Thursday All-Day Special Bonus Classes

NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.

NOTE: Pre-registration is required for these classes!

The Shigeru Kawai Full-Day Service Appointment (Kawai)

Don Mannino, RPT

Don Mannino, RPT - Kawai

Don began an apprenticeship with a piano rebuilder while completing his studies at San Diego State University as a piano performance major in 1979. After working for 11 years as an independent piano technician in the San Diego area, he held the position of National Service Manager for Young Chang Pianos, then Manager of Technical Support for Kawai Pianos for North America, and now serves as the Director ofField Services for Kawai America Corp. Don and his wife Patty are the editors of the Southern California Combined PTG newsletter. In addition to teaching at regional technician seminars, PTG Annual conventions, and at PTG chapter meetings, he also has designed technicians tools and has published articles on a variety of technical topics in the Piano Technicians Journal, including Action Center service, a series on grand action regulation, and the use of plastics in piano actions. In 2010 he was certified in Japan as a Kawai "Master Piano Artisan" (or MPA), the highest level oftechnician for the Kawai company. In 2013 Mr. Mannino was inducted into the PTG Hall of Fame. Don resides in Cypress, CA with his wife Patty. Their daughter Sarah is working on a Masters in Education at Concordia.

A new all-day seminar discussing and demonstrating the Kawai MPA (Master Piano Artisan) service techniques for maximizing the performance of the Shigeru Kawai piano. The day will start with an evaluation of the performance of a Shigeru piano which has been used and played but not serviced regularly. Don will discuss and demonstrate practical and efficient methods for bringing the best performance and sound from the piano. During the course of the day he will regulate the action, tune the piano, and voice the piano for the best sound possible given the initial state of the instrument and the time restraint of one day’s service. Topics discussed and demonstrated will be prioritizing and planning the day’s work, keyboard easing and lubrication, fast hammer filing methods, high level action regulation, hammer/string fitting methods, tuning techniques, and voicing of the Shigeru Kawai hammers. Don will not just talk about the work - he will be demonstrating the actual work for us, filing hammers, regulating and voicing one section of the piano, allowing us to experience the results and see how he got there.

Vertical Action Replacement (Wessell, Nickel & Gross)

Bruce Clark and Mark Burgett, RPT

Bruce Clark

Mike ReiterBruce grew up working in the shop at his father’s piano store in Kansas. After college, he began his associations with several manufacturers including Falcone and the Mason & Hamlin division of the Aeolian American Corp. Today he is a senior Design Engineer at Mason & Hamlin and Wessell, Nickel & Gross.  Bruce was the lead design engineer on the new Mason & Hamlin AA-64, B-54 and CC-94, and also for the Wessell, Nickel & Gross Composite Action project.  Most recently, he has achieved a WN&G solution for the old uprights that need new actions.

Mark Burgett, RPT

Mark BurgettMark Burgett started his career in the piano business in 1981 with his brothers Gary and Kirk under the tutoring of Paul Magee in the Sacramento Chapter. In 1988 when PianoDisc was established, Mark was active in training technicians in installation, technical support and development and testing of new product. In 2007 when the company started development of the composite action parts under the name of Wessell, Nickel and Gross, Mark took an active part of educating, marketing and quality control this revolutionary product.

WNG has developed a replacement Vertical Action. This class teaches the basics required to replace an entire action. Topics covered include:

  • How to create a scale stick.
  • How to select the action features you need.
  • How to create setup specifications.
  • How to trim the hammer shanks.
  • How to locate the action centers.
  • How to set dampers.

Polyester Finish Repair (Allied Piano) This class is full

Ruth Zeiner, RPT

Ruth Zeiner, RPT

Ruth ZeinerRuth (Phillips) Zeiner had spent 18 years as a piano technician prior to delving into finish repairs and restoration when, in 1995, Allied Piano was asked to take on the Konig polyester and lacquer repair products line. With experience in customer relations as well as the practical aspects of piano cabinet maintenance, she can guide you in this increasingly important part of piano service. Her goal is helping others succeed in their dealings with their clients. www.alliedpiano.com

Polyester finishes are everywhere today, not just on pianos. See demos of scratch removal, simple fills, and larger damage and edge repair. Identify the finish prior to deciding on a procedure. Grow your business with this needed skill.

Fee: $95