The Difference Between Courses and Training
The International Piano Technicians School offers a lot of options for you to learn how to tune and repair pianos.
These are basically broken down into two groups.
1. Training. These are options with personalized feedback and evaluation which include the Mentor Program, the Accelerated Program, and the Video Course with Feedback.
2. Courses. All the rest. Video courses, articles, quizzes, etc.
Both courses and training have online content that you can watch and that will teacvh you stuff, but only training has evaluations that give you valuable feedback so you can track your progress.
While there is the opportunity to learn from access to our videos and quizzes, the results pale in comparison to the progress made by students in the personalized feedback and evaluation courses.
Private personalized training has been proven to produce better results, far better than just reading or watching videos, or group lessons.
There is no substitute for signing up for private lessons.
There is an argument that, with vocational courses like piano tuning; a revenue generating skill, borrowing the tuition could be a sound investment.
For these reasons we recommend the following courses with feedback and evaluation as the only options for anyone serious about getting the best result in the least amount of time.
IPTS Piano Tuning Training
The Mentor Program
52 online live lessons over one year.
Work through 22 units, send in recordings, get accurate feedback and evaluation, and get certified as an Aural Piano Tuner, APTU, with IPTS.
"I studied at IPTS for one year and then began tuning and repairing pianos. I am now a certified Concert Level Tuner and I'm tuning for classical music festivals and professional musicians.
The Mark Cerisano Tuning System showed me exactly what I needed to know to tune to a high level."
Carroll Stevens - https://www.cedarwingnh.com/piano-care
"The feedback at IPTS was exactly what I needed to help me improve. Before that, all the tuning training I got left me not sure.
Since graduating and receiving a 3.75 / 4 on my tuning evaluation, I am now tuning pianos at a concert level in record time. Even my evaluator, Kevin Knopp, couldn't believe it!"
Stephen Struwve - https://pointpianoservice.com/
Watch this video to hear the experiences of one Mentor Program student and the concert piano technician who evaluated him.
The Mentor Program
COST: $11,200
The Accelerated* Program
26 online live lessons over one year.
Work through 22 units, send in recordings, get accurate feedback and evaluation, and get certified as an Aural Piano Tuner, APTU, with IPTS.
*Only for working piano technicians
I signed up for the IPTS Accelerated Program to prepare for taking the RPT tuning exam. Mark is a fantastic teacher, and the recorded video content is very detailed.
With his background in engineering, he brings a thorough understanding of the mathematics and physics of tuning.
Developed over many years, his approach is unique yet extremely thought-out, comprehensive, and effective. Mark's feedback in the on-on-one Skype meetings is constructive, specific, and understandable. The excel sheets he developed for evaluating and grading tunings are quite remarkable, and I found them highly valuable for learning to tune aurally. After finishing the classes, I took the RPT tuning exam and scored quite well, including 98% on unisons and 100% on stability. Learning from Mark was invaluable for my growth as a piano technician.
Stuart Evans - https://stuartevanspiano.com
Watch this video to hear how the IPTS program helped Stuart ace his RPT exam!
The Accelerated Program
COST: $7,200
Video Course with Evaluations
Work through 22 units, send in recordings, get accurate feedback and evaluation in the form of personalized video feedback, and get certified as an Aural Piano Tuner, APTU, with IPTS.
Using the IPTS methods, I tuned my harpsichord better than ever!|
Now I have tools to put the pitches where I want them to be.
Tuning with single strings is like tuning blindfolded.
I’m all in for double string unison.
The theory course helped me understand more about how piano tuners talk about theory.
Now, when I tune, I change my approach depending on the feedback I get from the piano.
I have learned some fundamentals about stability, and now my tunings are much more stable.
The units are clear and easy to understand.
Sometimes, the response rate is very, very fast, just going back and forth.
The feedback was always helpful. I always learned something. The things you can not learn in a book
I feel confident I will finish the course and get certified.
Joining IPTS was a good investment. It’s fun! I like it!
Watch Andreas give hios review of the Video Course with Evaluation Feedback
Video Course with Unit Evaluations
COST: $1,997