminder has been set. This is addressed to your customer. They won’t see this unless you copy and paste it into an email to them, but I don’t bother doing this. The first they will know about it is when they receive an email reminder in the month their tuning is due (or just before if you chose that option in the ‘month of last tuning’ box). On that reminder are your contact details and hopefully they will then call requesting your services. Why should I bother doing this? Now obviously not everyone will bother calling you when they get their email reminder but I can testify that this system does work well. I prefer to pre-book customers in my diary for 6 months ahead but many don’t want to do this. Furthermore many customers want yearly or 2 yearly appointments. I tend to do less and less phoning because I can’t keep track of these type of customers and to be honest I can’t stand phoning and texting and emailing – it already takes up far too much of my time. This way I don’t need to do anything apart from setting up the initial reminder which is 2 minutes work – BINGO!! Quite a few people now ring me asking me to come to tune their piano again – less wasted time and effort for me and more customers that might have said ‘no’ to being contacted or pre- booked by me personally. It’s got to be a win win. Try it today. What have you got to lose? These customers tend to be the ones you might never hear from again. Have a look at the website to see how it works and the next time you know someone won’t want you to book a regular appointment give the PTA Tuning Reminder a go. It’s a real benefit of PTA Membership which costs you a pretty penny and I’m pretty sure that not enough of us are using the PTA Reminder System. I get calls pretty regularly from those I’ve set up and I’m pretty sure that many of those ‘I’ll call you’ customers wouldn’t have contacted me otherwise. Good luck and let ‘PTA News’ know how you’ve got on. Note: The PTA Reminder System is available to PTA Members Only.

11 ALLAY PTA TEST FEARS BY ROBERTA CARADINE

The Wikipedia UK definition of a professional body states: “Membership of a professional body does not necessarily mean that a person possesses qualifications in the subject area, nor that they are legally able to practise their profession. Many of these bodies also act as learned societies for the academic disciplines underlying their professions”. The Pianoforte Tuners’ Association has always tried to exceed that remit and since the late 1970s has had an entrance exam, irrespective of how or where a potential Member has learnt their trade and subsequently worked. This Test is not the pinnacle to which all should aspire, rather a minimum level which all Members of the PTA should exceed. That minimum level, as recently explained by a PTA Examiner to someone shadowing a Membership Test, should be able to satisfy the average piano teacher. Therefore, why are we all so daunted by the prospect of this Test? Believe me, everyone is. For some it is the perceived fear of failure which could impact on their reputation, especially when they are working at the performance end of the business. Or for others, like me, simply unsure of your abilities and fear of ridicule amongst your peers. Whatever the reasons of reluctance, they are perfectly natural and understandable. But remember the PTA Test is not a trap. The Association and its examiners do not want to trip you up, they want you to succeed. In recent months, talking with various Students and Associates, it appears there are a lot of urban myths about the PTA Test. Les Sherlock wrote a very useful booklet explaining the process which is sent out to everyone who submits an application form. However, if people would like a copy then they can contact Annette Summers, PTA Secretary, to get a copy and hopefully this will help allay any fears. In recognition of these obvious and natural concerns for as long as the Test has existed, candidates have either attended classes at Conventions or returned to the seat of their education to brush up on areas that may concern them. Therefore, again this year there will be a ‘How to Pass the PTA Test’ class at the Convention in Darlington. For those unable to make that date or unable to return to their training place, there are opportunities to come to Suffolk, either on a set date as a training day or even individually by appointment. Our workshop is just off the A134, three miles north of Sudbury, Suffolk. We are 13 miles south of Bury St Edmunds on the A14. By train via Marks Tey, we are 1 hour 20 minutes from Liverpool Street Station, London and we

12 can pick people up from Sudbury station or you can get a direct train to Colchester and then it would be a 35 minute taxi ride. The PTA action models used for the regulation classes and Tests are stored at the workshop so we can accommodate a maximum of 10 participants and at least one examiner would be on site to explain the Test procedure and talk you through any areas of concern. This is something I would strongly recommend. When my Test date loomed, I returned to the LCF and Malcolm McKeand’s calming words for a day. Simple, silly but obvious things like ‘Replace the string first and then the hammer shank so you have time at the end to go back and check that the string is as the correct pitch or that the hammer hasn’t moved’ — things that in truth you would do in a customer’s home but which can be forgotten in a Test environment. As a Student stated after the last Test class ‘there isn’t anything there we haven’t already covered at college’, and he was right; there shouldn’t be anything you wouldn’t expect to find in the average client’s home. If you would like to attend a training day, please contact the Secretary and we will inform you of the next available date. Take the Test and join the only UK professional body for piano tuners and technicians that offers a recognition of your abilities.

