60th Annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention & … · 60th Annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention & Technical Institute T ... solos with the Omaha Symphony, ... 60th Annual Piano

60th Annual P iano Technic ians Gui ld Convent ion & Technica l Ins t i tute

THE WORLD’S LARGEST

GATHERING OF

PIANO TECHNICIANS

Pianos, A LifeSt. Louis, MO - July 11-15

SAVE $300! SAVE $200!

First-time convention attendees save $300 on 2017 registration! Members only.Must register by phone.

New PTG member? Use your $200 off coupon for your 2017 registration. Must register by phone.


Limit one discount per registration. Each discount must be redeemed in a single transaction. Discounts cannot be combined. The discounts carry no cash value and cannot be transferred, negotiated, sold, redeemed against cash or combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. To register using either discount you must contact Member Services at [email protected] or call 913-432-9975.


Full Convention PassMember $479 / Non-member $539

Weekend PassFriday & SaturdayMember $354 / Non-member $504

Register by June 7th and save.

convention.ptg.org

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Register at convention.ptg.org or by phone at 913-432-9975

IAPBT

PTG welcomes the The International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians (IAPBT) to St. Louis. IAPBT will conduct their meetings on Wednesday and are invited to stay through Saturday to take part in educational classes, local tours, evening programs and the 60th Annual PTG Golden Hammer Banquet. Gunther Schaible and Ken Forrest will present classes during our Institute.

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Pianos, A Life

Fees Before6/7

After6/7

PTG MemberFull Registration $479 $539

PTG MemberWeekend Pass $354 $414

Before6/7

After6/7

Non-MemberFull Registration $629 $689

Non-MemberWeekend Pass $504 $564

Full registrations include one Golden Hammer Banquet ticket — Banquet tickets are not included with weekend registrations.

Limited Enrollment ClassesBellyman’s Holiday - (Limit 25) Friday All Day - $99

Actionpalooza - (Limit 24) Saturday All Day

French Polishing Workshop - (Limit 15) Wed & Fri - No Charge Tuning Tutoring- $120 One-on-One

For many of us, pianos are in our blood. They provide more than a career and a livelihood. They intrigue us, we study their design and history. We invent new and innovative ways to improve them and tools to do the job. They are a vehicle for which we, and especially our customers, make music. PTG has an amazing tradition of sharing our knowledge. We then take that knowledge and use our abilities to apply and execute it in our own individual ways. Along with the knowledge of repair methods or business concepts, this year, we will also share some collective wisdom on how piano work affects our lives.I have asked the teachers to teach from that place of gratitude and communicate how we can integrate the skills we use in piano work into the rest of our lives.

- Lisa Weller, 2017 Institute Director

SAVE $300!

SAVE $200!First-timeconvention attendee? PTG members can save $300 on 2017 registration! Must register by phone.

New PTG member? Use your $200 off coupon for your 2017 registration Must register by phone.

Limit one discount per registration. Each discount must be redeemed in a single transaction. Discounts cannot be combined. The discounts carry no cash value and cannot be transferred, negotiated, sold, redeemed against cash or combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. To register using either discount you must contact Member Services at [email protected] or call 913-432-9975.

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NOTE NEW DAYS AND TIMES FOR MANY EVENTS

Daily ScheDuleSaturday, July 88:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ...... PTG Board Meeting

Sunday, July 98:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...... PTG Board Meeting3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ...... Delegate Check-in

Monday, July 10 7:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. ...... Delegate Check-in8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ...... Council Meeting8:00 p.m. ........................ Randi Potter Reception

Tuesday, July 11 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ...... Council Meeting5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. ....... IAPBT Welcome Reception*7:00 p.m. ....................... Opening Session/ ............................... Awards Presentation8:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. .... President’s Welcome Reception

Wednesday, July 128:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ...... Institute Period 19:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. .... IAPBT Board Meeting10:30 a.m. - Noon .......... Institute Period 2Noon - 4:30 p.m. ............ Exhibit Hall Grand Opening1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ....... IAPBT General Session/ Symposium1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 33:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ...... Institute Period 45:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 58:00 p.m. ....................... PTG Foundation Concert

Thursday, July 136:30 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. ...... Regional Meetings (Free Continental Breakfast)8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ...... Institute Period 1 General Session9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ...... Exhibit Hall Open10:30 a.m. - Noon .......... Institute Period 2Noon - 1:30 p.m. ............. Leadership Luncheon* 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 31:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ...... PTG Foundation Board Meeting

2:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ...... Exhibit Hall Open3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ...... Institute Period 45:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 58:00 p.m. ........................ Kawai Concert

Friday, July 148:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ...... Institute Period 19:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ...... Exhibit Hall Open10:30 a.m. - Noon .......... Institute Period 2Noon - 1:30 p.m. ............ IAPBT Luncheon*1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 32:45 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. ....... Exhibit Hall Open3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ...... Institute Period 45:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 58:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. .... Yamaha Reception

Saturday, July 158:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ...... PTG Board Meeting8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ...... Institute Period 19:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ...... Exhibit Hall Open10:30 a.m. - Noon .......... Institute Period 21:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...... Institute Period 32:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ...... Exhibit Hall Open3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ...... Institute Period 46:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ....... Cocktail Reception 7:00 p.m. ....................... Golden Hammer Banquet

Sunday, July 168:00 a.m. ....................... Chapel Service8:00 a.m. - Noon ............ PTG Board Meeting

*Invitation Only(Schedule is subject to change}

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Opening SessionTuesday, July 11 - 7:00 p.m.

We’ll announce PTG award recipients for 2017 and start our 60th Anniversary celebration with a preview of the outstanding lineup of classes and special activities scheduled for this year. You’ll have an opportunity to win some nice prizes and join in the fun as we launch our 2017 convention.

Randi Potter ReceptionSponsored by the Randi Potter School of Piano Technology Monday, July 10 - 7:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to join in this casual gathering. Catch up with old friends and make some new ones. It’s a great way to start off the week.

President’s ReceptionFeaturing Scott Jones, RPT and the Pitchlock Piano BarTuesday, July 11 - 8:30 p.m.

PTG President Phil Bondi invites you to join him in a fun-filled evening of food and entertainment. Back again by popular demand, Scott Jones will lead us in some amazing karaoke. You’ll have plenty of time to socialize. Take a fun souvenir photo (props included!) Everyone is welcome!

St. Louis City TourWednesday, July 12 - 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m.

Enjoy St. Louis with a professional guide. We’ll start with the revitalized Laclede’s Landing warehouse district, then drive through the downtown are past Busch Stadium and local neighborhoods. Stops will include: the Gateway Arch, Favazza’s Restaurant, located in a famed Italian neighborhood know as “The Hill.”, the Cathedral Basilica, the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate fac-tory & Forest Park. $95 includes lunch.

PTG Foundation ConcertScott Joplin & St. Louis Ragtime - Wednesday, July 12 - 8:00 p.m.

The PTG Foundation invites you to take a trip back to early 1900’s St. Louis, when... • The new ragtime music was all the rage, • St. Louis was the epicenter of the new musical style, • Scott Joplin was earning his reputation as “The Father of Ragtime,” and the piano was the entertainment center of the home.

Outstanding local ragtime artist, “Ragtime Dr.” Dave Majchrzak, will be our guide. Come enjoy the trip and have a toe-tapping good time. You’re in Scott Joplin’s St. Louis! Admittance free.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Celebrate 60 years! convention.ptg.org

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Brewery TourFriday, July 14 - 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Discover the Anheuser Busch InBev brewery, the oldest and largest of the Budweiser breweries. You’ll see the entire 7-step brewing process, the world- famous Clydesdale horses at the historic stables, the brew kettles, and the beechwood aging cellars. Enjoy product samples in the hospitality room before departing. We’ll finish the afternoon with a driving tour of the Soulard neighborhood. This historic area is known for its French heritage and influence. $35

Yamaha ReceptionSponsored by Yamaha Corporation of AmericaFriday, July 14 - 8:00 p.m.

Another great opportunity to enjoy time with friends in an informal setting. Enjoy the complimentary dessert bar and music. Take a swing around the dance floor! Cash bar available.

In Concert with Nicholas SusiSponsored by Kawai AmericaThursday, July 13 - 8:00 p.m.

Nicholas Susi enjoys a multifaceted career living out his deep love for music. Recent performance highlights includ, two concerts for the Princess von Hohenzollern at her castle in Namedy, Germany, and his performance at the TivoliVrendenburg in Utrecht, Other noteworthy appearances include concerto solos with the Omaha Symphony, Wiener Residenz Orchester, St. Louis Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City. Admittance free.

