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
Repair & Service Classes
NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.
NEW!
Preparation of a New Grand Piano: Making a Difference Dealers
will Pay For!
Don Mannino, RPT - Kawai
Don
Mannino, RPT, 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 as an independent piano technician in the San
Diego area, he held the position of National Service Manager for Young Chang
Pianos, then was Manager of Technical Support for Kawai Pianos in the US
and Canada, and now serves as the Director of Technical Training for Kawai
and Shigeru Kawai Pianos. 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 had articles on
a variety of technical topics published 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 of
technician for the Kawai company. Don resides in Cypress, CA with his wife
Patty. Their daughter Sarah is studying Aerospace Engineering at UCSD. www.shigerukawai.com
A new technical for 2011, this seminar provides practical guidelines and demonstration for preparing new grand pianos in the dealer showroom. With a goal of spending 4 to 6 hours maximum on the piano, Don will cover evaluation of the piano, prioritizing what work can be done in the time allowed, and making sure you give the dealer the most bang for the buck. In addition to technical aspects of dealer work, Don will discuss working with dealers so that they will learn to value the results of the preparation.
NEW!
Zen and the Art of Concert Prep
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve
Brady, RPT served as head piano technician at the University of
Washington from 1978 till 2003. During those 25 years he tuned and prepared
pianos for approximately 5,000 concerts and recitals, and worked with most
of the leading pianists of our time. Steve served as editor of the Piano
Technicians Journal for six years (1995 to 2001). In 1996 he received
the Piano Technicians Guild’s “Member of Note” award, and in 1999 PTG published
his book, A Piano Technician’s Guide to Field Repairs, which recently
went into a second edition. His latest book, Under the Lid: The Art and
Craft of the Concert Piano Technician, was published in 2008. Steve
currently serves as head piano technician for the Aspen Music Festival and
School. In his spare time Steve enjoys cooking, tending his wine cellar,
and dancing Argentine tango. He lives in Seattle with his wife, the concert
pianist Judith Cohen.www.stevebradypiano.com
This class deals primarily with the human element in concert piano preparation. Why do pianists act the way they do? How do technicians sometimes get in the way of a successful concert? What is “The Zone” and how can we go there?
NEW!
Basic String Skills
Paul Revenko-Jones, RPT
Paul grew up in the Washington, DC area, went to undergraduate school at Grinnell
College in Iowa (BA, philosophy 1968), and did his graduate work at the University
of Chicago (MA, English 1969). He was a dedicated brass player and played semi-professionally
in the Midwest while gaining an interest in piano technology. After his return
from the Peace Corps in 1971, he opened the first Music
of the Spheres Pianoworks shop in Washington, DC. After joining the Piano
Technicians Guild in 1987, he achieved RPT designation in 1989, and from 1987
served the PTG Chicago Chapter as editor of the newsletter, Secretary, Vice-president,
and President. He tuned for the Lyric Opera briefly in the 1990's, and now,
with his wife Oksana, operates a full piano restoration shop on Chicago's near
west side as well as servicing a substantial private tuning clientele. Paul
has been a regular teacher at regional and national PTG seminars and institutes
since the mid-1990's. He has also been an editor of the Piano Technicians
Journal from 2001-2005. In June, 2005, Paul received the Piano Technician's
Guild Jack Greenfield Award "in recognition of outstanding research and
writing of the best technical article for the Piano Technicians Journal." In
2004, he and Oksana founded The Chicago School for Piano Technology, and he
now serves as Executive Director of the School. His interests include writing,
the martial arts (ranked black belt and an instructor in aikido),
and sailing their 28' sailboat Pianoforte on Lake Michigan.
The principles of how to control wire, create string loops and coils, and how to use these structures for basic string repairs.
“A Baker’s Dozen of Beginners Boo-Boos”
Randy Potter, RPT
Randy
Potter has been tuning and servicing pianos for over 36 years. He is the founder
and director of the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology, which is the largest
school training piano technicians in the world, and has students and graduates
in over 80 countries. He has attended the on-site factory technicians training
programs at Baldwin, Kimball, Mason & Hamlin, Steinway and Yamaha in the
U.S., Steingraeber in Germany and Bösendorfer in Austria. He is a frequent
instructor at local, state, regional and national PTG conventions, and has
taught at seminars in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Cuba, and has served
PTG in all capacities in his local chapter, served as delegate and assistant
delegate to Council, served on several national committees, chaired four national
committees, and has assisted giving PTG Exams at many regional conventions
throughout the U.S. www.pianotuning.com
New tuners wonder what repairs they will see when they start tuning for clients in homes. We will go through a Baker’s Dozen of them; how they act, how to diagnose them, and how to fix them right the first time. Included will be sluggish and loose key and action parts, string and pedal issues, and hard-to-find squeaks, clicks, clunks and swishes.
This class was prepared for, and first taught at, the 2008 PTG Annual Convention and Technical Institute. It was, frankly, the best well attended class I have taught in the past several years. Both class sessions were standing room only. I have since been asked to teach it again at the PTG Annual Convention, and also taught it at additional conferences as well.
