April 2024

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Greetings to Our New Members

If you're reading a PTG member e-newsletter for the first time, welcome! If you need anything, please get in touch with your chapter president, Regional Vice President, or the PTG Home Office. Be sure to check out some of the great benefits of PTG membership. To all members, check out the list of new members in each month's Journal and see who's new in your area.

2024 PTG Convention & Technical Institute

Convention Registration Is Open!

Check out these quick links to start planning your

2024 PTG Convention & Technical Institute experience:

Registration

Institute Classes

Hotel Reservations

Exams

Visit convention.ptg.org for updates and new items.

July 17 - 20 | Nugget Casino & Resort | Reno, NV

The Best Part of a PTG Convention?

Save Money

A Convention Roommate Connection community is available for those interested in sharing rooms. Check out the Convention Rideshare Connection community if you'd like to carpool.

Special Offer for First-Time Convention Attendees

PTG members can save $300 on any 2024 registration. You must call 913-432-9975 to register at the First-Timer Rate.

Historic Virginia City Tour | Thursday, July 18, 2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Includes round trip transportation, professional guide, a ride on the Virginia/Truckee train and your choice of the Ghost Tour, Mine Tour, or Gun Show. Lunch on your own in Virginia City. Established in 1859, Virginia City became the richest mining town in the world. Today's Virginia City is remarkably the same as it was during its heyday with wooden sidewalks, restored mansions, “Old West” saloons, the Piper Opera House and mine tours. Learn more about Virginia City at visitvirginiacitynv.com. Open to everyone!

PTGF Offers Convention Scholarships - Deadline April 30

Are you hoping to take your final RPT Exam at the 2024 PTG Convention and Technical Institute in Reno, Nevada?  The PTGF Convention Scholarship is for you! The Piano Technicians Guild Foundation offers scholarships each year to members intending to take their final RPT examination during the current year’s PTG Annual Convention & Institute. The scholarships provide individual recipients with funds for the convention registration fee, as well as examination fees to cover the applicant’s choice of either the PTG Technical Exam or Tuning Exam. Up to eight scholarships are awarded annually. Applications are due by April 30, 2024. Visit ptgfoundation.org/outreach/scholarships for details and to apply online.

Explore the Journal Website

If you haven't visited the Piano Technicians Journal web area, put it on your to-do list! It was constructed to make it easier to find the latest Journal and back issues, plus issues of previous piano tuner magazines dating back to 1913 in the Historic Archive. Try the Searchable Journal Index where you simply type in an author name or subject in the search bar to see a list of articles in the Journal that cover that topic. Find the article you need in seconds! Explore the TT&T (Tips, Tools & Techniques) items from past Journals. Want to submit an article or advertise in the Journal? This new Journal area is where you can find out how to do those things, too. In addition, please check out this video which details all the easy to use functions of both the new Journal web area and the constantly updated Education Hub.

What's in the April 2024 Journal?

• Letter from Venezuela
• Models for Vibrating Piano Wires, Part 2
• Chapter Technical: Sharpening 101

The Piano Technicians Journal is always available 24-7. Read the April issue.

Report From the 2024 MTNA Conference

Teacher Relations Chair Wesley Hardman and Education Director Kathy Maxwell were busy at the 2024 Music Teachers National Association Conference this past March in Atlanta, GA. PTG was live at this event for the first time in several years. Our thanks to Cooper Piano for the loan of a beautiful Schimmel to use for demonstrations. We were overwhelmed by the number of piano teachers that came by our booth to say “ thank you for all that you do to make sure our pianos are in tune and working properly.” We were also excited to talk with a number of people (both music teachers and students) looking for info on how to learn the art of tuning and servicing pianos. Others shared with us how they felt about the importance of working with someone who is a Registered Piano Technician. It was concerning to hear many teachers expressing how hard it is for them to find a piano tuner in their area; this presented us with the opportunity to share information on how to access our PTG website to find nearby technicians, as well as how to take advantage of the many online teacher resources we have to offer. If you have an opportunity to be a part of a state or local music teacher’s event, please contact Kathy Maxwell at kathy@ptg.org for ideas on how to set up a display booth and materials that are available to share with teachers and music students.

Use Your Talents and Make a Difference

The Piano Technician Guild exists because of volunteers. Some of those volunteers are highly visible, such as the Board of Directors. Others aren’t, like the local chapter officers or the dedicated examiners who give RPT exams. All our volunteers play a crucial role in making PTG and your membership experience a success. Many of these volunteer roles are open to all members.

As we approach the upcoming PTG Convention and Technical Institute, those volunteer needs are amplified. On the national level, there will be opportunities to serve as a chapter delegate and opportunities to serve on PTG committees. We’re looking for RPT’s to help give exams and we may even need a volunteer or two to help guide visually impaired members or others with special needs around the convention hotel. Reach out to us at ptg@ptg.org and we’ll direct you to the right opportunity for you.

Opportunities also abound at the local level. Most chapters are conducting elections this spring. Is it time for you to step up to a local leader position? Can you help with arranging education for chapter meetings or edit a local e-newsletter? Visit the Chapter Resources area, and specifically the Chapter Toolkit, for ideas about how you can find a chapter leadership role.

And you will make a difference. In the last few years alone, volunteer efforts have resulted in a successful project to introduce the career of piano technology to beginners, an Education Hub that offers members at all levels access to a wealth of collected knowledge to improve their skills, an online searchable Journal Index, a digital RPT written exam, well-attended regional conferences, local seminars, numerous exam opportunities, and more projects that could have never been accomplished without the commitment, skills and time PTG members are willing to share. Where will your ideas and energy lead you?

2024 Key Convention Dates & Deadlines

• May 10 | All proposed amendments to Bylaws and Organizational Policies are due to the Bylaws Committee for the Pre-Council Board meeting. Bylaws Committee page. Use the downloadable RFA form found in the Forms & Documents library in the Members Area at www.ptg.org.
• June 1 | Committee Reports due for the 2024 Council meeting. Download a Committee Report form. Forward to barbara@ptg.org in Word format.
• June 16 | Council Delegate Forms due. Download a delegate form.
• June 17 | Last day for best convention rate. | convention.ptg.org
• July 14-15 | PTG Board of Directors Meeting
• July 16 | Council Meeting and Opening Activities
• July 17-20 | Institute Classes, Exhibit Hall, Concerts and Special Events