Recap from Reno; Walking Among Giants
Mark Allen, RPT - Congrats!!!!!
Each year, piano technicians from all over the globe convene together for several days in the Piano Technicians Guild Annual Convention and Technical Institute to further their technical skills, learn about new products and tools, and create connections with other technicians. There are a myriad of classes to choose from taught by some of the industry’s leading experts from technical skills like tuning, regulation, voicing, and rebuilding to business and even health and wellness classes. The exhibition hall is filled with vendors including well known piano manufactures, piano technology schools, and the latest cutting edge tools and technology in the industry. There is a technicians playground where beginner and intermediate technicians can get hands on experience with specific repair and regulation skills. Meanwhile each day there are a number of technicians taking on the prestigious tuning and technical exams on the exam floor moving towards achieving their RPT status.
Needless to say, there is not a shortage of things to stay occupied with at the convention. It is jam packed with everything piano related. This was my second annual convention and third overall PTG convention I have attended and I have really come to look forward to these events each year. I love getting to see familiar faces and catch up with technicians that I have met at past conventions and getting to meet new ones. This year was especially memorable for me as I was able to pass my final exam in becoming an RPT.
One of the coolest things about the PTG convention is getting to rub shoulders with the giants of the industry. When you think of big names in the world of sports some common names come to mind: Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Usain bolt, Serena Williams, Muhammed Ali, Christiano Ronaldo, etc. These have become household names because everyone knows exactly who they are and why they are considered great. In the world of piano technology, this type of greatness is also present but largely unknown to the general public. Although it is disheartening that there is not enough credit given, the caveat is that as a piano technician I have access through these conventions to some of the greatest minds in piano technology. Whether it’s chatting with a teacher at the end of a class or meeting in the elevator, these giants of the industry are surprisingly humble, kind, generous, and accessible. They genuinely enjoy meeting younger techs and answering questions and investing their time and energy into the next generation. I can’t think of any other industry where the ones at the very top would be that accessible or even willing to help mentor those coming up in the field.
I guess when you are not spending all of your time signing autographs and doing press conferences, you can actually give back to your field in a real and meaningful way. For this, I am grateful and have come to appreciate the world of piano technology as unique and truly rewarding. I am thankful that I have gotten to learn from some of the best and I hope that one day I can also pass along a thing or two I have learned. In the meantime I will be practicing my craft and looking forward to next year’s annual convention once again!