Golden Hammer BanquetSaturday, July 15 - 7:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour& Souvenir Photo

Join us as we celebrate this year’s Golden Hammer Award recipient. After a full course dinner, we’ll continue the celebration of our 60th Anniversary and provide a sneak peek at our 2018 event. Additional tickets $45 each.

One Banquet ticket is included with each full registration.

Botanicals & Historic St. Charles TourThursday, July 13 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Your day starts at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Your visit will include the world’s first Climatron building. Enjoy a private tram ride through the Garden. We’ll then hop back on the bus for a short ride to Historic Main Street in St. Charles, MO. St. Charles is a river city with a unique historical perspective, beautiful sites. We will be greeted by a costumed docent who will give us a tour of the Historic St. Charles area. Wear comfortable walking shoes! $65

Celebrate 60 years! convention.ptg.org

More information about instructors and the daily schedule available at convention.ptg.org

General Session with Donald Williams Thursday, July 13, 8 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.

We are pleased to announce that our featured speaker for the General Session will be Don Williams, retired Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian Institution. His presentation will focus on his four years of photographing and writing the book Virtuoso: The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley. In a space of just 10” x 39” x 19-1/2”, H.O. Studley managed to arrange - with perfection - more than 250 of his tools into a dovetailed mahogany cabinet that has captivated tens of thousands of woodworkers - and piano technicians - since it was first unveiled in 1988 on the back cover of Fine Woodworking. Mr. Williams will also be presenting classes in veneer repair and museum conservation. Visit http://donsbarn.com to learn more about Don Williams.

More Don Williams:

(E) Repairing Veneer Damage See a demonstration of the method Mr. Williams uses to make veneer repairs when the damage is irregularly shaped and the repair must be unobtrusive.

(E) Introduction to Conservation Principles Learn more about the principles of artifact preservation and conservation. You’ll see examples from previous projects as didactic touchstones.


Gunther Schaible Ludwigsburg, Germany

Gunther Schaible, long-time member of the board of the Deutscher Klavierbauer (BDK), currently treasurer of the association, began his piano-making career with an apprenticeship at Pianofischer in 1973. From 1983, he worked at Bechstein in Berlin and has been a Technical Teacher at the Oscar-Walcker-Schule. He is the current president of Europiano.

Don’t miss his class. Offered twice - Friday or Saturday(E) Calculating Piano Actions Gunther W. Schaible, GSR Find out how to calculate the levers of different upright and grand actions. We’ll also look for ways to improve the touch feeling.

Ken Forrest London, EnglandKen Forrest started in the piano trade in 1975 at the London College of Furniture. After a period at William Danemann’s factory, he has been a freelance technician and also tutor at the London College of Furniture and at Leeds College of Music (MIT).

Don’t miss his class. Offered twice - Friday or Saturday(E) Pitch Perception & Tuning Ken Forrest, Past President UK Pianoforte Tuners Association The ear’s sense of pitch runs roughly close to frequency, but not exactly. Some tuning customers can challenge your tuning - par-ticularly singers and string players - and this class attempts to help you to understand the issues and be confident in responding to the customer.

Special GuestsPlease join the PTG Institute in welcoming Gunther Schaible & Ken Forrest. It is our great pleasure to have both of these men join us to celebrate our 60th!

IAPBT Gunther & Ken are both members of IAPBT.

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INSTITUTE TEAM class picks(I, A) Antique Viennese and German Actions Bill Shull, RPT, Pomona Valley, CA Chapter & Mike Reiter, RPT, Eugene, OR Chapter

(E) First Do No Harm Steve Brady, RPT, Seattle Chapter & Carl Lieberman, RPT, South Bay, CA Chapter

(I, A) Grand Action In-Home Analysis Nick Gravagne, RPT, Phoenix, AZ Chapter & Rick Baldassin, RPT, Salt Lake City, UT Chapter

(E) Grand Piano Regulation Techniques David Reed, RPT, Kawai America Corp.

(E) Heavy Hammers? How Do You Know? Nick Gravagne, RPT, Phoenix, AZ Chapter

(E) Hide Glue: Bringing It Out From Hiding Vince Mrykalo, RPT, Kansas City, MO Chapter

(E) Key Leveling - The “A440” of Regulation Joe Swenson, Samick Music Corp.

(E) Love That Bluthner! James Reeder, RPT, Bluthner USA, LLD - Julius Bluthner Pianofortefabrik, GmbH

(E) Pitch Perception & Tuning Ken Forrest, Past President UK Pianoforte Tuners Association

(E) Repairing Veneer Damage Donald C. Williams, Retired Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian Institution

(I, A) Restorative Conservation for the Piano Technician Bill Shull, RPT, Pomona Valley, CA Chapter

(E) Temperament Theory Without Tears Steve Brady, RPT, Seattle, WA Chapter

(E) Upright Caster Repair Jim Geiger, RPT, Heart of Texas Chapter

(I) Voicing to the Max Don Mannino, RPT, Kawai America Corp.

(E) Where Does that Sound Come From? Ace Ugai and David Durben, RPT, Yamaha

Lisa Weller Ashley Turner Douglas Liang Ingrid Kraft Bruce Stevens

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Bruce Stevens

ACTION REGULATION(E) Feeling Your Way to Excellence Fred Sturm, RPT, New Mexico Chapter Most of us focus almost entirely on sight and hearing in our work. The sense of touch has a lot to teach us. Analyzing ac-tion condition without removing anything, refining regulation and tuning, and becoming more efficient and ergonomic in our work are some of the ways a focus on touch can make us better technicians.

(I) Grand Action Regulation - Hands-on Tutoring Wally Brooks, RPT, Connecticut Chapter Learn the mechanics and regulation of the grand action and the little things to get the job done in a fast and efficient manner. As preparation for this class, it is recommended that participants attend “The Mechanics of Grand Regulation” class (Wednesday, 4th Period), or have previous training or experience in grand regulation. Limit 6 students. RPT status recommended. You must pre-register for this class. Fee: $80.

(E) Grand Piano Regulation Techniques David Reed, RPT, Kawai America Corp. There are manuals that give step-by-step instructions for regulat-ing grand actions, but what makes one fluent at regulating is knowing the best techniques for getting each step done quickly and accurately. David draws on his extensive experience as a private technician, as well as his knowledge gained from working for multiple piano companies to achieve great results quickly and efficiently.

(I, A) Grand Regulation Actionpalooza Rick Baldassin, RPT & Carl Teel, Renner USA This hands-on class combines the popular “Are You Regula-tionally Challenged?” and “Are You Still Regulationally Chal-lenged?” classes into an all-day experience. Students will first work in small groups to diagnose problems on a series of action models after which the solutions to the problems will be present-ed. Each student will then regulate a PTG test model according to a step-by-step procedure and his or her work will be checked for accuracy. This will be an intense day, but the instructors will make it fun. Limit 24 students. Pre-registration required. $40 fee. Materials and tools will only be provided for 24 participants. Observers are welcome.

(E) The Heart of the Hammer - The Art of the Bump Fred Redekop, RPT, Manitoba Chapter This class includes a thorough guide to traditional grand piano voicing and regulation. We’ll discuss what to do - but more importantly - how to do it. See a step-by-step demonstration of hammer needling, filing and fitting, as well as the many regula-tion procedures required to achieve uniform and satisfying re-sults. Good results require knowledge, but also skill and practice.

(E) In Home Vertical Service Norman Cantrell, RPT, Central Oklahoma Chapter Explore the next step in servicing vertical pianos. Tuning is the basic level of service but most pianos can benefit from additional attention. After a few years of moderate use, the action often begins to have problems with even touch and tone. We’ll discuss a series of steps to improve the action and tone with a minimum amount of effort. The class will present three options, or levels, of improved service depending on the time and needs of the piano owner. Each level can be treated as a stand-alone addition to the basic piano service or combined to elevate the perfor-mance of the piano as a series of service plans.

(E) The Mechanics of Grand Regulation Wally Brooks, RPT, Connecticut Chapter Don’t miss this thought-provoking study and demonstration of the simplicity of the grand piano action and regulation. Learn the whys and wherefores of each step of regulation and the abil-ity to regulate by feel and touch. This is a good class for expert or novice alike.

(E) Three Regulations Ed Foote, RPT, Nashville, TN Chapter More money can be made in living rooms than concert stages. This class features regulating for kids’ lessons, casual pianists, and artists’ ultimate demands. We’ll cover ways to maximize your value with regulating, turn customers into advocates of your work, and avoid pitfalls while making sure-fire sales.

(A) Upright Dampers - Friend or Foe? Keith Bowman RPT & Mike Carraher, RPT, Vienna International (Hailun) What will ruin an otherwise perfect action regulation? Poor damper work. Learn the real secret to achieving performance level action regulation. Join Keith and Mike for this comprehen-sive class that includes minimum regulation requirements, the damper drive train, tool demos, and diagnosing and correcting damping problems. We’ll also cover felt replacement, underlever reconditioning, and trap work as time permits.

