Repair & Service Classes
NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.
“Baker’s Dozen of Beginners Boo-Boos”
(Randy
Potter School of Piano Technology)
Randy Potter, RPT
Randy Potter, RPT
Randy Potter has been tuning and servicing pianos for 32 years. He is the
founder and director of the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology, which
is the largest school training piano technicians in the world, and has students
and graduates in over 80 countries. He 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.
New tuners wonder what kind of repairs they are going to see when they
start tuning pianos for clients in their homes. We will go through a
Baker’s Dozen of them; what they act like, how to diagnose them, and
how to fix them right the first time. Included will be sluggish and loose
key and action parts, string and pedal issues, including hard-to-find
squeaks, clicks, clunks and swishes.
Grand Action Rejuvenation
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve Brady served as head piano technician at the University of Washington
in Seattle for 25 years, and during that time he tuned and prepared pianos
for nearly 5,000 concerts and recitals, and worked with most of the leading
pianists of our time. He served as Institute Director at the PTG annual convention
in 1994. In 1996 he received the PTG “Member of Note” award. For six years,
from 1995 through 2000, he served as editor of the Piano Technicians Journal.
In June of 1999, PTG published his book, A Piano Technician’s Guide to Field
Repairs, which is now in its second edition.. His new book, Under the Lid:
The Art & Craft of the Concert Piano Technician, was published in March
of 2008 by Byzantium Books.
More than a simple regulation, less than a shop-based reconditioning,
this one-day procedure will give new life to grand pianos that have received
moderate to hard use for 5-10 years. Includes procedures for rejuvenating
knuckles, key bushings, action centers, lubricating critical points,
and regulating the action “in the real world.”
The Full-service Approach to Piano Maintenance
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve Brady, RPT
Steve Brady served as head piano technician at the University of Washington
in Seattle for 25 years, and during that time he tuned and prepared pianos
for nearly 5,000 concerts and recitals, and worked with most of the leading
pianists of our time. He served as Institute Director at the PTG annual convention
in 1994. In 1996 he received the PTG “Member of Note” award. For six years,
from 1995 through 2000, he served as editor of the Piano Technicians Journal.
In June of 1999, PTG published his book, A Piano Technician’s Guide to Field
Repairs, which is now in its second edition.. His new book, Under the Lid:
The Art & Craft of the Concert Piano Technician, was published in March
of 2008 by Byzantium Books.
Take your daily work to a new level with this full-service approach,
by “servicing” instead of “tuning” the pianos in your clientele. Increase
your income and customer satisfaction while making your job more interesting
and rewarding.
Offered on Supernova Sunday
Vertical Piano Service and Troubleshooting (Steinway)
Kent Webb
Kent Webb – Manager, Technical Service and Support, Steinway & Sons
Kent is the Manager of Technical Service and Support for Steinway & Sons.
In this position, Kent oversees and conducts the Steinway Training Academy.
He also works closely with All-Steinway Schools and Institutions to develop
and maintain service strategies and resources. In addition, Kent coordinates
service literature and publications, works closely with Festival Events, and
participates extensively in educational events.
Kent Webb has been involved in the piano industry for over 30 years as a
concert technician and rebuilder. In addition to his position at Steinway & Sons,
Kent served as a contributing writer and consultant for both editions of The
Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments (Garland Press, NY, NY) supplying articles
on rebuilding, regulation, tuning, and piano design. He also served as technical
columnist for the Soundboard, a publication for music educators in the United
States with a circulation of over 50,000. Prior to his position with Steinway,
Kent was the National Service Manager for Baldwin Piano Company for 10 years.
Kent also was on the Board of Advisors for the School of Piano Technology at
Western Iowa Tech and the Board of Industry Advisors for the University of
Western Ontario for their School of Piano Technology. Kent has taught at over
400 local, regional, national, and international events.
Kent will discuss the various problems, causes, and repair techniques
associated with the vertical piano. Included will be noise diagnosis,
regulation tips, touch analysis, and other items we encounter in our
service schedules. The vertical piano is still the most commonly encountered
piano we service today. Be sure not to miss this essential class on this
important aspect of our market.
Offered on Hyperdrive Thursday
When Bad Things Happen to Good Pianos (Steinway)
Kent Webb
Kent Webb – Manager, Technical Service and Support, Steinway & Sons
Kent is the Manager of Technical Service and Support for Steinway & Sons.
In this position, Kent oversees and conducts the Steinway Training Academy.
He also works closely with All-Steinway Schools and Institutions to develop
and maintain service strategies and resources. In addition, Kent coordinates
service literature and publications, works closely with Festival Events, and
participates extensively in educational events.
Kent Webb has been involved in the piano industry for over 30 years as a
concert technician and rebuilder. In addition to his position at Steinway & Sons,
Kent served as a contributing writer and consultant for both editions of The
Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments (Garland Press, NY, NY) supplying articles
on rebuilding, regulation, tuning, and piano design. He also served as technical
columnist for the Soundboard, a publication for music educators in the United
States with a circulation of over 50,000. Prior to his position with Steinway,
Kent was the National Service Manager for Baldwin Piano Company for 10 years.
Kent also was on the Board of Advisors for the School of Piano Technology at
Western Iowa Tech and the Board of Industry Advisors for the University of
Western Ontario for their School of Piano Technology. Kent has taught at over
400 local, regional, national, and international events.
