Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Is a CPT necessary?

I live in Northern Michigan and have found an excellent piano tuner. (My grand piano is 20 years old and hasn’t needed any work recently except tuning).
However, he isn’t a CPT. In fact, this whole region of the state has only one or two CPT’s, but several who are not. He has many years of experience and in fact comes from a family of piano technicians with decades of experience.
My question: how important is CPT? If my piano needs regulation, voicing, or major work, should I instead contact one of the rare CPT’s whom I have never worked with? Thanks!

what is a CPT ??

In the US, there isn't any official certification needed to work. The Piano Technician Guild has their own testing protocol that then requires paying yearly to maintain the status. The Master Piano technicians of America also have a title that some techs use.

So there are good and bad techs and every level in between working - whether or not they hold any specific title. I usually tell new folks in a town to check with schools, colleges, piano teachers and churches to see who they use.

If your tech gets the job done and you are satified with the service and price, I don't think you need to go outside your area in search of a title...

Ron Koval

Being an RPT (Registered Piano Technician) is a title earned by passing a fairly rigorous three part exam (written, bench, and tuning) administered by ones peers. Many people seek to avoid this situation at all costs. This though, does not mean that they are incompetent. It means that they don't feel they need submit themselves to any higher authority (as they see it). They may also object on the grounds that they've seen work done by RPT's that didn't meet their standards (and/or was downright bad) therefore they see no point in "joining" an organization that permits such shoddy work, etc etc...

In the final analysis, you must decide whether you are fully happy with the work this person does on a continual basis. Ask around...check some reviews (FWIW). If you're happy no need to change. Hardly anyone anywhere even knows what an RPT is anyway (Registered Physical Therapist?). This is how effective the Piano Technicians Guild has been in promoting this classification. Does it mean anything really? Yes...the majority are very good technicians of good moral character. But, they are dwindling.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

The CPT designation may be referring to a certification that is offered from Apex Piano.

Scott,

Yes, and that brings up another objection that many have...they hate paying "dues". This is a common thread among "competing" organizations. Ultimately these type of "associations" are really nothing more than a social network for people who need an identity. After all, we are a rather lonely bunch of fanatics.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

I looked at the Apex site--they seem to be offering a CPT, but so does Pianotechniciansacademy.

The difference between the RPT and everything else is that to become an RPT, you have to actually go somewhere and demonstrate the skills in a timed setting.