More written training material than any other course ever published.
(Over 10 times more!)

• The only course with video tapes on tuning, repairing and regulating.
• The only course with audio tuning evaluations for students.
• The only course with a Video and Audio Tape Loaning Library for student's use.
• Over $7,500 of auxiliary video and audio tapes available in our library.
• The only course ever written like a college correspondence course with auxiliary texts, helps and additional reference material.
• The only course operated by a working Registered Piano Technician member of the Piano Technicians Guild.
• The only course written in this decade and regularly updated.
• The only home study course used by schools, colleges and licensed apprentice training programs around the world. Students in over 70 countries.

Why Learn to Tune Pianos

There is a real need for piano technicians in the U.S., Canada and most countries throughout the world. Less than 10% of the number of new, full-time technicians needed each year are studying at any school. Many rural areas formerly not served by competent piano technicians are now being served by our students and graduates, and in many cases they are the only piano technicians for 50 or 100 miles. High school and college students have learned to service pianos as a means of helping them afford the high cost of a college education. Many middle-aged persons learn to tune as a means of providing a second income for their growing family. Others learn to tune in preparation for retirement; and the needs of living on shrinking social security and retirement earnings. Persons of all ages take our course to learn piano technology as a hobby, and many later become part- or full-time technicians. Many visually impaired persons find tuning pianos a natural vocation, and can study our school training materials using MagnaCam and other video enhancement products.

Registration

Registration is accepted at any time. There are no age limitations or prior educational restrictions. Enrollment is accepted upon receipt of the Registration Form and first payment.

How Long Does it Take

The course is designed to be completed in 6-12 months. The school's records indicate that it takes most students, who spend 20 hours per week studying the course and practicing tuning, about 26 weeks to finish their course. Most students are already doing some work for pay by that time; some full-time. In a 1991 survey of students, about half of our Beginning Students said they began doing some work for pay within two to four months of beginning their course. You won't be doing concert work by that time, of course: That takes much longer. However, many of our students have already built their own clientele by the time they finish their course.

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Video Loaning Library

In addition to the six two-hour video tapes each student receives with their course, the school maintains a library of instructional video and audio tapes for student use. These technical tapes cover various specialized subjects including advanced tuning, repairing and regulating techniques, rebuilding, piano moving, business practices and piano manufacturer's technical tapes. Many of the videos were taped at Piano Technicians Guild conventions, others at our school. Students may borrow tapes from the Loaning Library. There is no rental fee. Students pay only the shipping charges.

Prior Training

Prior training will be evaluated and credit given where appropriate, with the course shortened proportionally. Students who are already piano tuners, and have at least one year of prior training and/or experience, are eligible to enroll in our Continuing Education Program. Contact that school for details on the Continuing Education Program.

Refund Policy

The school's refund policy is detailed on the Registration Forms. Our refund policy complies with ORS 581-45-027.

 

"Students who sign up with the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology receive an amazing number of useful items in the mail - a tuning hammer and wedges (center), informative brochures (right), videotapes (upper left), and a working action model (upper right) and miscellaneous new and used parts."

- Photo and description: Keyboard Magazine, used by permission.

The above photo shows many of the course training materials students receive with the course: The school master notebook, on the left, contains over 1,000 pages of written training material. That is supplimented by more than 1,500 pages of additional training material in the form of nine auxiliary text books, manufacturers pianos brochures, technical service manuals, action charts, wholesale supplier catalogs, wholesale price lists and much more. Also shown are four video tapes (one is an introduction to piano service, plus one each on tuning, repairing and regulating), plus many of the tools, parts, repair supplies, and a vertical action model, which students receive with their course.
The Randy Potter School is the only school to receive an "A" rating by Keyboard Magazine. To read the article, return to the Home Page and click Keyboard Magazine.

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School Facilities

The school is housed in a 2,000 square foot facility in Bend, Oregon, which includes course production and storage facilities, video tape filming and production studio and an 800+ square foot rebuilding and regulating shop. Student transcripts, which are kept for 25 years, are maintained in a fire-proof vault.

Licenses and Approvals

The Randy Potter School of Technology, Inc., is Licensed by the Oregon Department of Education, and is Licensed under the Private Vocational School Act of Canada. The school is an Eligible Institution for Student Assistance under the Canada Student Assistance and Alberta Student Assistance programs.

Consultations

While a student, and as a graduate of The Randy Potter School of Piano Technology, you will be entitled to unlimited consultations. Although we have made the course as complete as possible, and it is regularly updated to include new information, questions will undoubtedly arise. We will be happy to consult with you by phone, or in writing by mail or e-mail. Randy is also happy to meet our students, and to set aside time for consultations at the many Piano Technicians Guild conventions he attends and teaches at throughout North America.

Diploma

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, each graduate is issued a Diploma from the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology, Inc.. This large diploma is suitable for framing, and can be displayed with pride. Knowing that you have completed the most comprehensive course available today will give you the confidence needed to service the most exacting clientele. We have great pride in all our graduates and look forward to counting you among them.

Placement Assistance

A placement service is maintained to assist students who have satisfactorily completed the training program. The school does not guarantee placement of its graduates, but since most students are already servicing pianos and building a clientele where they live prior to completing the course, we do have more requests for graduates than we can supply.

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