Andrew Giller receives a silver disc in recognition of his work for the recording of Rick’s latest album

13 14 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Anne,

I thought that everyone might be interested to know that work has started on the first phase of the scheme to modernise the hotel that we are going to for this year’s Convention. It is to be a multi-million pound refurbishment and will focus on the public areas of the hotel, including the main reception and lounge areas. A substantial amount of work is taking place at the start of 2018. The investment and restoration will greatly enhance the Grade II listed building for the long term and transform it into a more contemporary country house style. Built in 1693 as a family home for industrialist, George Allan, the Grade II listed property stands within a wooded parkland which is about to be developed by Darlington Borough Council. The building was transformed into a hotel in 1970 and now features three function suites, 108 bedrooms, three bars, nine further function rooms, a restaurant and leisure facilities, including a swimming pool and gym. Renovation works are being delivered by Darlington design practice, Niven Architects, who have extensive experience within the leisure and hospitality sectors. Local advisors are being used for all the work so that the hotel's character is not lost by those who don't know its story. After completion of the first phase, investment will continue in the refurbishment of the hotel's leisure facilities and bedrooms, with further works progressing in the first quarter of each year over the next five years. It may therefore be interesting for us to come back here again in a few years’ time to see the finished works and reap the benefits of it. I look forward to seeing everyone in May!

Best wishes,

Michelle Rudd

Blackwell Grange Hotel and staff

15 Dear Anne, Where are the new tuners coming from? I was interested to read in last month’s PTA News, that there is great concern amongst the Members and at Europiano that there is a lack interest in training as a piano tuner. I find this surprising. Since opening The Piano Technology School 2 years ago, we have had over 40 enquiries about our training program. Mostly from the UK, but we have also had enquiries from as far afield as; Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Africa, South Africa, Brazil, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Oman, Spain, Italy, and Ireland. We have enrolled 14 students, many of whom have gone on to start their own business and a few who have landed prestigious jobs with first class establishments. We are nearly full for next year already, with applicants from Oman, Canada and New Zealand as well as some home-grown interest. If anyone wanted to know where the new tuners are coming from, perhaps they should have asked me. Steve Droy

STOP, THINK, ACT

You are faced with a proposal that you do a certain task. Here is a way to stop messing about, and act in a way which saves time: Ask yourself each question in turn, and consider it carefully — without regard to any other question. Having arrived at a rational decision, if the answer is NO ignore the other questions, stop thinking about the whole thing, and do something useful, like making sure that your garden is behaving itself, or that the cellar is at the right temperature. If the answer is YES, get on with the next question. 1 Be specific: can the proposed action be defined? 2 (Why do it?) Must it be done at all? 3 Does it have to be done by me, rather than by someone else? 4 When must it be done?

You are now in a position to think HOW to do it, and whether you need any help. If help may be needed, the sooner you get it the better. Good Luck!

