And Then there were 6!
More Registered Piano Technician exam success in the uk
Huge congratulations go to Chris Hacking, Patrick Nicol & Jo Skelker who have all passed their Piano Technicians Guild exams to become RPTs- Registered Piano Technicians. This is a great achievement and a testament to all their hard work and training.
This takes the number of RPT’s n the UK to 6 and we are grateful to Dean Reyburn for heading up the examinations in his capacity as both a certified technical and tuning examiner. Thank you to RPTs Jordan Matthews for being a part of the examinations team.
The RPT pathway and exam process is a professionally driven and internationally recognised one; making it a solid option for any piano tuner wanting to demonstrate their skills and abilities to their customers and peers. It is not set out to be a unicorn, or for the select invited few. The exams are not there to trip you up, nor is it an exam for master technicians. Rather, it should be viewed as a professional bench mark, available to anyone wanting to develop their career as a piano technician.
There are 3 exams. The first is a theory exam, which you need to pass before then taking either your tuning or Technical. The latter can be taken at different times and often worked towards separately. Jo Skelker took both his Technical and his tuning exam in the same week, so an impressive achievement.
After 10 successful years at The Piano Technology School, we understand that training needs to be ongoing. We also appreciate the challenges that the UK Piano trade faces, in being able to offer the right opportunities for tuners. We are incredibly grateful and proud of our relationships with those businesses with whom we work, who do this.
We are able support our trainees and graduates on an ongoing basis with mentoring, a very active set of forums, training days and the opportunity to take up the RPT pathway- which in itself provides structured development. No other course in the UK does this.
In all the noise that often circulates around training here in the UK, what I believe to be important is that piano tuners are supported in the right way by industry-led training and development. Technicians deserve a professional ambitious and well informed supportive body- certainly that is what our students tell us.
The RPT exams are robust and fair with very strict oversight.
Those overseeing the exams must themselves also be first RPT standard and then take on additional training ( if invited) to be examiners of different disciplines; tuning and technical.
We are very proud of what has been achieved in a short time: 6 RPT’s - in under two years. There will be more to come we hope.
Not only can Piano Tuners in the UK now take these exams here, it also means that the several hundred PTG members across Europe and wider afield, can come to the UK to take their exams, rather than needing to go to the USA. This has to be good for the future of promoting constant standards.
For more information about the RPT pathway or any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tabitha
Left to Right: Jordan Matthews RPT, Steve Droy RPT, Chris Hacking RPT, Dean Reyburn RPT, @NMPAT
Jo Skelker RPT
Patrick Nicol RPT