Business Managers Special - Take advantage of this special registration offer!

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Key: (E) Everyone (I) Intermediate

(B) Basic (A) Advanced

BUSINESS & NETWORKING(E) Business-Savvy Professionals Melanie Brooks, Brooks, Ltd. Defining practical strategies to make savvy business decisions will help you realize your goals. Focusing only on technical skills, we often lose sight of the costs of doing business. Join in a group discussion as we define what your time is really worth and how to build a road map to a successful business plan.

(E) The Business of Concert Work Kathy Smith, RPT, Los Angeles, CA Chapter This class is for anyone who ever services a performance piano, whether in a church, recital hall, teaching studio or large venue. The class is half business and half tips-and-tricks. Other great classes cover full concert setup, but this one concentrates on additional details not commonly discussed (such as billing styles, repairs, maintenance plans) gleaned from 35 years of experi-ence. The class will include many photos and examples, tools and ideas, and solutions for common and unusual problems.

(B) Career Stability Ed Foote, RPT, Nashville, TN Chapter A stable career is no accident, but the result of planning. Learn to avoid piano specific injuries, skeletons in the closet, and get-ting trapped by a client. This class presents consequences of the choices we make, a list of things older techs wish they had known, and how to build your own clientele.

(B) Gazelle – Simplify Your Life Tim Barnes, RPT, Gazelle Network Geared towards established businesses, this class demonstrates how Gazelle, a comprehensive software built specifically for your piano service business, can simplify your life and allow you to focus on the work you love to do. Learn how to reduce your dreaded office work with Gazelle’s Automatic Service Remind-ers and Self-Scheduling features.

(E) Increase Your Income by 20% or More! Ed Tomlinson, Los Angeles, CA Chapter Learn how you can increase your income without adding more tunings or appointments. Work smarter, more efficiently, and offer more goods and services that will generate more income in the coming year. See how the presenter’s 30-year career as a piano salesperson, piano technician and piano dealer can provide you with what you need to know to maximize your time and translate it into a better income.

(B) Intro to Movie Making Using Final Cut X Rick Butler, RPT, Washington, DC Chapter & John Parham, RPT, Charlotte, NC Chapter Instructional videos have become common place. Learn how to use your phone or tablet as teaching tools by utilizing relatively inexpensive movie-making programs. Lighting, framing and sound basics are covered as well. The instructors will use Final Cut Pro X, but the principles covered are universally transfer-able to other programs.

(E) Jumpstart Your Business Tim Barnes, RPT, The Gazelle Network Geared towards young businesses and new piano technicians, this class demonstrates how the Gazelle Network, a new software that enables you to manage your business on the go, can save you time and increase your revenue. We will also focus on how google, facebook, and others have changed their platforms and capabilities.

(E) My First 43 Mistakes in My 43-year Career Isaac Sadigursky, RPT, Los Angeles, CA Chapter You’ll enjoy hearing Isaac as he shares his mistakes so that you don’t repeat them too. There are really 75 mistakes on the list, but Isaac will try his best to cover them all. You’ll look at busi-ness practices, customer relations, dealing with commercial ac-counts, scheduling, record keeping, selecting proper tools, shop organization, keeping clients,...and a lot of what NOT to do.

(E) RU Socially Insecure? Plan for Your Retirement! John Gallen, Connecticut Chapter Most of us want to retire, but many of us will still be working beyond our standard retirement age. Did you know that you may have to pay taxes - not only on your retirement income - but also on your Social Security income? Are there limits to retirement income? While NOT an investment class, this IS a planning class. Come find out how this can affect your retire-ment plans.

(E) Things All Piano Technicians Should Know John Parham, RPT, Charlotte, NC Chapter Are you really listening to what the piano has to say? This inter-active visual presentation includes a wide variety of discussion opportunities. See if you can figure out “What’s wrong with this picture?” or “What’s causing this sound?” Be prepared to listen-talk-repeat for the entire class period.

Registration for only $59 go to convention.ptg.org for more info

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Registration for only $59 go to convention.ptg.org for more info

(E) Tired of Hearing You’re Not Charging Enough? Maggie Jusiel, Roanoke, VA Chapter You’ll have an opportunity to take a look at your own business model as we explore the purpose, people, practicalities and possibilities of how you operate. This presentation guides you through important questions that will help you identify your goals and think beyond what you are now doing.

(E) Women’s Forum on the Piano Tech Profession Ricki Klos, RPT, Ft. Worth, TX Chapter Take advantage of this chance to talk with women (newcomers and veterans) in the field of piano technology in a round-table format. Explore opportunities, challenges, resources, and feed-back of our experience in this unique profession. Share, learn, give and receive your thoughts and ideas about this business. Everyone is welcome!

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY TECHNICIANS (CAUT)(E) Building a CAUT Program Ken Sloane, RPT, Cleveland, OH Chapter Want to know what “buttons” to push to get funding for sup-plies, tools, etc. for your program? You’ll also learn how to set priorities for the institution and people you serve. Recommend-ed for technicians who work with, or are interested in working with, college/conservatory music programs.

(I, A) CAUT Forum Lucy Urlacher, RPT, Columbia, MO Chapter Join us as we discuss a variety of issues relevant to college and university technicians. We will have a list of topics to start the session, but anyone can bring up anything they would like the group to discuss.

(E) Making Simple but Very Useful Jigs and Tools Francisco (Paco) Morales, RPT, South Florida Chapter Learn how to make your own jigs and tools. They may be simple and cheap to create, but you’ll be surprised to see how useful they’ll be for piano regulation and maintenance.

(E) Strategies for a Successful Institutional Piano Technology Career John Foy, RPT & William Huesman, RPT, Central North Carolina Chapter A successful career as a piano technician at a school of music requires both short and long-term planning. This class will prepare you to meet highly demanding job requirements, and demonstrate how to reap satisfaction from a life as an institu-tional piano technician. As the vast majority of music schools and music departments are understaffed and underfunded in regard to instrument maintenance, decisions must be made carefully in order to best utilize your time and resources. We will cover specific technical methods to streamline your work that will allow you to accomplish your job with time allocations that rarely seem adequate. We will also discuss successful approaches to developing good relations with faculty, staff and administra-tion that will assist you in keeping on track year after year.

DESIGN & HISTORY(I, A) Antique Viennese and German Actions Bill Shull, RPT, Pomona Valley, CA Chapter & Mike Reiter, RPT, Eugene, OR Chapter Viennese and German actions are encountered by piano techni-cians in everyday service, and usually the work is turned down due to lack of expertise. Many of these pianos are serviceable, and many are delightful and interesting, and a good source of income. Learn more about these pianos as we present some of the procedures which will permit you to begin to service them.

(I, A) Chickering Service and History Bill Shull, RPT, Pomona Valley, CA Chapter Piano technicians encounter Chickering pianos frequently, and often steer clear of these otherwise fine pianos because of their unique and unfamiliar designs. The company built pianos over a long period, with many different and unique designs which now present us with service challenges. In the first period of the class, we’ll introduce the history of the Chickering piano, and begin to help de-mystify the brand. In the second period, we’ll address specific service challenges, many unique to Chickering, from regulation of the Brown action to servicing the Quartergrand, along with alternative strategies for managing the brass rails and flanges.

(E) Evolution of the Piano: A Collaboration Across Space and Time Alan Eder, RPT, Los Angeles, CA Chapter Feast your eyes, delight your ears, and expand your mind on this epic interactive journey tracing how the piano came to be. Special consideration will be given to the development of tool making and usage in general (starting with pre-humans!) and particularly the parallel evolution of weaponry and musical instruments.

Rebuilders and Restorers Showcase The 2017 PTG Convention & Technical Institute will feature a display of rebuilt and restored pianos. The showcase area is adjacent to the Exhibit Hall and is open all four days. Those interested in bringing a piano to St. Louis for display should contact Lisa Weller, 2017 Technical Institute Director, at [email protected] or 562-431-8564.

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(E) General Session: The H.O. Studley Tool Cabinet and Workbench Donald C. Williams, Retired Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian Institution Our General Session features Don Williams, a noted conserva-tor, educator, scholar and author. His presentation will focus on his four years of photographing and writing the book Virtuoso: The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley. In a space of just 10” x 39” x 19-1/2”, H.O. Studley man-aged to arrange - with perfection - more than 250 of his tools into a dovetailed mahogany cabinet that has captivated tens of thousands of woodworkers - and piano technicians - since it was first unveiled in 1988 on the back cover of Fine Woodworking. Mr. Williams will also be presenting classes in veneer repair and museum conservation.

