Piano Technicians Guild
WESTPAC - Western and Pacific Regional Conference
February 27-March 2, 2014
Sofitel Hotel, Redwood City, CA
Instructors
Institute Director Phil Gelnn has rounded up some of the best instructors in the industry.
Click the links to see bios.
- Alexander Abel
- Norbert Abel
- Rick Baldassin
- Wim Blees
- Christian Bolduc
- Keith Bowman
- Steve Brady
- Jack Brand
- Bill Brandom
- Melanie Brooks
- Chris Brown
- Peg Browne
- Mark Burgett
- Mike Carraher
- Ray Chandler
- Bruce Clark
- Richard Davenport
- David Durben
- Alan Eder
- Dale Erwin
- Dennis Erwin
- Del Fandrich
- Nick Gravagne
- Jeff Hickey
Alexander Abel
Alexander Abel is the third generation to produce hammerheads in the Abel
Hammer Company. His career started 6.5 years ago with a one year apprenticeship
as a carpenter followed 3.5 years apprenticing as a piano technician in several
workshops and a piano manufacturer in Germany. The last 2 years he studied
at the Ludwigsburg school for piano technology in Germany to finish his apprenticeship
as a German Klavierbaumeister. Beside his own piano business Alexander is also
working in the Abel
Hammer Company focused on improving the automation of the
hammer making process.
Norbert Abel
Norbert
Abel has been working in the hammer making business for more than 25 years.
He learned his skills for making hammers from his father Helmut. Besides his
daily work in production, Norbert is responsible for the commercial part of
the Abel Hammer Company. In the past 15 years, Norbert has taught at more than
50 seminars in the United States, Australia, Korea, Japan and Europe. Norbert's
goal is to steadily improve the felt material and hammer production process.
From 2003 to 2006, he was largely involved in a felt research project sponsored
by the European community. The first goal of this research was to find out
the status of the felt quality from different manufacturers. The second goal
was to develop a high quality felt material. This felt is now used in the hammer
production of the Abel Hammer Company under the name Abel Natural Felt.
Rick Baldassin, RPT - Renner USA
Rick
received his education and piano technology training from Brigham Young University.
He is the author of the book On Pitch, which was recently re-published.
Rick served as the Tuning Editor for the Journal from 1987 to 1991.
His teaching has taken him to piano factories and conventions throughout the
United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Korea and Australia. Rick has served
as the Concert Technician for the Utah Symphony for over 20 years, and has
been the Teaching and Technical Consultant for Renner since 1989. He has been
trained in the concert and artist programs of Fazioli, Steinway and Yamaha,
and has been a consultant to the Falcone, Mason & Hamlin, and Pramberger
Piano Companies. Rick also serves as the Technical Support Director for Fazioli
in North America. He is a Member of Note, Jim Burton, and Hall of Fame award
winner. Rick and his wife Cindy currently operate Baldassin Pianos, a full-line
rebuilding and retail showroom located in Salt Lake City.
Wim Blees, RPT
Since
becoming an RPT in 1978, Wim has attended over 55 seminars and technical institutes,
not only as a scholar, but also as an instructor, on topics ranging from basic
tuning and regulating, to voicing and rebuilding, and business building. He
started his piano service business in St. Louis in 1977, then worked as the
piano technician for the University of Alabama from 2001 – 2007. He is
currently working on Oahu, HI. Wim is the author of The Business
of Piano Tuning: A Guide to Marketing, Managing, Promoting, Buying and Selling
a Piano Service Business.
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 the factory manager at Pianos Bolduc.
Keith Bowman, RPT
Keith
has a broad background in woodworking spanning over 30 years. His interest
in piano technology began in 1979 leading to an apprenticeship and eventual
management position in a full service shop learning service and restoration
of pianos, players, reed organs and harpsichords. In 1984 he started his company,
Bowman’s Piano Service. Keith has been a PTG member since 1982 and an
examiner for the RPT exams for 20 years. He originated a full product line
of tuning and voicing tools, as well as shop fixtures, for Renner USA, and
is a technical consultant for Hailun USA.
