Piano Technicians Guild
WESTPAC - Western and Pacific Regional Conference
February 22-25, 2012
Salt Lake City, UT
Conference and Class Schedule [PDF]
Revised 2/4/12
Rebuilding, Action Work and Modification Classes
NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.
NEW from Renner!
Out with the Old and In with the New:
Design and Install a New
Action on an Existing Keyboard
Matthias Stöckle, Renner Germany
Matthias Stöckle - Renner
Matthias
Stöckle enjoys an extensive career spanning over three decades in our
industry. He joined the Lois Renner Company in Germany 20 years ago where he
has served in all areas of technical support, manufacturing, and R&D, and
currently heads up their worldwide technical and marketing departments for
the Renner factory. A graduate of the famed Oscar-Walcker Piano Technical School
in Ludwigsburg, Germany, he now conducts Master Courses and serves as a member
of the Master Craftsmen Examination Committee for this world renown technical
institution, in addition to conducting seminars for the Nordic, Dutch, Italian,
Swiss, French, and Japanese piano technical associations in their respective
countries. This will be his first master class to be presented at a Piano Technician
Guild conference in the U.S. and the organizers of WestPac II are very proud
to be able to introduce him for the first time.
Note: Two period class.
Matthias Stöckle is a well-known technician who has presented training programs at the Renner factory, as well as technical seminars throughout Europe. WestPac II is proud to team up with Renner and feature him in his U.S. teaching debut.
A 1920s Mason & Hamlin piano is in the restoration process. To improve the piano’s performance, a completely new action will be designed and installed on the existing keyboard. This will include new action parts, brackets and rails.
You will learn the procedure and be provided with the necessary materials to perform this task on your next rebuild with confidence. By the end of the class, the action will be installed, and in a playable condition.
NEW!
Three-In-a Pot-Potpourri
Nick Gravagne, RPT
Nick Gravagne, RPT has been a prolific writer for the Piano
Technicians Journal,
most known for his popular and long-running “Good Vibrations” series, and has
been a frequent teacher at P.T.G. National and State conventions, and many
regional seminars. A technician since 1973, and an RPT since 1975, much of
Nick's business currently revolves around rebuilding and soundboard manufacture
for the trade, and is active in concert prep and maintenance of fine grand
pianos. Nick has also served as the Technical Service Manager for Kawai America
Pianos. His credentials and awards include a BA from William Paterson University,
an AST in Mechanical Engineering via Penn State, and the PTG Member of Note
Award.
A single class period to present three very useful mini-classes. Whether you spend most of your time in the shop or the field, everyone will benefit from these minis.
- A Power Point/video Presentation on installing agraffes using piano supply house agraffe repair threaded inserts. Sooner or later you will need them. There are times when the 7/32” or 1/4” agraffe won’t work and you’ll have no choice but to resort to a threaded insert in the plate, followed by insertion of a standard 1/4" agraffe. Video close-ups and props to handle.
- Upgrading the old Steinway sustain pitman to the new free-swinging dowel and punching style. Video close-ups and props to handle.
- Before new damper felts can be installed, the damper wire bends must be checked and corrected relative to several orientations (damper lever block, for example), and damper heads must be squared and spaced to strings. A step by step procedure builds the correct foundation and seriously avoids trouble down the line. Video close-ups and props to handle.
Nick's "Not-really-a-soundboard-class" Soundboard Class
Nick Gravagne, RPT
Nick Gravagne, RPT has been a prolific writer for the Piano
Technicians Journal,
most known for his popular and long-running “Good Vibrations” series, and has
been a frequent teacher at P.T.G. National and State conventions, and many
regional seminars. A technician since 1973, and an RPT since 1975, much of
Nick's business currently revolves around rebuilding and soundboard manufacture
for the trade, and is active in concert prep and maintenance of fine grand
pianos. Nick has also served as the Technical Service Manager for Kawai America
Pianos. His credentials and awards include a BA from William Paterson University,
an AST in Mechanical Engineering via Penn State, and the PTG Member of Note
Award.
A fascinating study of how a soundboard works and its effect on piano tone, replete with “Mr. Wizard” type props and audio files of impedance mixing and matching. Since this material probes into piano tone, everyone will benefit, not just piano rebuilders. These audio files are accompanied with easy-to-read graphs and all will be played and viewed in class through a colorful Power Point Presentation.
Recapping the Vertical Bass Bridge Without Removing the Plate
André Bolduc
André
Bolduc is well known as a master craftsman of wood and a skilled rebuilder
for the last 30 years. André is also manufacturer of renowned high grand maple
pinblocks and premium eastern white spruce soundboards. He also supplies other
materials for the rebuilder like bridge capping, rib stock, etc. André is a
excellent instructor, we are confident you will learn many new and useful skills
during his class.