(E) Introduction to Conservation Principles Donald C. Williams, Retired Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian Institution Learn more about the principles of artifact preservation and conservation. You’ll see examples from previous projects as didactic touchstones.

(I, A) Restorative Conservation for the Piano Technician Bill Shull, RPT, Pomona Valley, CA Chapter A team with expertise in antique piano service will discuss the principles and protocols to help the everyday technician decide how to service older pianos. We’ll consider how to maximize function without harming the historical value of the instrument. This is also a 10-year revisit of the 2007 PTG Technical Insti-tute class on the “Conservation of the Piano.”

(E) Woods of the Piano Shawn Hoar, Connecticut Chapter Take a guided tour through a visual presentation of how pianos are made and the material differences involved. Explore one hundred and thirty years of piano making as we see how piano making formulas grew out of materials that were available. Shawn shares tools, technology and materials used in the art of piano making and restoration.

HEALTH(E) Aging and Fitness for Piano Technicians Bonnie B. Swafford, PT, DPT, Lenexa, KS There are many facts and myths about aging. Learn to success-fully stay productive and healthy. Bonnie will review basic anat-omy and what can go wrong, and give an overview of problems specific to piano technicians. Learn about treating problems and fitness recommendations for maintaining your most important tool - your body. Bonnie has been a practicing Physical Thera-pist for 40 years with bachelor and post professional doctorate degrees, and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

(E) Lifting Stuff Kathy Smith, RPT, Los Angeles, CA Chapter Piano technicians need to lift stuff pretty often. It impresses clients when you can work independently, not needing help lifting actions, corners of pianos for caster and leg repair, and so on. There are many ways to use mechanical advantage, or at least safe body mechanics, to get the tasks accomplished without causing damage to pianos, homes, clients, or our body. Your own tool cases can cause repetitive injury. Some common needs and situations are presented, with many photos, demonstrations and ideas, and class participation for those who desire it.

(I, A) Zen and the Art of Concert Prep Steve Brady, RPT, Seattle, WA Chapter Drawing on material from the book Under the Lid, this class looks at the human side of concert work and explores the subtle psychological relationship between the technician and the con-cert artist from the perspective of the Zen artist.

LEADERSHIP & CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT(E) Chapter Leader Forum Ricki Klos, RPT, Ft. Worth, TX Chapter Wanted! Past, present, and future chapter leaders. Join in a dia-logue with others about what works and what doesn’t for your chapter. We all have chapter challenges and successes, and this is a forum for bringing ideas to the table, asking for advice, and getting motivated!

MINI TECHNICALSThe Mini Technicals listed below will run 40 minutes - 2 times during the 90-minute period

(E) The Indispensable Ninth Partial Dan Levitan, RPT, New York City, NY Chapter Ninth-partial intervals have been part of the tuner’s tool kit for several decades now, yet many aural tuners remain unfamiliar with them. In this class, we’ll review their uses, focusing espe-cially on the 9:8 M23, the most reliable guide to aural tuning from F6 to F7.

(E) Key Leveling - The “A440” of Regulation Joe Swenson, Samick Music Corp. Learn about tools and hear tips for efficiently and precisely es-tablishing the essential foundation for any piano regulation job. This class will also include methods for establishing proper key height and dip for both natural and sharp keys.

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(E) Staying Fit Without a Gym Membership Maggie Jusiel, Roanoke, VA Chapter After years of physical therapy and completing massage therapy school, Margaret developed an “opposing muscle groups” home exercise program that has served her well and saved her from the expenses of further physical therapy and gym memberships. Learn about her personal routine as well as how to develop your own.

(E) Steinway Action Frame Observations John Dewey, Central Illinois Chapter Hear about some of the details and eccentricities of Steinway action frames John has observed in the course of rebuilding sev-eral hundred Steinway action frames. Examples include pianos dating from the 1880’s through present day. We’ll talk about dif-ferences in bracket profile, action spread and vertical differential, screw size and shape, and much more.

(E) Tool Modification David Reed, RPT, Kawai A common frustration of piano technicians is that the tools we buy from the supply houses don’t always do their jobs that well. In many cases, the tools work much better if they are modified or customized for their specific uses. David will show examples of modified tools and teach how to modify them. He will also show you how to make your own tools.

(E) Upright Caster Repair Jim Geiger, RPT, Heart of Texas Chapter We all know how good casters make it easier and safer to move the piano while also protecting carpets and floors. This class helps you learn about what causes upright casters to become damaged and how to repair and prevent that damage.

PLAYERS(E) The New Steinway & Sons Spirio Glen Bingham, Steinway & Sons Steinway Spirio is a high-resolution player piano that provides a musical experience indistinguishable from a live performance. Spirio Chief Technician, Glen Bingham demonstrates the system’s playback and Spirio’s custom iPad app. Glen will share music library highlights and present a service overview. Don’t miss this exclusive look at Steinway & Sons first new product in over 70 years, besides Teflon bushings.

(E) PianoDisc - The Next Generation Mark Burgett, PianoDisc Learn all about the new PianoDisc innovations from hardware to software design. Mark will present detailed information and demonstrate new products. Take home a handout describing the new product features.

(E) QRS Music Technologies - Make Money by Making the Old, New Again Lori Clutter & Mark Baughman, QRS Music Technologies Find out how to increase your income by adding QRS Technol-ogy products in the home. Easy technology upgrades and add-ons make older systems perform like new again regardless of the manufacturer. Let Lori give you ideas on how to maximize your customer base.

(B) Servicing the Pianoforce System Mike Rooks, Pianoforce, Inc. Learn the proper techniques to service the Pianoforce Player System. Class members will learn how to evaluate the system’s performance and make corrective steps to insure the best pos-sible performance from the system. In addition, class members will delve into the intricacies of the system and how to analyze malfunctions and their proper remedies. Class attendees will receive a small service kit to take with them.

(E) Yamaha ENSPIRE™ and TransAcoustic™ Pianos Bill Brandom, RPT, Yamaha Corporation of America The new Yamaha ENSPIRE™ Disklavier is the only fully-inte-grated and most accurate TransAcoustic™ Piano - a new way for piano players to emotionally connect with their piano. In this class, we will show you these unbelievable Yamaha acoustic hybrid pianos and give you the information you need to service these instruments. Yamaha believes these hybrid pianos are the acoustic pianos of the future. As a technician you need to know how to maintain and service these incredible instruments. Service of these instruments is easy if you learn what we will be teaching in this fun “looking into the future” class.

REBUILDING & SHOP(I, A) Bellyman’s Holiday Ken Eschete, RPT, Inland Northwest Chapter This all-day seminar covers the three elements of “belly work”. Using a combination of a slide presentation with lecture and work with practice jigs, technicians in this class will learn how to make a radius-crowned soundboard, recap a bridge, and install a new pin block. Limit 25 participants You must pre-register for this class. Fee: $99.

(E) All About Hammers Norbert Abel & Alexander Abel, Abel Hammer Company What raw material is used to make good hammer felt? How is hammer felt made? What is the difference between quality felt and standard felt? With the use of live videos and visuals, you’ll learn the process of felt making and take a tour through the Abel Hammer factory in Germany. In addition, Norbert will teach the basics of weight, voicing, elasticity, and hardness in hammers.

Find video class descriptions at convention.ptg.org

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(E) The Art of Piano Restoration Shawn Hoar, Connecticut Chapter Explore Shawn’s shop as he shares 35 years of custom tools and technology. You’ll learn more about fitting the soundboard and pinblock with routers, and stretcher removal, rebuilding and replacement. You’ll discuss fitting the plate and his unique ap-proach to setting acoustical dowel. The visual tour also includes Shawn’s custom piano paint room and shop set up.

(I, A) The Break Del Fandrich, RPT, Puget Sound, WA Chapter The bass-to-tenor transition is a timbral - or voicing - problem in many pianos. This class examines the many causes of these problems, graphically illustrates what is happening to the sound envelope and then suggests several methods for improving them.

(E) Calculating Piano Actions Gunther W. Schaible, GSR Find out how to calculate the levers of different upright and grand actions. We’ll also look for ways to improve the touch feeling. Gunther Schaible lives in Germany and is the current president of Europiano.

(I) European-Style Grand Pinblock Replacement Christian Bolduc, Pianos Bolduc Replacing the pinblock in a grand piano can be quite awkward when a solid piece is inlayed in the structure on both sides of the case. See the instructor demonstrate how to handle a Bechstein grand piano pinblock.

(I, A) Grand Piano Disassembly Techniques Wim Blees, RPT, Hawaii Chapter This class features some helpful hints for taking apart a grand piano for rebuilding, including measuring the scale, removing strings and pins, measuring and sorting screws and hardware, and removing dampers.

