This is an intensive one-year vocational course that equips learners with the necessary professional skills to start their piano tuning and technician career.
The school has strong links with industry that will help those learners who may choose to enter the profession after the one-year course.
This is the only vocational course in the UK that has the support of and is recognised by the Pianoforte Tuners Association (the sole UK professional organisation that oversees and accredits piano tuners) as well as a history of over 53 years providing piano tuners to UK and worldwide.
The course that is both relevant and practical for people wanting to start a career in tuning and backed by a long history of providing an internationally renowned qualification in musical instrument craft.
Typical Topics
Basic techniques, introducing traditional manual skills and techniques for specific specialist tasks.
Piano tuning techniques incorporating, tools and techniques for tuning upright pianos, scales, unisons, equally tempered scale etc, introduction to tools and techniques for tuning grand pianos.
Maintenance and repair (including health and safety, replacing broken steel and bass strings, key repairs, action repairs, pedal mechanism repairs, case repairs).
Workshop practice - aims to foster professional behaviours in the organisation and use of specialist equipment, tools, materials, techniques and technologies in a practical workshop setting. Learners will be aware of how to control risks and work safely.
Taught sessions will be enhanced from occasional visiting speakers from industry and student visits to Yamaha, Steinway and Sons, Piano Restorations.
Applicants must be assessed via an interview that includes a practical skills test to ensure sufficient competency within the relevant fields of craftsmanship.
This diagnostic assessment is part of the admissions process and aims to identify attributes or skills in the learner that suggest appropriate pathways of study, or to identify learning difficulties that require support and resolution.
This form of assessment is carried out at the initial interview stage when applicants’ portfolios are examined to assess the appropriate skills and basic understanding required for their choice of programme.
Each learner will have two days of contact time with specialist tutors, plus access to the tuning booths and workshops for up to one additional non-timetabled day during one academic year starting in September.
There are no formal examinations for this course. Assessment is continuous and based on practical skills in making and repair, evaluated through tutor observation. In addition, a summative assessment will be completed through a portfolio of tasks completed throughout the academic year.
This is a full cost course, £4,000.
Details will be given at interview.
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Our tutors bring considerable skills and experience as well as their understanding of current business practice and techniques, making our courses highly valued to students.