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve
Brady has served as editor of the Piano Technicians Journal, received the PTG
“Member of Note” and “Hall of Fame” awards, and authored two books on piano
technology: A Piano Technician’s Guide to Field Repairs, and Under the Lid:
The Art and Craft of the Concert Piano Technician.
Jack Brand - Wurzen Felt Company
Jack
is a master felt maker in his own rite. His family owns three felt factories,
including the Wurzen Felt Co., Germany, formerly the legendary J.D Weickert
felt factory. This factory is the oldest felt making facility in the world.
The hammer felts and other felts are produced combining Jack's vast expertise
with original J.D. Weickert felt formulas passed on to him in 1992 when the
family purchased the plant in Wurzen. Jack's passion is making piano felts,
especially hammer top felt. He is the piano technician's best ally and is ever
trying to improve the product.
Bill Brandom, RPT
Bill
Brandom is recently retired from active duty at Yamaha, serving now as a consultant,
primarily with Disklavier service. Bill has been at the forefront of DKV service
since the product was introduced in 1988.
Melanie Brooks - Brooks LTD
Melanie
is a third generation PTG member. After obtaining a BA degree in Economics
and Business and working in the corporate arena for nearly a decade, she returned
to Brooks LTD a family owned piano parts business in 1995, focusing on
marketing and technical services. In 2009 she purchased Brooks LTD,
carrying into a second generation a close collaboration with technicians and
rebuilders providing innovative and specialized products.
Chris Brown, RPT
Christopher
Brown, RPT has worked as a rebuilder and service technician for 32 years. In
2005, he set up his shop exclusively for action work. He is a founding member
of the Piano Rebuilders, a consortium, of Boston area specialists offering
jigs, fixtures, and rebuilding services to the trade. www.thepianorebuilders.com
Peg Browne, RPT
As
a member of PTG for 36 years, Peg has been involved in every aspect of the
piano technical business field, as well as piano rebuilding. In addition, Peg
works with Nick Gravagne in the manufacture of new soundboards. She is a graduate
of the Yamaha Little Red School House and the Yamaha Concert Artist Class,
and most recently completed the Shiguru Kawai Technical Academy. Peg
has taught at many State and National conventions with emphasis on piano
prep and applied skills.
Mark Burgett, RPT
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.
Mike Carraher, RPT
Mike
has been a member of PTG since 1979 and an examiner for the RPT exams since
1981. He designed the first repair jigs for the technical exam and still participates
in their construction. For over 20 years Mike has taught various tuning and
regulation classes at the local, regional and Institute levels. He makes shop
fixtures for Renner USA, and is a technical consultant for Hailun USA.
Mike has owned and operated Carr’s Piano Service in Elizabethtown, PA
for over
25 years.
Ray Chandler, RPT
Bruce Clark
Bruce
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.
Richard Davenport, RPT
Richard Davenport, RPT, is a concert technician, formerly
a Technical Service Consultant for 24 years with Yamaha. He received advanced
training at Yamaha's concert grand factory in Japan and, more recently, at
the Fazioli factory in Italy. Since 1980, he has serviced pianos for 20th Century
Fox Studios as well as installing a new soundboard, action and pinblock in
their 1928 Steinway D. He regularly teaches PTG chapter seminars, regional
and national convention classes. Richard is a recipient of the PTG 2008 Hall
of Fame Award.
David Durben, RPT - Yamaha
Mr.
Durben is a Piano Service Specialist for Yamaha in Buena Park, CA and is in
his 14th year with the company. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, he has
served the PTG in many positions. Beginning as President of the MinnKota, ND
chapter and during his four years saw the chapter's membership quadruple.
David was the PTG International's Central West Regional Vice President
(1994-1996), Vice President (1996-1998) and President (1998-2000).
Alan Eder
Alan Eder, RPT, has published various articles in the Journal and taught at regional and nation conventions. As the piano technician at CalArts, Alan produced a video about “Non-Traditional Piano Use” that has become a celebrated primary reference on the subject for pianists and piano technicians alike.