(I) Hand Tool Woodworking for Field Technicians Ben Rocke, RPT, Connecticut Chapter A hand plane, chisels, and a dovetail saw accompany Ben to ev-ery tuning. In Part I, learn to apply the techniques of hand tool woodworking to common piano repairs. Get involved with live demonstrations and class participation! In Part 2, you’ll learn how to buy quality used tools and upgrade them to better-than-new condition.

(E) Hide Glue: Bringing It Out From Hiding Vince Mrykalo, RPT, Kansas City, MO Chapter Many piano technicians avoid using hide glue for a variety of reasons. Aside from the minor hassle that it is of preparing the glue for use, the next biggest reason perhaps is that they do not understand how to use it. We’ll cover the basic rules of handling and using hide glue so that you can go back to your own shop and successfully work with the stuff. Expect to even have a little fun in the process.

(A) Install a New WNG Upright Action Bruce Clark, Wessel, Nickel & Gross You’ll learn how to select, order and install a new WNG upright action in an upright piano. WNG has created tools and methods to enable a technician to install an action using straight forward small factory methods. This class will add a level of understand-ing of upright pianos that will benefit all technicians.

(A) Installing a WNG Damper Action Bruce Clark, Wessel, Nickel & Gross Discover the advantages of a composite damper action as well as the specific features of the WNG damper action relevant to the job. Bruce will present a complete methodology for the in-stallation of the WNG back action. He will also cover the tools, methods and supplies required to accomplish the job.

(E) New Hammers - Do It Yourself or Outsource Norbert Abel & Alexander Abel, Abel Hammer Company Whether doing all hammer replacement by yourself or out-sourcing some jobs, it is important as a technician to use your time efficiently to improve business and optimize your work. Norbert talks about unbored (for self-boring), standard bored and custom-made hammers. He will also discuss refelting exist-ing hammers, changing worn parts and making square grand hammers. 30 years of quality hammer making allows the Abel Hammer Company to offer expert advice and full service for all technicians.

(E) Practical Touchweight Melanie Brooks & John Gallen, Brooks, Ltd. Using practical terms and methods, the instructors will discuss how to take and interpret touchweight measurements that allow you to diagnose root causes of problem actions and give you better language to explain to and meet the needs of our clients. See how a small amount of effort can considerably improve the end product in grand hammers and action parts replacement.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ page at convention.ptg.org

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(I, A) Rebuilder’s Grab Bag David Hughes, RPT, Baltimore, MD Chapter This 90-minute potpourri will cover a myriad of topics for re-builders of all experience levels including plate refinishing, plate fasteners, bridge layout, damper action installation, hammer weight, keyboard touch weight and more. Feel free to introduce other topics from the floor as well. Dave will provide a series of slides and accompanying pontification just for you.

(B) Recapping the Vertical Bass Bridge Without Removing the Plate Christian Bolduc, Piano Bolduc Learn an easy way to replace spitted bridge caps on uprights without using epoxy or other glues to fix bridge pin problems. Find out 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.

(E) Vertical Hammer Hanging Wally Brooks, RPT, Connecticut Chapter Learn the process of installing new hammers in an upright piano from start to finish. We’ll discuss hammer boring measure-ments. You’ll also learn how to hang upright hammers on old shanks, how to bore out an old set of butts and how to install pre-shanked hammers.

SERVICE & REPAIR(E) 6-Pack of Mini-Technicals Isaac Sadigursky, RPT, Los Angeles, CA Chapter These 5-15 minute mini-technicals were presented at Los An-geles Chapter meetings before main speakers, You’ll experience a fast-moving, very informative presentation of field problems, failed repairs, tool modifications, time-saving tips, field kits to perform certain tasks, unusual repairs, and dealing with broken screws and the proper way to extract them.

(E) Action Cloth and Felt: How to Make a Firm Choice Norman Cantrell, RPT, Central Oklahoma Chapter This class provides an overview of felt and cloth used in piano actions. You will learn proper selection criteria of felt and cloth as well as methods to cut and prepare material for use in pianos. A discussion of proper adhesives will also be included.

(E) A Baker’s Dozen of Basic Beginner Mistakes Randi Potter, RPT, ARPT, Portland, OR Chapter New tuners wonder what issues and repairs they will see when they start tuning for clients in homes. We will go through a Baker’s Dozen of them; what they look like, sound like, act like, how to diagnose them quickly, 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.

(E) Bending Grand Damper Wires - BYOT John Butler, RPT, Washington, DC Chapter Learn how to take a damper head with wire attached, glue on the damper felt, and install the damper into the piano. A slide/video presentation will cover all the basic bends and you’ll have an opportunity to immediately apply the instructions presented in the video. Each individual will have a one-note damper as-sembly to work with. You must bring your own tools: a pair of needle nose pliers, a small straight screwdriver, and a pair of bending pliers. No pre-registration required, but models will only be provided for the first 30 students to walk in the door. Observers welcome.

(E) Competency-Proficiency Playground Bill Davis, RPT; Gabe Granitz, RPT & Sheffey Gregory, RPT, Atlanta, GA Chapter Learn at your own pace. Watch and hear step-by-step demon-strations, then practice specific skills in an environment designed for success. Fundamental string splicing, making clean and tight coils and beckets, hammer traveling, damper alignment, verti-cal and grand aftertouch, key bushing, flange re-pinning, and making good measurements comprise the competency portion. Advance concepts in string repair and wire bending, making direct splices in the piano, bass strings splices, under the capo repair and measuring bass strings for replacement comprise the core of the proficiency portion. Tools and materials provided. Whether just starting out or a 30-year technician, this hands-on class offers the best practice opportunity to improve and polish skills. The Playground is available all day. Stay five minutes or all day. Chapter leaders are encouraged to drop in and learn how to incorporate this successful model into your local programs.

(E) Finding Joy in Your Toolkit Dan Levitan RPT, New York City, NY Chapter Explore the design principles behind tool kits that encourage excellent work and are a daily pleasure to use. This class features a wealth of ideas - borrowed from compact urban kits - for streamlining and reducing weight without sacrificing quality.



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(E) First Do No Harm Steve Brady, RPT, Seattle Chapter & Carl Lieberman, RPT, South Bay, CA Chapter We’ll take a look at the ways in which piano technicians unin-tentionally tend to damage the pianos they work on, and how they sometimes hurt their own bodies. Includes suggestions for preventing and reversing the damage.

(E) French Polishing Using Modern Methods Doug Gregg, Long Island-Suffolk, NY Chapter This class features an illustrated lecture on finish restoration without stripping, using hand rubbed shellac. Newer materials allow a one step process that can be done in a home or shop. Some retouching methods will also be shown, i.e. water marks and scratches. Results compare to a factory finish and are safer and faster than stripping and spraying. Attendance for this lec-ture is required to participate in the “Modern French Polishing Workshop.”

(E) French Polishing Workshop Doug Gregg, Long Island-Suffolk, NY Chapter Try your hand at French polishing piano parts. Participants will work on one piece and receive some individual coaching. You must have attended the “French Polishing Using Modern Methods” lecture to participate in this hands-on workshop. Pre-registration required. Hands-on session limited to 15 participants. Observers welcome.

(I, A) Grand Action In-Home Analysis Nick Gravagne, RPT, Phoenix, AZ Chapter & Rick Baldassin, RPT, Salt Lake City, UT Chapter Taking the action back to the shop? Have you taken all the nec-essary measurements and notated observations at the piano such as the keybed to string height? Attendees will receive a complete check list and a PowerPoint file to take home. We’ll also cover how to set things up for efficiency at the workbench. Learn how to let the action inform you as well as grasp what is the bottom line on action ratios.

(E) Heavy Hammers? How Do You Know? Nick Gravagne, RPT, Phoenix, AZ Chapter A customer calls complaining about an action that is either too heavy or too light. Do you have a simple procedure (checklist) that you can perform in the home? Is the problem friction, ge-ometry, or hammers that are either too heavy or too light? Join us and find out what you can do to diagnose the problem.

(E) How Tools Work John Dewey, Central Illinois Chapter Discover the basics of how the rules of leverage and motion af-fect how tools work. You’ll learn about “rule of thumb” formu-las that will help you decide what tool to use. The ideas you hear will help you think about how the tools you use work and how you can use them more efficiently.

(E) Humidity and Wood Charles Rempel, Dampp-Chaser Corp & Christian Bolduc, Pianos Bolduc Join in this discussion-style class in which we analyze the relationship between relative humidity and wood. Our goal is to equip technicians with a better understanding of exactly what fluctuating humidity does to wood in general and pianos specifically. We’ll also discuss what steps are taken to counteract improper humidity levels and fluctuations in the Bolduc factory and what can be done to help pianos wherever they are.