16 WE’VE ALL HAD THESE … BY ROBERTA CARADINE

We’ve all had these sorts of telephone conversations with prospective clients: “Hello, I’ve got a piano I would like you to have a look at; it needs tuned and a few notes stick. I’ve been told it was a good make but I’m not sure it is worth tuning.” So, you patiently take the details, in this case Mr Double-Barrelled the third who is only in Suffolk on Mondays and Friday afternoons. The allotted time arrives and you arrive to be met by a very pleasant individual, very nice home in a nice part of the county, tastefully decorated with a mix of interesting period and antique furniture, art work and ceramics, intriguing books and a smattering of expensive guitars clearly loved and used. It transpires the piano, property of deceased relative of a friend, has been transported from London. Walking into the sitting room I’m confronted by a Victorian burr walnut upright, marquetry on the top door, sconce plates and pivot pins, minus the sconces. Lifting off the top (the hinges are long gone), there is a bag of offerings; four hammer heads. No sign of the other six which are missing. The action is in the correct position but not a single overdamper felt is capable of damping its allocated strings. In addition to the ten broken shanks, a number of the keys are sticking and I don’t need to check the pitch to know it’s flat and the tuning would make even Winifred Atwell wince. The client explains that no one plays the piano but he doesn’t want a pretty piece of furniture that doesn’t work. So, black cap at the ready, I take this as my cue to be brutally honest. A few moments later, once the professional opinion has sunk in, questions relating to restoration of the playing mechanism or fitting a new instrument into an old case are quickly put aside as conservative ball park figures are given. To the final question, “Is it worth just giving it a quick tune to make it sound better?” I’m afraid I declined. As I receive my call out fee I apologised for my brutal honesty and suggested he would be better to invest in a better instrument.

The Piano Assassin strikes again.

17 PTA COUNCIL REPORT ANNETTE SUMMERS The Meeting of the Executive Council was held on 27th January, 2018 at Robert Morley & Co. Ltd., Lewisham. Present were: Barry Caradine (President), Annette Summers (Secretary/Treasurer), Andrew Jamieson and Tania Staite (Trustees), Ben Nolan and Robert Caradine (Members), Lewis Flisher (Hon Council Member). Apologies were received from: Shaun McLoughlin, Nigel Polmear and Andrew Giller (Vice President). The President welcomed everyone to the Meeting. Minutes of the November Meeting were approved. The Treasurer’s report was approved. The PTA’s accounts are now with the Accountant for audit. Using November 2017 rate of inflation, the Examiner’s rate has been increased. Mileage and subsistence payments remain the same. It was decided to increase the Newsletter Editor’s remuneration as it has not been increased in four years. Outstanding subscription reminders are being sent out. Three Members are now retired Members. Barry Caradine will arrange a visit to the Piano Technology School. Two re-sit tests have been arranged. A Membership application has been received from Mr R Taylor, Leicestershire. Associates eligible to take the PTA Test were offered a Pre-Test Day. To date no replies have been received. It was suggested that an article in PTA News may make more people aware of this offer. Shaun McLoughlin and Andrew Giller have prepared a new advert which will be distributed to the EC for approval. Letters will be sent to Year Book advertisers at end of January with confirmed advertising to be available for the March Meeting. Meet the PTA with Rick Wakeman is now confirmed for Saturday 10th March at Andrew Giller’s premises in Beccles, Suffolk. Local piano tuners are to be invited. Training Days in June and October are being planned. The 2018 Convention Prospectus will be posted to the Membership shortly. 2019 Convention is to be held at The Sharnbrook Hotel, Bedford. The updated Test paperwork has now been distributed to the Test Sub Committee. Robyn Sellman’s report on Facebook and its usage will be discussed in detail at the March Meeting.

18 After discussion and alterations, the Membership Survey asking for thoughts and suggestions for the Association has been prepared. The document will be emailed out but posted to those without email. PTA Tool Insurance fees for 2019 and Membership Forms are to be updated. The next Meeting will be held at 12 o’clock on Saturday 24th March at Robert Morley & Co. Ltd., Lewisham. Observers are welcome at all Council Meetings. A full copy of the Minutes is available from the PTA Secretary.

PTA DIARY OF EVENTS Meet the PTA with special guest, Rick Wakeman Noon to 4pm on Saturday 10th March at The Old Granary Studio NR34 0EZ Executive Council Meeting Noon on Saturday 24th March 2018 at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham Convention with A.G.M. 10th to 12th May 2018, Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington Convention with A.G.M. May 2019 The Sharnbrook Hotel, Bedford

For enquiries, PTA goods, changes of address or contact details: Mrs Annette Summers, PTA Secretary PO Box 230 HAILSHAM BN27 9EA Tel: 0845 602 8796 Email: [email protected]

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