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.
Dennis Erwin
Del Fandrich, RPT
Delwin
D Fandrich, piano designer and builder, has been actively involved in the piano
industry since the early 1960s and an active member of the Piano Technicians
Guild since 1972. Fandrich worked as service manager for Oregon’s largest
Steinway dealer, a position bringing him in contact with a variety of the major
touring concert pianists. Increasingly dissatisfied with the performance of
most new pianos of the time, he began studying piano design and manufacturing
techniques, ultimately becoming Director of Piano Research and Development
for the Baldwin Piano & Organ Company. In 1989 he became America’s
only independent design and manufacturing consultant at the time. He designed
and manufactured the 48” Fandrich Vertical Piano, which was labeled “revolutionary” by
Larry Fine in The Piano Book, third edition. Utilizing his patented soundboard
system, this piano has been called one of the best vertical pianos of its size
ever built. Fandrich has written extensively on the subjects of piano design,
manufacture, and acoustics including a long-running series of articles for
the Piano Technicians Journal, “The Designer’s Notebook.” Fandrich
lectures extensively on piano technology and design topics in the U.S., Europe,
Australia, and China. Over the past two year Fandrich has been working with
Young Chang redesigning their entire product line and refining their manufacturing
systems to improve build quality and performance consistency. Fandrich also
designs and remanufactures pianos at his plant in Centralia, Washington. www.fandrichpiano.com
Nick Gravagne, RPT
Nick
Gravagne has been a prolific writer for the Piano Technicians Journal, as well
as a frequent teacher at P.T.G. National and State Conventions, and many regional
seminars and technicals nationwide. 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, and the PTG Member of
Note Award. Nick most recently received the Hall of Fame Award at the Annual
Convention in Seattle.
Jeff Hickey, RPT
Starting with a Niles Bryant Course in the mid-70s, Jeff has been tuning for dealerships and customers for more than 35 years. His theme as Director for the Las Vegas Institute in 2010 was 'The Practical Technician', and that has been his approach to business and tuning since the beginning. His journey through tuning includes a 2-yr college certified course in Piano Tuning and Related Technology, steady work for dealerships (including Yamaha, Mason-Hamlin, Baldwin, Kawai, Tokai, and others), membership in the Golden Gate Chapter of the PTG through the 80's (...think of Michael Kimbell, Susan Graham, Bill Spurlock, Fern Henry and other such folk), and endlessly pulling knowledge from people much more skilled and knowledgeable whenever possible. He spent 25 years as an pure aural tuner, but now pulls out an ETD for nearly every tuning, combining the ETD with his ear for maximum speed and pleasing results in tuning.
Mario Igrec
Mario
Igrec,
a native of Croatia, taught piano technology and served as piano technician
during his eight-year tenure at Louisiana State University. As an independent
concert technician and master rebuilder, he has serviced and rebuilt many pianos
in southern Louisiana, and has worked for Richard Goode, Jon Kimura Parker,
Garrick Ohlsson, and other renowned pianists. Himself an award-winning pianist,
with a Master of Music degree from SUNY Stony Brook, he brings to the field
a unique perspective that bridges piano technology and pianism.
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.
Scott Jones, RPT - Touchrail
Scott
Jones began his career as a piano technician in 1984, after receiving a BM
degree in music composition from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
From 1989 to 2001, he was employed by Steinway & Sons, New York, where
he held positions as concert technician, technical seminar instructor and product
development technician. From 2001 to present, he developed the PitchLock string
coupler and TouchRail systems. Scott has authored 6 U.S. patents in the field
of Piano Technology, most recently receiving a patent for the TouchRail concept.
Keith Kopp, RPT
Keith
Kopp as been active for many years giving PTG tunng exams. He has
been a tuning tutoring at PTG annual conventions. Since he took a tuning
position at Brigham Young University in 2002 he as been teaching tuning
skills in a variety of tuning classes.
