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Association of Blind Piano Tuners (ABPT)


Welcome to the Association of Blind Piano Tuners (ABPT)

Our website known as the "UK Piano Page". It contains information about everything related to pianos; we are the home of UK piano industry. We have designed the site to make things easier to find and allow professionals listed on this site to update their details. We have one of the largest collections of piano history information on the internet, with a special emphasis on the history of the piano industry in the United Kingdom. We also cover a wide selection of overseas piano makers, and provide links to sites with a piano history theme.
 

The UK Piano Page also contains a wealth of information on tuners, manufacturers, movers, accompanists, teachers, entertainers, hire companies, French polishers, piano part makers, and piano construction. You may even find places to wine and dine with live piano music in the background.

We have a database of pianos for sale by shops around the UK, as well as a free section for the general public to advertise their pianos for sale. We also operate an extensive online piano gift shop where you can buy piano stools, castor cups, metronomes and lots of other piano related gifs and accessories. If you would like to advertise on the UK Piano Page, please visit our advertising page.

Answers to a variety of piano-related questions are found on the pub quiz page. We have an active piano discussion forum where you can seek answers to questions on pianos, their history, and piano music.

The Aims of the Association of Blind Piano Tuners

The Association of Blind Piano Tuners exists to serve the professional and particular needs of its members and other blind and partially sighted piano tuners throughout the world. 
 

Students
Student Membership is open to all visually impaired persons in full time training.
 

Friends
A Friend is anyone wishing to be associated with the ABPT or who has helped the ABPT in the past, or made a donation.
 

International Members (MABPT)
This is open to visually impaired tuners from around the world who have attended a recognized training school and are qualified.
 

Members (MABPT)
This is for visually impaired tuners from the UK who have attended a recognized training school and qualified with the AEWVH (CTB) diploma or equivalent.
 

Fellows (FABPT)
This is open to members of the ABPT who have undergone extra training to enhance their skills.
 

Honorary Life Members
This is open to members of the ABPT who have been members for over ten years and have satisfied Council of their eminence in the profession or of the importance and value of their services to the ABPT. The status of Honorary Life Member is at the discretion of the ABPT Council, and no more than five may be serving at any one time.
 

Only Members and Fellows who are resident in the UK are covered by our insurance policies. Only Full Members, Fellows, International Members and Associated Members may add the letters to their name and use the ABPT logo. All membership is at the discretion and approval of the ABPT Council.
 

We encourage all tuners to gain and maintain the highest professional standards and to exhibit ethical and professional integrity at all times.
 

We offer ongoing training to piano tuners who wish to acquire extra levels of ability. This is open to all everyone, even if they are not yet members of the Association. We do this by running subsidised seminars for fully sighted and visually impaired tuners. We maintain close links with all of the professional bodies of the music industry, and in particular with piano tuning organisations worldwide. The purpose of the website is to educate the general public in the good practice of maintaining their musical instruments and using professional tuners to do this work. This follows the broad outline of our mission statement. If we may be of any further assistance to you, please contact us.
 

 

Mission Statement.

To continue as the leading authority and association for blind or partially sighted piano tuners, insisting that only those professionally trained, examined, and qualified are accepted into membership, ensuring that the public knows that an ABPT member will offer skilled, professional, and reliable service.

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Did You Know Music Facts

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (previously CRB checks)
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks.

A DBS check may be needed for: certain jobs or voluntary work - eg working with children or in healthcare applying to foster or adopt a child There are different rules for getting a criminal record check in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Who can ask for a DBS check An employer can ask for a DBS check for certain roles. DBS eligibility guidance lists most roles that are eligible for a check. However, the guidance isnít comprehensive so contact DBS if unsure. Applicants (job candidates) canít do a criminal records check on themselves, but they can request a ëbasic disclosureí.

How to get a DBS check
  • The employer gets an application form from DBS or an umbrella body (a registered body that gives access to DBS checks).
  • The employer gives the applicant the form to fill in and return to them along with documents proving their identity.
  • The employer sends the completed application form to DBS or their umbrella body.
  • DBS sends a certificate to the applicant. The employer will have to ask the applicant to see the certificate.
If the applicant has subscribed to the DBS update service, the employer can check their certificate online.Basic disclosure If applicants need to run a check on themselves, they can get a ëbasic disclosureí with details of any unspent convictions from Disclosure Scotland (they can do this anywhere in the UK).Types of criminal records check There are 3 types of check. The employer or organisation running the check should provide the applicant with more information about the level of check required. Criminal record check applicants must be 16 or over.

Standard

This will check for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, and will take about 2 weeks.

Enhanced

This includes the same as the standard check plus any additional information held by local police thatís reasonably considered relevant to the workforce being applied for (adult, child or ëotherí workforce). It takes about 4 weeks.

Applicants and employers can use the DBS update service to keep a certificate up to date or carry out checks on a potential employeeís certificate.