What are the qualifications of a RPT?
What Is a Registered Piano Technician?
A Registered Piano Technician (or RPT) is a technician or tuner who has passed a series of tests administered by the Piano Technicians Guild. RPTs are tested on the following skills:
- Overall Knowledge: While RPTs are not required to play the piano, they must have an intimate understanding of its mechanics. Potential RPTs have to assemble and disassemble the piano action (the internal moving parts), and pass a written exam.
- Maintenance and Repairs: RPTs must be able to carry out routine and specialized maintenance work like regulation, voicing, and string repair.
- Piano Tuning Abilities: Technicians are tested on standard tuning methods, as well as specialized tunings like pitch-raising and double-tuning. They will have generally performed about 1000 tunings before passing the PTG’s exam.
- Musical Ear: In addition to having the manual skill to tune a piano, a technician must demonstrate the ability to tune a piano without the use of an electric tuner.
Possessing these skills ensures that RPTs are able to confront the most common piano problems. However, RPTs may choose to specialize in either tuning or repair, so it’s good to double-check before hiring.
Associate Members of the Piano Technicians Guild
Associate membership of the PTG is open to anyone – for a fee – whether or not RPT status is an ultimate goal.
It’s important to note that while Associate members are allowed to advertise their association with the PTG, they have not completed the three exams required for registration. To learn more, read What If My Tuner Isn’t Certified?