Christian Bolduc
Christian
Bolduc is a technician specialized in soundboards and pinblocks (belly man). Christian
is a cabinet and furniture expert. He studied cabinet making at the Ecole
du Meuble de Victoriaville and spent one year at the Schimmel factory in Braunschweig,
Germany studying piano structure and design. He is a constant searcher for
new ideas and methods to make your rebuilding projects easier. Christian is
also the factory manager at Pianos André Bolduc. www.pianobolduc.com
An easy way to replace split bridge caps on uprights without using epoxy or other glues to fix bridge pin problems. Learn how to build a jig over the plate to remove the old cap and glue the new one. This technique can also be applied to grand pianos. DVD available. Skills station available for capping, notching, pinning.
Installation of the Full-Fitted Pinblock
André Bolduc
André
Bolduc is well known as a master craftsman of wood and a skilled rebuilder
for the last 30 years. André is also manufacturer of renowned high grand maple
pinblocks and premium eastern white spruce soundboards. He also supplies other
materials for the rebuilder like bridge capping, rib stock, etc. André is a
excellent instructor, we are confident you will learn many new and useful skills
during his class.
Christian Bolduc
Christian
Bolduc is a technician specialized in soundboards and pinblocks (belly man). Christian
is a cabinet and furniture expert. He studied cabinet making at the Ecole
du Meuble de Victoriaville and spent one year at the Schimmel factory in Braunschweig,
Germany studying piano structure and design. He is a constant searcher for
new ideas and methods to make your rebuilding projects easier. Christian is
also the factory manager at Pianos André Bolduc. www.pianobolduc.com
Andre and Christian Bolduc show how to replace a full-fitted grand pinblock from A to Z. How to take necessary references before removing the plate, the use of the Plate-Puller, removing the pinblock using the Bolduc’s pinblock extractor. fit the new block to the plate, drilling it, glue and dowel in the case. Many tips and tricks to simplify the work. DVD available.
Soundboard Nuts and Bolts
Jude Reveley, RPT
Jude
Reveley, RPT is the proprietor of Absolute Piano Restoration, Inc. and a twenty
year veteran of the piano industry. His specialties include the complete redesign
and remanufacture of vintage pianos, as well as supplying the trade with high-end
belly components and consultation services. He has been enthusiastically sharing
his experiences with fellow technicians at national and regional PTG events
for over ten years.
Understanding the soundboard assembly in terms of both function and its relevance to piano tone is not only extremely useful to us as technicians but fundamental to our ability to analyze, diagnose and resolve the myriad of situations that each piano may present. Jude Reveley, RPT of Absolute Piano Restoration, Inc. will explore the physics and anatomy of the soundboard, rib scaling and dimensioning, construction techniques, the function of crown and down-bearing, string scaling and bridge location. We will also discuss the requisite equipment and options available for installing custom designed and manufactured soundboards.
The Complete Grand Damper System
Jude Reveley, RPT
Jude
Reveley, RPT is the proprietor of Absolute Piano Restoration, Inc. and a twenty
year veteran of the piano industry. His specialties include the complete redesign
and remanufacture of vintage pianos, as well as supplying the trade with high-end
belly components and consultation services. He has been enthusiastically sharing
his experiences with fellow technicians at national and regional PTG events
for over ten years.
The damper system is too often overlooked, neglected and/or feared; and yet it is one of four major components of any complete grand restoration. Join Jude Reveley, RPT of Absolute Piano Restoration, Inc. to dispel all fears and resolve all issues damper related, so that here on out, dampers will be approached with enthusiastic anticipation not trepidation. This class will explore procedures for restoring and replacing everything from the pedals on up to the damperheads, including regulation. Class limit: 20. Sign up at the registration desk.
The Grand Action: Assessment to Touch Design
Robert Marinelli, RPT and Anne Garee, RPT
Robert Marinelli, RPT
Robert Marinelli, founder and president of Pianotek Supply Company, has been a Registered Piano Technician since 1976. He studied piano at Wayne State University with Boris Maximovich before beginning his technical career. One of the most unique opportunities in his early technical training was working in a furniture repair shop for Henry Ford’s personal cabinetmaker. His work as a concert technician over the years has included the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the C&A department of the Hammell Music Steinway dealership. He owned and operated a piano rebuilding and refinishing shop in Detroit while running his own piano tuning business. At Pianotek, Bob is involved with new product development, the manufacturing of replacement keyboards, and action restoration. He is an active clinician at international and regional conferences as well as at schools in the U.S. and abroad. www.pianoteksupply.com
Anne Garee, RPT
Anne
Garee, Program Director for Piano Technology, has enjoyed her career as piano
technician at the Florida State University College of Music since 1983. She
joined the faculty in 2004 and directs the Master of Arts in Piano Technology
program mentoring trained piano technicians in one of the most comprehensive
colleges of music in the nation. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano
Performance and completed a three year apprenticeship program for the Certificate
in Piano Technology from the Bowling Green State University in Ohio. A Registered
Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, she is an active clinician
both in the U.S. and abroad. www.music.fsu.edu
NOTE: All day class. Limit: 30 hands-on participants – others are welcome to observe only.
