The Chicago School for Piano Technology offers both a basic and advanced curriculum for those wanting to become a piano technician. The basic curriculum accepts no more than six students and requires a total of 920 hours of classroom and lab training in courses such as tuning, repair, woodworking and skills. There are four quarters to complete and a research paper must be turned in for the final three courses. The advanced curriculum is about 900 hours minimum required and accepts two students per year in the rebuilding apprenticeship. Students must have a certificate from a basic curriculum plus pass an admissions test and rebuild an instrument or outside piano for their course.
The Randy Potter School of Piano Technology provides training in piano technology through their open university, home-study correspondence course. The course is open to both beginning and intermediate students to learn the art of piano tuning, repair, regulating, voicing, apprentice training and the best business products. Located in Bend, Oregon, the course provides students with the needed tools to get started as well as sample parts that students can use to practice their repairs on while they advance through the course.
The School of Piano Technology For the Blind provides specialized education to blind students to turn their skills into a profession. Founded in 1949 in Vancouver, Washington, the program is excellent for blind students with an acute sense of hearing, average finger dexterity and good fitness abilities. A maximum of 12 students are accepted into the course at once. The course teaches students to master the aspects of tuning, restringing and rebuilding pianos. There are seven repair workrooms, six soundproof tuning booths and 50 pianos to practice on.
The Florida State University offers Piano Technology at a graduate or masters level. The program boasts of worldwide opportunities for students in this program. The course runs for four semesters, requiring 36 credits to graduation. The only requirement is a certificate in piano technology at a residence school and an undergraduate degree in music. It is a hands-on course that has students tuning, preparing and working with an inventory of 240 pianos, as well as harpsichords, clavichors, fortepianos and a continuo organ.