(E) Lacquer Finish Repair Ruth Zeiner, RPT, Allied Piano See a demonstration of the touch-up of traditional finishes. Discover how to make repairs and de-gunk the finish. Burn-ins, color matching, pigments vs. dyes and other subjects will be covered. Bring your questions.

(E) Love That Bluthner! James Reeder, RPT, Bluthner USA, LLD & Julius Bluthner Pianofortefabrik, GmbH Discover the Bluthner piano as we examine specific construction techniques and materials, action regulation points, and voicing techniques. You’ll learn how to prepare for a concert and how to satisfy the concert pianist requests. You’ll also take a look at the Bluthner Patent action, a survey of old to current production instruments and what is up and coming with Bluthner instru-ment production.

(E) Make It Shine Ruth Zeiner, RPT, Allied Piano Having the skills to cope with scratches, dings and gouges in glossy finishes enhances your value to your customers. Many nicks and scratches are easy to repair with minimal material investment. Repairs, sanding out scratches, and polishing will be demonstrated and discussed.

(E) Practical Tuning; Tips for Home and Shop Jeff Hickey, RPT, Portland, OR Chapter Discover how to approach the in-home service call (always tighten the bench!). You’ll hear tips and solutions to everyday is-sues in trapwork and pedal repairs. Learn more about replacing spring cords in Schwander actions and repairing stripped screws. This class will also include a host of tips with slides showing practical ways to solve home and shop issues along with tuning tips from a 20-year CTE. Practical tuning. Really.

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(A) Preparation of New Grand Pianos: Making a Difference Dealers Will Pay For Don Mannino, RPT, Kawai America Corp. 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, we’ll 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, we’ll discuss working with dealers so that they will learn to value the results of the preparation.

(E) Repairing Veneer Damage Donald C. Williams, Retired Senior Furniture Conservator at the Smithsonian Institution See a demonstration of the method Mr. Williams uses to make veneer repairs when the damage is irregularly shaped and the repair must be unobtrusive.

(E) Service Issues: Bösendorfer Now and Then Ray Chandler, RPT, & Ferdinand Bräe, Bösendorfer Bösendorfer has a history of piano building dating back to 1828. Some design features have changed over the years and replace-ment parts for many older models are no longer available. We will identify some of the major changes in construction over the years, and demonstrate service and procedural approaches for these instruments.

(I, A) Taking the Upright Piano Seriously Fred Sturm, RPT, New Mexico Chapter Upright pianos are often given little serious attention. An up-right can be made into a relatively refined musical instrument by using focused and organized techniques. Based on procedures learned at the Sauter Piano factory in Germany, and refined over 30 years of university work, Fred will show you how. Period 1 will focus on prep, period 2 on regulation.

(E) What’s in Your (My) Toolbox Jim Kelly, Palmetto, SC Chapter This class discusses tools that Jim has found to make life easier for a field technician. Let’s face it - we are all tool freaks. How-ever, having the right tool to do the job makes all the difference. Tools are an investment and we need to select them wisely. We’ll discuss and demonstrate tools such as inspection scopes, electronic stethoscopes, microscopes, lasers, data loggers, Dre-mel tools, magnets, gyroscopic drills, computers such as iPads, laptops and even GPS software on a laptop.

(E) Where Does that Sound Come From? Ace Ugai and David Durben, RPT, Yamaha In this class you’ll see how regulation and tuning have a direct effect on tone quality. Discover how to lay the foundation for good tone quality and how you can build on that with confi-dence in a good and predictable result.

(E) Working with Vertical and Grand Dampers Richard Bittner, RPT, Detroit-Windsor, MI Chapter Don’t miss this opportunity! The presenter discloses his secrets for working with vertical and grand dampers to stop them from ringing and improve the overall sound of the piano.

TUNING(E) 21st Century Tuning Style Kent Swafford, RPT, Kansas City, MO Chapter This class is the culmination of Kent’s “Pythagoras” project, which was undertaken to fully describe, codify, and disseminate a modern tuning style. This tuning style integrates stretch and temperament. Pure 12th equal temperament, tuned uniformly across the entire scale, allows all tunable pianos to have a similar characteristic consonant, coherent, pure sound.

(E) About Aural Tuning Rick Butler, RPT, Washington, DC Chapter In this two-period class, Rick will discuss the relationship be-tween aural tuning and music. It will feature a detailed discus-sion and demonstration of the interval relationships used in aural tuning. Anyone wishing to be an aural tuner, improve their aural tuning skills, or prepare for the tuning exam will benefit. Attendees will receive a detailed booklet.

(E) Aural Tuning Concert David Andersen, South Bay, CA Chapter This two-period class features a complete aural tuning using David’s “follow the fourths” protocol and simple yet innovative techniques to produce a custom, musical, rock-solid, soaring, beautiful tuning. He will use one period to tune and one period to break down the tuning step by step, so everyone can hear and understand clearly and ask any questions that arise. Every piano and every pianist deserves custom work. The better you tune, the more money and respect you garner. It’s that simple. We’ll have a lot of fun.

Get a complete list of class descriptions at convention.ptg.org

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(E) Aurally Troubleshooting the Midrange: An Organized Strategy Mitch Kiel, RPT & Mary Kiel, RPT, Twin Cities, MN Chapter A temperament sequence is only the first step in creating a good aural tuning. More important and challenging (but unfortunately more neglected), is the next step: refining your tuning by finding and fixing the errors inevitable in every first pass. Focusing on the midrange, we’ll demonstrate a simple five step troubleshoot-ing process that will help you stay organized and prioritized. Class handouts will include a Connected Interval Visualizer that graphically illustrates the all-important Big Picture – how retuning a single note simultaneously affects the beat speeds of its 3rds, 4ths, 5ths and octaves. Aural tuning is mostly mental, so our goal is to help you learn to think like an experienced aural tuner – and ultimately pass Part 1 of the RPT Tuning Exam, aurally tuning the midrange.

(B) Basic Tuning Theory Jim Geiger, RPT, Heart of Texas Chapter Investigate the vibrating string, partials (overtones), coincident partials, musical scale, intervals, ratios, temperament, beats, different kinds of octaves, inharmonicity, the turnover and other factors that affect tuning. Question and comments are encour-aged.

(E) Mock Exams: The Ultimate Tuning Exam Prep Tool Mitch Kiel, RPT & Mary Kiel, RPT, Twin Cities, MN Chapter Aural tuning is in decline because ETDs have become so smart. Ironically, ETDs are also the best aural teaching tool you never knew you had. Mock Exams use the RPT Tuning Exam scoring program already included in most ETDs to provide you with a free, easy, and accurate way to score your aural practice tunings and track your (increasing!) aural tuning skills. In this class, you’ll learn how to give yourself (or your student) a Mock Exam, hear the difference between the sound of a tuning that passes or fails the exam, aurally troubleshoot and repair points-off scoring er-rors, and reverse-engineer your score sheet’s numbers to predict the sound of problem intervals.

(E) Pitch Perception & Tuning Ken Forrest, Past President UK Pianoforte Tuners Association The ear’s sense of pitch runs roughly close to frequency, but not exactly. Some tuning customers can challenge your tuning - particularly singers and string players - and this class attempts to help you to understand the issues and be confident in respond-ing to the customer.

(E) Music of the Spheres Daniel Sponenburg, RPT, Reading-Lancaster, PA Chapter Music is a language, but harmony is a force of nature. This class uncovers the beauty and power of ancient and modern harmo-ny using mathematical language. You’ll also examine harmonic continuity from the molecular through the celestial levels.

(E) Techniques for Passing Part 1 of the Tuning Exam Bill Bremmer, RPT, Madison, WI Chapter The focus will be exclusively on the techniques required to pass Part 1 of the PTG Tuning Exam. You’ll explore the benefits and perils of finding pitch from both a tuning fork and an aural elec-tronic source. You’ll see demonstrations of three temperament tuning sequences: a traditional fourths and fifths sequence and two sequences which begin with a chain of contiguous major thirds. Completion of the Midrange will follow.

(E) Temperament Theory Without Tears Steve Brady, RPT, Seattle, WA Chapter Not quite clear on why we have to temper the scale? Or the dif-ference between Meantone Temperament, Well Temperament, and Equal Temperament? In this class we explore the whole topic with no need for mathematics beyond arithmetic. Includes demonstrations at the piano.

(I, A) Tuning Limits of Piano Harmony Daniel Sponenburg, RPT, Reading-Lancaster, PA Chapter Tuning has boundaries. A technician needs to know those boundaries to execute a good tuning. You’ll examine the har-monic laws that underpin our work then go on to discover how these laws are bent to conform to our modern 12-tone system. Also covered is tone adjusting and regulating and their effect on perceived harmony, different types of tuning methods and achieving stability in tuning.

