Piano Tuning Correspondence Courses?

[resoundinghush87]

I would like to learn to tune pianos but live in an area where there is no piano tuning school or institution (though there are individual tuners I might ask to be mentors/teachers.) 
Although I've played piano for decades, I have no experience tuning the instrument.  What is your opinion on piano tuning "Correspondence Courses" vs. a school or mentor situation?  Can correspondence courses be effective if you have a good one (at least as a starting place?)

[pianoplayjl]

Probably if I were you I would take an apprenticeship i.e ask a piano tuner to teach you to tune and the mechanics of the piano. I think a 'mentor situation' will be more effective than correspondence course because you are really learning it and get to learn it first hand. However I'm not saying you can't take a correspndence course because this is just my opinion.

[rtalbot]

There are actually some highly-regarded correspondence courses for tuning. Randy Potter seems to have a good reputation. They are not cheap, however. And any such study will be greatly enhanced by finding a local mentor to at least lend some assistance and feedback, even if they do not want to apprentice you.

[keys60]

Learning to be a piano tech is not cheap anywhere. Randy Potter could be a good start, but it pays to have a mentor (who will most likely charge) to help with the technique. I personally paid an RPT a fee on weekends for over 2 years and honestly, I still have a lot to learn. The tuning came easily. (about a year to to get good at it) I've been getting a lot of customers with real beaters. The hardest part is the guts to tackle the job. That said, I'm honest enough to refer them to my mentor if I chicken out. The customers appreciate my honesty and keep me on as their tuner. It's a hard road to make a living at which is why it is my second job for now. Check to see if you can find a tech that teaches in your area and see if you can make such an arrangement. www.ptg.org