As we service pianos daily we encounter many diverse situations. Pianos
span a wide range of styles, ages, and conditions and the problems we
address reflect this diversity. Often it is true that diagnosis is ninety
percent of the cure. Problems we rarely encounter can waste valuable
time as we search for the causes. This class will explore the evaluation
and the solutions for problems we must correct and demonstrate the procedures
and tools required to properly perform these repairs.
Time Saving Gadgets, Tools, and Jigs
Jim Busby, RPT and Vince Mrykalo, RPT
Jim Busby, RPT
Jim Busby has worked as a piano technican for 30 years and is currently employed
at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he oversees over 400 pianos,
a rebuilding shop, and an ambitious training program which employs 7 student
apprentices. Jim also works for Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, an "All
Steinway School", and has his own rebuilding shop.
Vince Mrykalo, RPT
Vince Mrykalo started in the piano servicing business in 1973. He has attended
Baldwin’s factory training, all four of Steinway’s factory trainings, Shigeru
Kawai training, and the Yamaha Disklavier school, and has attended and continues
to attend conventions and seminars regularly. He was recognized as a PTG "Member
of Note" and has taught at local and national conventions.
Vince has worked for various universities, starting with Memphis State, then
Brigham Young University, Crane School in upstate New York, and now currently
works at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, as well as running his piano
service and rebuilding business.
Everyone loves a tool class! Vince and Jim will show you some of their
all-time favorites, with a few twists you’ll want to see.
Offered on Supernova Sunday
Bösendorfer: Proper Care and Service (Bösendorfer)
Ray Chandler, RPT
Ray Chandler , RPT
Ray Chandler has spent the last 30 years in the piano industry in various
positions. Graduating magna cum laude with a degree in music, he completed
a technical apprenticeship in England and at Steinway & Sons – New York,
and was for several years an independent concert technician.
Chandler has been
an independent piano dealer in Austin, Texas and has subsequently held technical
and marketing positions in the wholesale piano industry, including the position
of Technical Director for Kawai America from 1987 to 1998. He was appointed
Marketing and Technical Director for Bösendorfer USA in January, 2000.
A past vice-president
of the National Piano Foundation, he is listed in Who's Who in the West, Who's
Who in California, and International Men of Achievement.
This presentation will include a brief history of Bösendorfer - the world's oldest and most revered piano maker - and its philosophy of piano tone. Proper approaches to voicing and action work will be demonstrated.
Technical Repair Skills
Bruce Stevens, RPT and Jeff Stevens, RPT
Bruce Stevens, RPT
Bruce began his career in 1978 as an apprentice with Ben Hershberger at Morey’s
Music Store in Long Beach. In 1983 he joined the Los Angeles Unified School
District as a staff piano technician. In 1998, he left the School District
to business. His workload includes extensive re-building and providing comprehensive
piano service for private clients. Bruce is involved in operation of the California
State Conference Board as well as his local chapter.
Jeff Stevens, RPT
Jeff is one of the latest graduates from the University of Western Ontario
piano tuning and repair course. A month after graduating last April, he passed
the PTG examinations and became an RPT. Jeff seems to be on the fast track
to success as a second-generation piano technician with the opportunity to
work with his Dad in the shop as well as keeping a full tuning schedule.
This class offers a rare opportunity for experienced and aspiring technicians
to be tutored in a hands-on setting. You will have a 3-hour block of time
to practice and learn efficient methods for doing string replacement,
hitch pin loops and string splicing; hammer shank replacement; hammer
filing; flange re-bushing and repining. These repair tasks are all common
ones routinely performed by the average technician. Those Associate members
planning to take the PTG exams have a perfect opportunity to have their
skills evaluated by experienced technicians in a friendly environment.
Attendance is open to all. You will need to bring required tools - please
refer to our web site or to our mailer for list of tools required.
Technical Repair Skills Tool List
Offered on Supernova Sunday
Technical Repair Skills Tool List
Key Rebushing
Assorted thickness of high-quality key bushing cloth
Yellow wood glue
.146 Double-sided key bushing cauls
Sharp knife or Razor Blades
Key easing pliers
Flange Rebushing
Centerpin remover/installer
Micrometer
#37 drill in pin vise
Yellow wood glue
High quality flange bushing cloth (Renner)
Sharp razor blades
Knurled centerpins or other reamers
Smooth tapered bushing burnisher
Center pin selection
Flush-cut centerpin cutters
String Replacement, Splicing & Hitch Pin Loop
Tuning hammer
5"WR Vise Grip Pliers
Wire cutters
Coil lifter
String spacer
String hook
Brass drift
Small hammer
Pliers (for squeezing becket
Long Nose Pliers
Small screwdriver
Dummy tuning pin
Tuning pin crank
6" Rule w/slide (To measure tuning pin height)
Eye protection
Vertical Hammer Shank Replacement
Hammer shank extractor and shank clamp
7/32 drill
Shank cutters
Heat Gun / Butane lighter
Yellow Glue
Flange screwdriver
6" rule (line up catchers and hammer heads)
Upright Hammer Shanks
Hammer Filing
3/4" wide sandpaper paddles with fresh sandpaper 60, 80, 120,
220 grit
120 & 220 tape strip
Associates