Dan Levitan, RPT
Daniel Levitan, the author of The Craft of Piano Tuning and the former tuning editor of The
Piano Technicians Journal, is best known for his groundbreaking research into inharmonicity, his insightful approach to the mechanics of tuning, and his innovative tuning hammer designs. A graduate of the North Bennet Street School (1975), he works as a field piano service technician in New York City.
Carl Lieberman, RPT
Carl
is a member of the CyberTuner Development Team, creating, optimizing
and expanding the software's capabilities. He is currently the staff
piano technician at the Village Recording Studio in West Los Angeles.
David Love, RPT
David
Love has lived and worked in the San Francisco area for nearly 35 years. His
business focusses on all aspects of piano rebuilding and servicing including
action and soundboard design and installation and concert work. His contributions
on various topics have been published in the PTJ and he is a frequent contributor
to the Pianotech Listserve. In 2011 he was invited by the AIARP (Associazione
Italiana Accordatori Riparatori Pianoforti) to their national convention in
Cavalese, Italy to lecture on piano rebuilding and restoration, theory and
practice.
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.
Ray Negron - Ronsen Piano Hammer Co.
Ray
is a second generation piano hammer maker, following in the footsteps of his
father, Marty Negron, who was co-founder of Ronsen Piano Hammer Co. as well
as former manager at Pfriemer Piano Hammer Co. Ray started working summers
at Ronsen in 1961, and has been working full time since 1971, becoming company
president in 1983. Ray is always looking to learn more about piano hammers,
and enjoys talking with piano technicians regarding hammers, but will always
find time for a conversation about baseball. www.ronsen-hammer.com
Randy Potter, RPT - Randy Potter School of Piano Technology - Portland, OR
Randy
is the founder and director of the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology
which has become the largest producer of training materials for piano technicians
in the world. Randy has written three books, and he is the editor of The Piano
Action Handbook, third edition, published by the Piano Technicians Guild. He
has produced numerous technical articles and over a dozen technical training
video tapes. Randy 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. Randy is the 2009 recipient of the Piano Technicians Guild Hall of
Fame award in recognition of service to PTG and the industry.
Joel Rappaport
Joel
worked for over five years in the piano factories of Bechstein in Berlin and
Boesendorfer in Vienna, covering all facets of production. He attended
the School for Piano Builders in Ludwigsburg, Germany, graduated with honors,
and passed the State Examinations for the Master Piano Builders Diploma. He
has had technical training with Steinway personnel in New York, Hamburg, and
London as well as specialized training on Shigeru pianos at the Kawai factory
in Japan. Other experience is as the Chief Piano Technician at Tanglewood
(summer home of the Boston Symphony), extensive rebuilding in his own shop,
concert services at Van Cliburn Competitions and for numerous symphony orchestras.
Priscilla Rappaport, RPT
Priscilla
Rappaport likes anything with strings and pegs. As the saying does: "If
it has tires or tuning pins, you are bound to have trouble with it." She
also likes bikes and airplanes. Her specialty is rebuilding wrecked instruments
that have had a bad life in the past, creating a fine musical instrument using
conventional woodworking basics. She attended the trade school in Ludwigsburg,
Germany and has a diploma in piano construction from the Handswerskammer in
Stuttgart, Germany.
Nate Reyburn, RPT - Reyburn CyberTuner
Nate
trained in piano technology both with Dean (his dad) and through North Bennet
Street School's advanced Piano Technology course in Boston, Massachusetts,
and passed his RPT exams in 2008. Nate's passions are not only for piano tech
but for making tools for the trade, including the Reyburn CyberHammer, the
industry's finest impact tuning hammer. Nate and his wife Bethann live near
Grand Rapids, Michigan where he maintains his piano service and premium tools
business. www.reyburn.com
Paul Sanderson, President of Inventronics, Inc.
Paul
has been involved with the production of the Sanderson Accu-Tuner since its
beginning in 1982. As Al Sanderson retired from Inventronics, Paul transitioned
to be responsible for the Accu-Tuner from development to production and distribution.