Participate in a hands-on Pianotek Master class in grand action renovation. Remedy problem actions, learn methods of analysis, diagnosis, and design, and apply action geometry, friction analysis, and final touch design. Teams interpret measurements to identify action ratio for component balancing. Gain a keen understanding of cause and effect of choosing replacement parts. Small groups, personalized attention and multiple instructors. Level: Intermediate to Advanced - must be thoroughly familiar with grand action regulation.
Understanding Action Ratios and Hammer Weights
Dale Erwin, RPT
Dale is a second-generation piano technician. His father, Harold, received training
from the venerable William Braid White in 1950. Belonging to a deeply musical
family prepared Dale for a career in custom piano restoration and rebuilding.
His wife Trix and son Dennis work together with Dale at the family business,
Erwin's Piano Restorations in Modesto, California.
Although he started out as a field technician for his dad's Yamaha franchise, his passion for creating his own sound and touch took him out of the field and into the shop full time. His 35-year journey has been one of incredible discovery, high enthusiasm and rich experience -- both personal and musical -- and a steep, constant learning curve, in pursuit of what he terms the "golden piano tone".
His newest ventures are building soundboard panels and pinblocks for the trade, as well as being a Ronsen sales & technical rep. His trademark soundboard design, the "variable radius" soundboard, has been displayed and heard at conventions since the early1990s, including Rochester 2006 and Anaheim 2008.
As piano technicians we cannot confidently guarantee a successful action rebuild without understanding that action ratios and leverages are key to our success. Discovering the effects of action ratios reveals that an arbitrary installation of hammers is a guessing game! Gaining control over the details brings confidence and a satisfying outcome for your clients. Using the "Erwin action ratio" gauge, we will determine the ratio in less than 5 minutes on a typical action and use it to guide us through the steps below.
Action ratio information allows us to:
- Choose correctly dimensioned parts that correct poor leverages
- Determine regulation parameters
- Select replacement hammers for a specific hammer weight
- Prepare a specific hammer weight curve for chosen leverages
- Choose a reasonable balance weight removing excessive key leading
- Decide when to move the capstan, and when new keys are in order
Other related subjects presented: Graphs, tools and visuals will show how to prepare a set of hammers for a smooth strike weight curve. Learn what is meant by Hammer sampling and why it is important...and more!
Soundboards by Design
Dale Erwin, RPT
Dale is a second-generation piano technician. His father, Harold, received training
from the venerable William Braid White in 1950. Belonging to a deeply musical
family prepared Dale for a career in custom piano restoration and rebuilding.
His wife Trix and son Dennis work together with Dale at the family business,
Erwin's Piano Restorations in Modesto, California.
Although he started out as a field technician for his dad's Yamaha franchise, his passion for creating his own sound and touch took him out of the field and into the shop full time. His 35-year journey has been one of incredible discovery, high enthusiasm and rich experience -- both personal and musical -- and a steep, constant learning curve, in pursuit of what he terms the "golden piano tone".
His newest ventures are building soundboard panels and pinblocks for the trade, as well as being a Ronsen sales & technical rep. His trademark soundboard design, the "variable radius" soundboard, has been displayed and heard at conventions since the early1990s, including Rochester 2006 and Anaheim 2008.
Ever wondered why some pianos can make music magical & inspirational and others seem to be just noise? What gives each piano its unique voice? What are the dynamic forces responsible for tone in our beloved pianos.This class is about pushing the envelope tonally & exploring the questions that swirl around the subject of piano soundboards.
Practical soundboard diagnostics, analysis and construction techniques discussed will focus on this amazing device critical to our craft. Gaining control over this subject brings confidence and deep personal satisfaction allowing us to serve our clients more knowledgeably, ethically and professionally. Complete with a multitude of digital images/slides explore the many styles of modern and traditional soundboard construction.
Wessell, Nickel & Gross: Installation of Perimeter Bolt
Bruce Clark
Bruce
Clark 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. Among other achievements, Bruce was the lead design engineer
on the new Mason & Hamlin AA-64, B-54 and CC-94, and also served as one
of the lead design engineers for the Wessell, Nickel & Gross Composite
Action project. www.wessellnickelandgross.com
Mark Burgett
Mark 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.
How to install the adjustable plate perimeter system.
Tools and materials
Step by step instructions
Wessell, Nickel & Gross: How to Install Backchecks
Bruce Clark
Bruce
Clark 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. Among other achievements, Bruce was the lead design engineer
on the new Mason & Hamlin AA-64, B-54 and CC-94, and also served as one
of the lead design engineers for the Wessell, Nickel & Gross Composite
Action project. www.wessellnickelandgross.com
Mark Burgett
Mark 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.
Using the Action breakdown worksheet
Step by Step Instructions