The Chicago School for Piano Technology. Prashant Desai Observing Users/Fall 2008

Transcription

1 The Chicago School for Piano Technology Prashant Desai Observing Users/Fall 2008

2 Table of Contents i. Background ii. iii. iv. Objective Research Analysis Classroom Workshop: A Day in the Life of Pablo The Piano Technician s Journey Themes & Insights v. Recommendations Appendix Photographs Notes

3 Background The Chicago School for Piano Technology prepares aspiring piano technicians for the life-long skill and mastery of maintaining all of the technical aspects of the acoustic piano as a whole instrument. The piano technician s job is to ensure that the piano is maintained in a condition such that performers find no obstacles as musicians. Training for this profession is either 1 or 2 years, and provides aspiring technicians with the ability to hear, feel, diagnose, and implement solutions to the obstacles that occur in the piano. Subjects Tuning Repair Replacement Woodworking Skills Lab (one on one) Taken as a whole, the piano is an endless source of new information; the science and art of being a piano technician will never end.

4 Objective Learn how the Chicago School for Piano Technology works by observing classes, students, the workshop environment, and faculty. Observe musical craftsmanship and this form of modern-day apprenticeship in as much detail as possible. Provide recommendations as to how graduates can better market themselves after graduation. Explore how the Chicago School for Piano Technology can better market itself and better connect with piano owners.

5 Research Fly on the wall Shadowing Informal Interviews Photography Classroom Workshop A day in the life of Pablo Workshop Students (2) Faculty (1) 200 pictures Fly on the wall observations occurred during both classroom hours as well as workshop hours. Both students and faculty were observed. The data capturing method utilized was note taking. I shadowed a single student for entire academic day. Data capture methods included photography, note taking, and hands on immersion in the workshop. Conducted informal interviews with both students (over lunch) and faculty (after classes) for the purpose of gaining an understanding about the institution, and the types of students it attracts. Photograph was very useful in capturing observations. Video recording and audio recordings were not permitted [faculty did not want students to be disturbed] This method was very useful in gaining an understanding of: The classroom environment. The workshop environment. Student coursework Student resources How students learn This method was very useful in gaining an understanding of student: Schedules Interactions Workload Student interviews were very useful in gaining an understanding of: Backgrounds True feelings about school Aspirations

6 The Classroom Environment Shadowing Classroom Space: There are approximately 5 small student desks with chair (each is assigned to a student), one large pad, one TV for business education video tutorials. The videos cover topics from personal finance, to the fine details of woodworking. Each of the classes, Tuning, Repair, Replacement, Woodworking, and Skills Lab, are 2 hours in length. The first hour covers technical knowledge in a traditional classroom type setting. Each class is taught by the faculty member with the most skill in that particular area of expertise. (The Chicago School for Piano Technology employs 4 full-time and 3 adjunct faculty). Each student has 5 workbooks, and during the first hour, assignments from these workbooks are reviewed. The latter half of the first hour typically includes a demonstration on a piano. The second hour is devoted to group feedback at individual piano workstations. Students are assigned a certain length of an assignment piano, and are expected to make assigned technical adjustments to this portion of the piano prior to feedback. During feedback, student openly discuss with faculty the challenges they faced doing the assignment, and ask questions. Piano Piano Piano Workshop Piano Piano Piano Piano Classroom

7 Workshop: A Day in the Life of Pablo User/Student Shadowing Pablo is a first-year student at The Chicago School for Piano Technology. He is just finishing up his first semester. Pablo allowed me to shadow him for a day. I observed him working in the workshop, as well as attend Regulation & Tuning classes. In the Workshop: Classes at CSPT are only on Saturdays, so students are expected to spend time in the workshop independently during the week. Pablo spends close to 10 hours a week in the workshop where he works on his skills and hands on homework assignments. Workshop: Pablo begins his morning in the workshop by moving his piano keyboard to the common working table. There is only one of these tables and it has excellent lighting. Pablo spends hours in the workshop practicing the skills he learned in class the week before. He sometimes feels overwhelmed by the amount of things he needs to learn. Piano Piano Piano Student Profile: Pablo Year: 1st Reason for coming to CSPT: Workshop Piano Piano Piano Piano I have a passion for music and a love playing the piano. I ve played for 10 years. I ve always been curious about how a piano works. I m not only interested in tuning, I d like to learn every single thing about taking care of a piano. After graduation, I hope to start my own business. I m not sure I ll get enough business to tune fulltime, but hopefully part-time. Before Pablo started the program at CSPT, he was instructed to buy his own set of tools. He has a toolbox of heavy duty tools, and a lighter satchel with the more delicate tools used for tuning. Classroom

8 Analysis: A Piano Technicians Journey (Medicine metaphor in gray) Phase 1: Acquiring knowledge Phase 2: Gaining expertise Music Take apart a piano Knowing the parts Visual Cues + Intuition What client is comfortable with Budget Conscious Passion for... Baptism by Fire Exhaustive Knowledge Problem Identification Honest Diagnosis Realistic Solutions Medicine Anatomy Lab Knowing the parts Signs + Symptoms Life/Death Conscious What patient is comfortable with Phase 4: Learning something new Phase 3: Passing on knowledge (Teaching)