(E) Tuning Tutoring Taylor Mackinnon, RPT, Portland, OR Chapter & Richard West, RPT, Tucson, AZ Chapter There’s no better way to improve your tuning than one-on-one tutoring by a master tuner. Private tutoring will benefit you no matter what your skill level. With outstanding tuning tutors, you’ll find a universe of tuning knowledge to explore. This all takes place in a one-on-one format lasting 90 minutes. Limit of 18 Slots. You must pre-register for this class Call (913) 432-9975. Fee: $120.

ELECTRONIC TUNING DEVICES(E) CyberTuner Tames the Comma of Pythagoras Dean Reyburn, RPT & Carl Lieberman, RPT, Reyburn CyberTuner, Inc. iRCT is constantly evolving to raise the standard of piano tun-ing. We will describe CyberTuner’s thinking for creating and rapidly stabilizing beautiful sounding tunings. All the latest features and improvements will be discussed.

Register online today at convention.ptg.org

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(E) Tuning Efficiently with the Accu-Tuner Paul Sanderson, Inventronics, Inc. See how you can use the Accu-Tuner to lighten your work load. It has the ability to take the work out of tuning, letting you auto pilot through your tunings and saving your ears and brain a lot of work. Take three measurements and get tuning quickly and accurately. Learn how to create tunings with or without custom adjustments to tailor the tuning to your taste. Come with your questions and we’ll make time to answer them.

(E) Tuning with the Verituner Dave Carpenter, RPT, Veritune, Inc. See up close how to take advantage of the unique tuning features of the Verituner product line, including our app for iPhone, iPod and iPad. This class will cover pitch raises, fine tun-ing, setting standard pitch, temperament, stretch styles, and sav-ing tunings. Learn the best practices for getting a great sounding tuning on any piano with the fewest steps.

(E) TuneLab for Android and iPhone Robert Scott, TuneLab This class covers all the basic features of TuneLab, including how to use the Phase Display and Spectrum Display, normal tuning procedures, pitch-raise mode, tuning to non-standard pitches, saving tuning files, and ways of customizing the stretch.

VOICING & CONCERT PREP(E) Ear Training for Voicing Keith Akins, RPT, Appleton, WI Chapter & Ari Isaac, Toronto, ON Increase customer satisfaction, enhance your reputation and grow your income by improving your voicing skills. Through a combination of audio tracks and live demonstration, this class will help you hear voicing issues - which are different from tun-ing. Learn effective voicing techniques along with the essentials of hammer function.

(I, A) How Hammers Work Del Fandrich, RPT, Puget Sound, WA Chapter This class concentrates on how piano hammers are designed, how they are made and how they work. Voicing techniques that work well for one type of hammer do not necessarily work well with another. In this class we delve into the mysteries of what happens when the hammer strikes the strings.

(E) How to Make a Piano Sing David Andersen, South Bay, CA Chapter, Mason & Hamlin When a good piano is brought to its maximum efficiency via regulation, tuning, and voicing, something magnificent happens; it starts to “sing,” to bloom, to sustain. Players start to smile, checks are written, everybody’s happy. If a piano technician can master these skills, success in our business is assured. David will be working with one of the finest pianos in the world, the Mason & Hamlin, and paying special attention to the revolutionary and spectacular WNG parts, and how the whole M&H system works together, but the information presented applies to all pianos. Special and famous guests will appear.

(E) Tone Building: From the Anechoic Chamber to the Band-aid Drawer Jim Busby, RPT, Utah Valley Chapter & Vince Mrykalo, Kansas City, MO Chapter Is there anything that doesn’t affect piano tone? Using informa-tion from spectrum analysis studies at BYU, we’ll see how regu-lation, string prepping, and other things not considered “voic-ing” actually contribute to tone more than we think. Beginning to more advanced voicing techniques will be discussed.

(E) Voicing Abel Hammers Joe Swenson, Samick Music Corp. & Norbert Abel, Abel Hammer Company Following a presentation on the details of hammer manufactur-ing, we’ll demonstrate a variety of voicing procedures using examples of Abel Hammers made to different manufacturing specifications. These hammers will be installed on a section of a single piano, highlighting the different tonal characteristics and voicing requirements of these various hammers.

(I) Voicing to the Max Don Mannino, RPT, Kawai America Corp. Finding the optimum tone for a fine grand piano and for the piano owner/type of use can be a challenge. Getting the best sound from each piano can also be a challenge! In this class Don explores the full scope of voicing a fine grand piano: preparation of the piano, regulation for tone, and finally the full gamut of voicing the hammers themselves to produce the type of tone de-sired for that piano and that location. If you’ve heard beautiful well-prepared pianos before and wondered what the process is to get that special tone out of the instrument, don’t miss this class!

(E) Voicing Without Needles Zhiwei Huang, RPT, San Francisco, CA Chapter When a piano needs voicing, don’t immediately reach for needles and lacquer. In this class, you’ll see other techniques that can eliminate the need for jabbing or juicing. Learn how to make tone more focused, reduce or eliminate buzzes and false beats, and make a spinet sound like a grand.



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RPT EXAMSWritten Introduction to the RPT Written Exam Jack Stebbins, RPT and Robert Guenther, RPT This class is revealing. It will acquaint you with the field of knowledge that will be explored on the Written Exam. It will ex-pose the breadth of material with which you need to be conver-sant as a piano technician. If you are new to the field, come find out what you need to know. For PTG members only.

Take the RPT Written Examination Jack Stebbins, RPT and Robert Guenther, RPT This is your opportunity to take the RPT Written Exam. Ex-aminees should come to the room indicated on the schedule. Visually impaired technicians will take their exams in the ETSC office. You must bring your current PTG membership card with you to take the exam. No extra fee required to take the written exam. For PTG members only.

Tuning Inside the Tuning Exam Keith Kopp, RPT You will be led through the requirements of the RPT Tuning Exam and an get an overview of exam equipment and proce-dures. Find out how to prepare for the exam, what tools and supplies you will need to bring to the exam site, and what exam-inees are entitled to know before, during and after the examina-tion. Learn how to best utilize your time, improve efficiency, cope with exam anxiety, and other skills and strategies you need to successfully tackle the exam. For PTG members only.

Technical Introduction to the PTG Technical Exam Dave Davis, RPT & Ann Fell, RPT We will walk through the Technical Exam and its require-ments. There will be examples of exam equipment, models, and jigs such as one would find on the test. Come find out how to prepare for the exam, what tools and supplies you will need to bring to the exam site, and what examinees are entitled to know before, during and after the examination. Learn ways to best utilize your time, improve efficiency, cope with exam anxiety and other skills and strategies you need to successfully tackle the exam and in your daily field work. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. For PTG members only.

Examiner Training Tuning Examiner and Assistant Training Atsundo Aikawa, RPT Administering or helping with a Tuning Exam is one of the best ways to hone your knowledge and skill of tuning. In this class, we’ll discuss requirements and procedures to become a Certified Tuning Examiner, tips and pitfalls of giving an exam, aural veri-fication, handling difficult situations, and new 3-part procedures. For RPT members only.

Technical Examiner Requirements and Training Dave Davis, RPT Supervising examiners on Technical Exams must be certified as TECs (Technical Examiner, Certified) in order for the exam to be valid. We’ll discuss certification requirements, demonstrate exam equipment, analyze the skills and attitudes required of a competent examiner, and talk about common exam problems and issues. All RPTs with an interest in Technical testing, TECs with questions, TEC trainees and RPTs just thinking about get-ting involved in testing are invited to attend. For RPT members only.

PTG Exhibit HallWednesday, July 12 Grand Opening Noon - 4:30 p.m.

Thursday & Friday July 13 & 14 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. & 2:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 15 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

See all of your favorite suppliers, manufacturers and vendors in the PTG Convention Exhibit Hall. Visit convention.ptg.org to see the most up-to-date list of exhibitors.

Cash & Carry Lunch on Wednesday Starting at Noon

$15 lunch coupon with full registration Sponsored in part by Gazelle Network

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Frequently asked questionsCan I attend an Institute class without registering? Only Institute registrants may attend classes. Spouses and children of PTG members may register to attend classes at the member rate.

Can I visit the exhibit hall without registering for the convention? Free exhibit hall passes are available for guests of those registered for the convention. You can add exhibit hall guests at convention.ptg.org when registering or on the registration form at the back of this book.

Can I register for only one or two days of classes? There are two convention registration options: one that includes all 4 days of classes and a special Weekend Pass good for all day Friday and Saturday.

