The Butler School
of Piano Technology
It has been estimated that two thirds of all piano technicians learned their profession by taking a home-study course. Our school is designed to help you acquire the skills needed to tune and repair pianos. We teach you to service both grand and vertical pianos, and maintain them at performance level.
Our course is designed to help you pass the certification exams given by the The Piano Technicians Guild which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional piano technician. Perhaps their most important function is to qualify technicians as Registered Piano Technicians. It assures quality piano service by requiring that a technician pass a rigorous set of examinations. The RPT credential shows that the technician is ready to handle normal piano service and repair. The Piano Technicians Guild has developed a set of standardized tests which help insure quality piano service.
Additional Information
•Does one have to possess special talents to become a piano technician? Some have thought that you must have perfect pitch to tune pianos, or that you must know how to play the piano. Perfect pitch is not required to learn to tune pianos.
•Do you have to know how to play the piano? If you know how to play the piano, it is an advantage in that you're already familiar with the keys and musical intervals. However, if you don't play the piano, we’ll teach you what you need to know. You're not in any way expected to know anything about music.
•What is required for this work? You must have average intelligence, normal hearing and a willingness to learn. Some mechanical ability will be an advantage. You should be able to lift up to 40 pounds, which is the approximate weight of the heaviest piano action. Tuning is mechanical work. Some students learn tuning faster than others. The Technical Course addresses regulation, voicing and repair. The estimated time to complete both courses is 12 to 18 months.
•As with any trade or skill, having the proper tools is essential. Because you will learn by doing, a tuning lever, plus other specialized tools are available from Schaff Piano Supply, which is the official piano supply house for our school. Tools are sold separately.
•And even though you learn at home, you're never alone. You can be assured of getting all the help you need. When you have a question, we're just an e-mail or phone call away.
•Both men and women learn piano technology; young and old. And there is no forced retirement age.