9 Analysis: Themes & Insights Phase 1: Acquiring knowledge Phase 2: Gaining expertise Music Take apart a piano Knowing the parts Visual Cues + Intuition What client is comfortable with Budget Conscious Passion for... Baptism by Fire Exhaustive Knowledge Problem Identification Honest Diagnosis Realistic Solutions Medicine Anatomy Lab Knowing the parts Signs + Symptoms Life/Death Conscious What patient is comfortable with Phase 4: Learning something new Phase 3: Passing on knowledge (Teaching) A Passion for Music The Chicago School for Piano Technicians requires no degree or prerequisite knowledge. That said, what is common across all students is motivation, curiosity, and perhaps most importantly, a passion for music. Students at CSPT are internally motivated. All 5 of the first year students are musicians. In addition to being musicians, each student comes with a knowledge of music theory, and sharp ear. The latter skill is of pivotal importance when learning piano tuning. Craftsmanship is highly valued All the skills that students at the Chicago School for Piano Technicians require hands-on interaction with the piano. Students are very comfortable working with their hands and often make their own tools. The 2 students interviewed greatly enjoyed taking things apart when growing up. Beyond tuning and regulation, the students believe that craftsmanship is what will enable them to become skilled in repair, replacement, and woodworking: Overall, this is an extremely holistic approach.

10 Analysis: Themes & Insights Phase 1: Acquiring knowledge Phase 2: Gaining expertise Music Take apart a piano Knowing the parts Visual Cues + Intuition What client is comfortable with Budget Conscious Passion for... Baptism by Fire Exhaustive Knowledge Problem Identification Honest Diagnosis Realistic Solutions Medicine Anatomy Lab Knowing the parts Signs + Symptoms Life/Death Conscious What patient is comfortable with Phase 4: Learning something new Phase 3: Passing on knowledge (Teaching) Exhaustive Knowledge When CSPT students first arrived, they are assigned a donated piano. Students are instructed through guided deconstruction. Through this process, they gain exhaustive knowledge of the inner anatomy of a piano. Without knowing every part and piece of a piano, and perhaps more importantly, the relationships between parts and pieces, a piano technician cannot diagnose and treat a piano. It s a lot like going to medical school to learn how to save the lives of pianos Systematic Problem Solving A piano technician sees the piano as a system of interconnected parts and pieces. Should one part be misaligned, it can adversely effect the rest of the piano. Much like the components of the human body, because all piano parts are connected, troubled pianos often times show visual cues, signs, and symptoms of ailments and problems. Piano s are organic living things, they are dependent on the environment, they are not static objects

11 Analysis: Themes & Insights Phase 1: Acquiring knowledge Phase 2: Gaining expertise Music Take apart a piano Knowing the parts Visual Cues + Intuition What client is comfortable with Budget Conscious Passion for... Baptism by Fire Exhaustive Knowledge Problem Identification Honest Diagnosis Realistic Solutions Medicine Anatomy Lab Knowing the parts Signs + Symptoms Life/Death Conscious What patient is comfortable with Phase 4: Learning something new Phase 3: Passing on knowledge (Teaching) Honest Diagnosis When physicians make a diagnosis, more often than not, their decision is based on life & death benchmarks. The diagnosis decision of a piano technician comes down to what the client is comfortable with and understand, not necessarily what the piano actually needs. In this sense, the client makes the executive decision out of fear that they cannot trust their piano technician. I hope to inspire client confidence by being honest about the state their piano is in The students are likely to have to compete with a lot of dishonest piano technicians out there Realistic Solutions A piano technician s prescribed solution is typically budget conscious. A technicians clients are only willing to pay for what they think is actually necessary. The flip side to this is when a piano technician simply refuses to save a piano that isn t worth saving. I have to be realistic about the potential of piano. A heart patient might get 7 bypasses when they just need a new heart.

12 Recommendations Problem: Graduates have to compete with unskilled, dishonest tuners that were not trained at the Chicago School for Piano Technicians. Graduates have a difficult time finding jobs and internship opportunities The School does not promise job placement [existing resources are sparse) Solution: Enable graduates to market themselves as more than just piano tuners : As honest, well-rounded, certified technicians. [update website to reflect these qualities to someone looking for a piano technician] Connect graduates with available jobs and internships that match up with their skill set and the clients needs. [ Find a Tech career portal] The Chicago School for Piano Technicians Home Search Find a Tech Tuning City Chicago Zip Code We Recommend: Pablo Jones (p): (e): pablo@csptechs.com Technician Login GregSmith@gmail.com ************ Repair Replacement Service Needed (check all that apply) Tuning Woodworking Research Repair Replacements Woodwork Existing Site:

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