Paul oversees all phases to assure that the SAT continues to be the finest
electronic tuning aid in the industry. When Al passed away in November 2008,
the continuation of Inventronics and the Accu-Tuner was already mapped out.
Paul, his wife Wendy and three children have seen quite a change since starting
production with Al in the family basement in 1982. Paul, Brian Day and Donna
Goulet work together to keep their customers happy.
Kathy Smith, RPT
David
Vanderlip and Kathy Smith are a husband-and-wife team with a varied business
in Southern California. They have both been in the piano tech business for
over 30 years. They work with schools, concert halls and private clients, and
have a small rebuilding shop at their home in Anaheim. They are both active
with the local exam board, giving tuning and technical exams to six chapters.
They have both been teaching, together and separately, at local chapter meetings
and regional and national conventions, for 20 years.
Ryan Sowers, RPT, and Jean Sowers
Ryan
Sowers learned the Spurlock keybushing method in the early 1990s. Later he
helped Bill Spurlock sell his tools at a number of nnual conferences. Ryan's
accomplishments include being a CTE, serving on the national Institute Team,
completing all 5 Steinway factory seminars, and receiving the James Burton
Award. Jean Sowers joined the business is 2002 and in addition to managing
a six figure piano service business, she is our shop's key bushing specialist.
Israel Stein, RPT
Israel Stein, RPT, has taught numerous classes dealing with action regulation
and repairs at PTG Annual Conventions as well as Regional Conferences and chapter
events. In the course of directing the PTG’s Technical Exam program from 2004
until 2009 he developed and taught the Technical Exam Hands-on Exam Prep classes
during those years. Israel has administered over 100 technical examinations
since he set up the technical testing program for PTG's Boston Chapter in 1989,
and this experience continuously provides unique and valuable perspectives
for teaching action work. A graduate of the North Bennet Street School Piano
Technology program (Boston), Israel has been employed at San Francisco State
University as Piano Technician for the past 6 years – besides operating his
own piano service and rebuilding business. Previously his career in piano service
included employment with the Boston area Steinway dealership - where his responsibilities
included working as primary Boston Area Steinway concert technician - and a
stint regulating and voicing brand new grands at the Mason & Hamlin factory
in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Yoshi Suzuki - Yamaha
1983
Joined Yamaha
1984 – 1990 Concert piano factory
1990 – 1994 Piano Service Department
in Japan
1994 – 2000 Service manager of Yamaha Europe in Hamburg
2001 – 2008
Service manager in Japan
2008 – Senior technical manager of Yamaha Artist Services
Inc. New York
2011 Director, Piano Service in Yamaha Corporation of America, Buena Park CA
Starr Taylor, RPT
Starr
Taylor has been tuning and rebuilding pianos since 1985. He studied aural
piano tuning with Andrew Snowden from 1985-1987 and was doing terrible tunings
for the first couple of years. A journeyman machinist, he brings a high tolerance
viewpoint to working with wood. An advocate of Stanwood action protocols and Ronsen
Piano hammers, he strives for a smooth warm tone when installing soundboards. A
guild member since 1988, he is past-president of the local PTG Chapter #337.
Carl Teel - Renner USA
Carl
has been repairing and restoring pianos for over 30 years. He has been a member
of PTG since 1976, and since 1979 has served continuously as Treasurer of the
Salt Lake City Chapter. Carl was instrumental in running the Utah Intermountain
Seminar for a number of years. He is a popular instructor at local, regional
and national conventions, and is a consultant to piano technicians throughout
Utah.
David Vanderlip, RPT
David
Vanderlip and Kathy Smith are a husband-and-wife team with a varied business
in Southern California. They have both been in the piano tech business for
over 30 years. They work with schools, concert halls and private clients, and
have a small rebuilding shop at their home in Anaheim. They are both active
with the local exam board, giving tuning and technical exams to six chapters.
They have both been teaching, together and separately, at local chapter meetings
and regional and national conventions, for 20 years.
Ruth Zeiner, RPT
Ruth
(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