Fix That Lyre
Debra Cyr, RPT
Debbie
learned piano tuning and repairs in 1990 as an apprentice as well as through
a correspondence course and then attended the rebuilding program at the North
Bennet Street School in Boston. She is an instructor at the North Bennet
Street School, as well as a rebuilder, and has an extensive private tuning
clientele. Debbie is past president of the Boston Piano Technicians
Guild and teaches at seminars and conventions on the local, regional and national
levels. www.nbss.org
General grand lyre repairs, featuring proper repairs for unglued lyre posts, all kinds of pedal mechanisms, and a demonstration of just how easy installing a Steinway lyre really is!!
From the Point of View of the Pianist
Fred Sturm
Fred
Sturm has spent over 25 years as piano technician at the University of New
Mexico, experimenting, honing skills, and developing procedures to bring pianos
to a high musical standard and maintain them at that level. He has trained
with Steinway, Shigeru Kawai, and Sauter, and has been a frequent contributor
to the Piano Technicians Journal and instructor at national and regional conventions.
He is also an accomplished solo pianist, specializing in music of Latin America.
As piano technicians we have our own notions of what constitutes a good, well-prepared piano. But how does the pianist feel and hear the instrument? How do different styles of regulation, voicing, tuning, condition of materials, etc. affect the relationship of the musician and music? This class will present a view from the other side.
Strategic Piano Maintenance
Yoshi Suzuki, and David Durben
1983
Joined Yamaha Bill Brandom, RPT
Bill Brandom has worked for Yamaha over 25 years and is now Yamaha’s Senior
Technical Manager. Bill has overseen the development of Disklavier service
in the United States. He works with the Disklavier design engineers in Japan
on a regular basis. Bill has an excellent understanding of the various Disklavier
systems and has been teaching Disklavier service since 1987 to technicians
throughout the United States.
We have offered training on efficient piano preparation; this class takes it one step further. We want to show you what can and should happen in an intense service application of 8-12 hours. Performed once per year (or even once every two years, if you're really talented), this service will take a piano from "OK" to "WOW", and make you look like a genius in the process. Sharpen your tools, and your skills!
How To Service Grand Pedals With No Recalls
Roger Jolly
Mr.
Jolly has worked in the piano industry for the last 35 years, and has worked
in most areas of the profession. During this time he has worked as a Salesman,
Piano Technician, Rebuilder, Designer, Manufacturers Technical Consultant,
and Clinician. Currently he is working for the Samick Music Corporation as Director
of Product Development, overseeing the assembly of the Knabe and JP Pramberger
Grand pianos. As an International Clinician, he has been a featured guest speaker
at major conventions in Canada, United States, New Zealand, Norway, Australia,
the Czech Republic and Korea. Mr. Jolly is a member of the Master Piano Technicians
of America, the Piano Technicians Guild, and the Canadian Association of Piano
Technicians. He is widely published, and active as a Master Class Clinician.
He is the recipient of the prestigious Jack Greenfield Award for Research and
Writing (Piano Technicians Guild 2001) and the Outstanding Achievement Award
(Canadian Association of Piano Technicians 2000). He is the contract rebuilder/concert
technician for the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Music.
A complete review of all Samick Pedal types and how to solve their respective problems.
- A step by step tutorial on how to make bushings that work and last.
- A close look at lubricants….what will work with pedals and trap work, so that you are not called back.
- How to make your own leather spacers. How to glue them and have them stick.
- Regulating pedals for no pianist complaints.
- A complete review of half pedaling for both una corda and damper pedals.
- Why concert pianists are so fussy about pedal use and adjustment.
- Relating the pedal to the musical performance.
- Easy common sense solutions to get professional results.
A Tribute 6-Pack: Favorite Tips from the Late Norm Neblett
Isaac Sadigursky, RPT
Isaac Sadigursky, RPT, has been in the piano tuning business since 1974. After immigrating from the USSR with solid professional musical training, he worked for Bill Finnegan's Piano Brokers as an apprentice, prepping pianos and sweeping floors in the shop. Isaac attended the UCLA Extension course in Piano Technology under Leon Levitch, studied piano tuning privately with Darwin Kristall, RPT and studied under Dennis Nicholson, RPT, at the American Institute of Piano Technology. Isaac's clientele grew to over 7,000 including 4 school districts, many churches, synagogues, country clubs restaurants, music and piano teachers and private clientele. Isaac does a large variety of repairs in his well-equipped shop and often works with apprentices, raising a new breed of PTG members. Isaac has taught at local chapters, regional and national conventions, covering a wide variety of topics on tuning and repairs. Isaac still likes to perform and plays accordion and clarinet with different folk and casual groups on weekends. www.isaacspianoservice.com
This is a brand new “technical 6-pack” which will include favorite tips Isaac learned from the late Norm Neblett, as well as some popular old and some new time saving gadgets and techniques. As with previous classes this promises to be filled with technical information delivered with famous Sadigursky humor and wisdom.