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. All new members of the ABPT resident in the UK are vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and approved to work in situations with vulnerable adults or children. There are seven categories of membership:
 

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.
 

Associated Members (AABPT)
Open to U.K. resident tuners holding a full or part CTB Diploma or its later renamed equivalents but not otherwise eligible for full membership. They may use the letters AABPT to indicate this status, are entitled to vote and those holding a full Diploma may receive insurance cover. Associate Members shall not exceed 25% of the membership.
 

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



French Polishing and Pianos
French polishing is a wood finishing technique used on pianos that result in a very high gloss finish, with a deep colour and chatoyancy. French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with one of a variety of oils. French polishing became prominent in the 18th century. In the Victorian era. There are some references to shellac in Europe as early as 1590, French polishing was most commonly used on expensive woods such as mahogany or walnut in order to preserve their beauty. Commonly French polished items at the time were impressive pieces of furniture or instruments because they were expected to look good at all times. The Pad is lubricated with oil that then becomes part of the overall finish. the oil helps to stop the pad from sticking and lifting previously applied layers of shellac. , Softer oils such as mineral oil will produce a glossier but less hard finish whereas more viscous oils such as walnut oil and olive oil will produce a more durable finish.

Cleaning French Polish and Pianos
If the item has been French polished, rubbing the surface with a soft, clean cloth is usually ample. You can also polish it now and then with a little wax or even with a tiny bit of furniture cream. Sticky marks should be removed immediately with a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water and then wrung out it needs to be damp, not soaking wet.