Can I register for special classes on-site? If there are spaces available for any of the classes requiring pre-registration, you are welcome to sign up when you pick up your packet. These classes fill up fast so you are encouraged to register as early as possible.

Do I need to pre-register for Institute classes? No, most of the classes are included in your registration fee and you can set your own schedule. However, some classes have limited enrollment and/or may require an additional fee.

Are the RPT Exams offered during the convention? All three of the RPT exams can be taken during the convention. Go to convention.ptg.org and click on the exams link for more information.

Can I tape classes or any of the convention functions? Audio or videotaping of convention functions is prohibited without the express written permission of the PTG Executive Director. Any taping of classes must also be approved by the instructor.

Can anyone attend the Saturday night Golden Hammer Banquet? Yes. Purchase additional Golden Hammer Banquet ticket for only $45. Tickets must be purchased by noon on Wednesday.


Planning your trip to the 2017 PTG Convention & Technical Institute can seem overwhelming, so we’ve created this guide to help you get the most out of your visit.Here is some info to assist you in your endeavor.

Understand how the PTG Convention & Technical Institute works - From the outside a convention can be intimidating, but if you know how things are organized it can help make sense of it all. For that reason we have divided the convention and institute into smaller categories.

Classes - Classes start on Wednesday and continue through Saturday. Classes are divided into periods and are, in most cases, available more than once just in case you have a scheduling conflict. There are four or five periods per day with short breaks in between periods. The institute team has worked very hard to provide classes for every skill level. Designated skill levels for each class can be found just before the title of the class in the class descriptions. Skill levels are: (E) Everyone, (I) Intermediate, (B) Basic, (A) Advanced.

Exhibit Hall - Usually open twice daily, the exhibit hall has something for every technician. It’s an opportunity to learn more about a product or a company before you make a purchase. Some of our exhibitors even have prizes. The PTG store offers a 10% discount on all cash and carry store items as well. Been holding off on buying some PTG apparel? This is your opportunity to save! The Exhibit Hall opens at noon on Wednesday and serves lunch.

Meetings - The PTG Board of Directors and the PTGF Board will both be meeting in St. Louis. Both are open to visitors who are interested in the discussions behind each agenda item. Check the daily schedule for date and times.

Council - On Monday and Tuesday, PTG chapter delegates will convene to discuss bylaws, make changes and vote on proposals. Visitors are welcome.

Web Application - With the free PTG web app you can schedule and preview all of your classes. Easily search by category, skill level, day, class period, instructor and keyword. It works on all devices with access to the internet!my.ptg.org/webapp

Text updates - You can sign up to receive text messages during the convention. It’s a great way to stay up on what’s happening and to get reminders about up-coming events. And it’s easy.

Discounts - Get 10% OFF items at the PTG Store while supplies last - Cash and carry only.

Your PTG Convention & Institute registration badge or your IAPBT registration badge is a coupon for 10% OFF Food and beverage in the restaurant outlets -Station Grille & Grand Hall Market - Starbucks.

Restaurants - Aside from Landry’s Seafood, The Station Grill and the Hard Rock Cafe, you will find a great selection of dining options within a few blocks of the hotel. For breakfast there is Roosters (4.3/5 stars) - Daytime hub for farm-fresh fare and crêpes. For lunch and dinner, here are a few options:

Eleven Eleven Mississippi (4.5 out of 5 stars) - California eatery.

Lombardo’s Trattoria (4.4 out of 5 stars) - Italian

Pappy’s Smokehouse (4.6 out of 5 stars) - Popular down-home barbecue joint.

Small Batch (4.5 out of 5 stars) - whiskey & new American eats.

Syberg’s On Market (3.7 out of 5 stars) - pizza & hot wings.

Vin De Set (4.2 out of 5 stars) - French Bistro

White Knight Diner (4.7 out of 5 stars) - Old-school landmark for American grub - sandwiches.

Need more help or information? Visit convention.ptg.org or call 913-432-9975


Make your St. Louis, MO plans today! Join the largest community of piano technicians dedicated to their trade. Classes, concerts, exams, exhibits, networking and much more - there is no better place to find the tools you need to be the best.

Hotel AccommodationsSt. Louis Union Station Hotel1820 Market StreetSt. Louis MO 63103TEL: 314-231-1234

A Legend Among Historic Hotels in St. LouisSt. Louis Union Station Hotel, a AAA-approved Four Diamond hotel known for its refined and stylish upscale attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. Many of the rooms give a nod to Union Station’s history with artwork and decor depicting railroad themes. And several suites offer views of the historic side of the building that looks out over Market Street with a glimpse of the landmark Meeting of the Waters Fountain.

Featuring:• Reduced parking fees of $10.00 per day for all

convention attendees

• Free internet in all guest rooms

• The entire convention and institute conveniently located under one roof !

Special PTG Prices Single/Double/Triple/Quad Occupancy: $139 per nightMention PIANO TECH GUILD 17 to receive the PTG discounted rate. Discount rate guaranteed through June 7. Valid July 7 – July 17.

Reserve your room online through convention.ptg.orgor call 314-231-1234. Mention you are with PTG.

Want a roommate? Find a link to the room share bulletin board at convention.ptg.org.

AirportLambert-St . Louis International Airport www.flystl.com

Ground TransportationTrain www.amtrak.com GO BEST Express Airport Shuttle10% OFF standard rates. - gobestexpress.comTell them you are with the Piano Technicians Guild when you call 1-877-STL-GOVAN (1-877-785-4682). Customer Service Representatives are available 24 hours a day.

6 0 t h A n n u a l P i a n o T e c h n i c i a n s G u i l d C o n v e n t i o n & T e c h n i c a l I n s t i t u t e

Pianos, A Life

See you in St . Louis!

Personal Information 2017 PTG Convention & Technical Institute Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________City/State/Zip: ___________________________________ Country:____________________________ Email:___________________________Company name: _______________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________q I require special accommodations to fully participate. Please describe your needs:________________________________________________

Payment q Check enclosed

Card #: __________________________________________________________ Expiration date:________________ CVV code:__________

Name on card: ______________________________________________________ Total Amount Enclosed: $___________________

2017 Registration Fees By 6/7/17 After 6/7/17

PTG Member Full Pass q $479 q $539

Non-Member Full Pass q $629 q $689

Add a Business Managers Special q $59 q $59

Name________________________________ City_________________ State______

Full registration includes Golden Hammer banquet ticket ( Saturday) For add’l tickets see below.Choose meal type: q Regular q Vegetarian q Not attending

By 6/7/17 After 6/7/17

PTG Member Weekend Pass (Friday & Saturday) q $354 q $414

Non-Member Weekend Pass (Friday & Saturday) q $504 q $564

OptionsLimited Seating/Additional Fee Classes Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayFrench Polishing Workshop - Limit 15/class q Free X q Free XBellyman’s Holiday - Limit 25 - All Day X X q $99 XGrand Regulation Actionpalooza - Limit 24 - All day X X X q $40Tuning Tutoring (Thursday - Saturday)Call 913-432-9975 to schedule your tutoring. X q $120 q $120 q $120

RPT Exams: Submit Exam Form - convention.ptg.org/exams

Full Tuning Exam q $180 Tuning Exam - 2 parts q $120 Tuning Exam - 1 part q $60Full Technical Exam q $180 Technical Exam - 2 parts q $120 Technical Exam - 1 part q $120

City Tours - book by June 1st Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

St. Louis City Tour - Full Day q $95 x ____ X X XBotanical Gardens/Historic St. Charles - Full Day X q $65 x ____ X XBrewery Tour - Half Day X X q $35 x ____ XIAPBT Luncheon (Friday) q $30 x ____ q Regular q Vegetarian

Golden Hammer Banquet (Saturday) q $45 x ____ q Regular q Vegetarian

Free Exhibit Hall Name______________________________________________City/State______________________ Guest Badges Name______________________________________________City/State______________________

SAVE $300!

SAVE $200!



Limit one discount per registration. Each discount must be redeemed in a single transaction. Dis-counts cannot be combined. The discounts carry no cash value and cannot be transferred, negotiat-ed, sold, redeemed against cash or combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. To register using either discount you must contact Member Services at [email protected] or call 913-432-9975.

Cancellations and requests for refunds must be received in writing by June 7, 2017. Refunds will be processed less a $35 administrative fee. No refunds will be made after June 7. By registering for this event, I give my permission for The Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. to use, without limitations or obligations, photographs, film footage, or tape recordings which may include my image or voice for the purpose of promoting or interpreting Piano Technicians Guild programs.

Weekend passes do not include a Golden Hammer banquet ticket ( Saturday) Purchase tickets below.

Documents

60th Annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention & … · 60th Annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention & Technical Institute T ... solos with the Omaha Symphony, ... 60th Annual Piano