Tuesday, January 30, 2007

National convention

Dear PTG Colleagues,
You will soon be receiving a brochure full of information about the
upcoming 50th Annual PTG Convention and Technical Institute and the
special events planned to celebrate the great accomplishments of our
organization and our industry.

We are thrilled to be part of this 50th Anniversary celebration and sincerely hope
that you plan to join us June 20 24, 2007 in Kansas City.
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Catch a sneak peek at the 2007 PTG Convention & Technical Institute by visiting
the convention website at www.ptg.org/conv/2007. The Institute searchable
database includes a full listing of classes, instructors, days and times.
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It will be hard to choose between the tremendous educational opportunities
available to all of you. You especially will not want to miss the premier of the
Manufacturers Showcase and Panel Discussion.
Continuous displays of pianos - Pianos built from 1957 to 2007 were chosen
to represent the most unusual and greatest pianos of the last 50 years.
Mini-concerts - 10-15 minutes long and scheduled during class breaks from
Wednesday through Saturday afternoon.
Panel discussion - Led by experts representing a variety of manufacturers and
featuring an interactive discussion of innovations in piano technology of the
past 50 years.
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There are 24 NEW classes, the return of last year's popular skills stations, a new set
of the multi-session (and even multi-day) classes, fast and to-the-point Mini-Tech classes,
and more of what you need for your continued professional development. Many of the
most fascinating offerings have limited enrollment, so register early!
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PLUS, a free Golden Hammer Banquet ticket comes with every paid convention
registration! >From the Tuesday night spectacular opening to the array of free
concerts with nationally known artists to the special historical touches, this is
an event that will never come again.

Start planning now and when your brochure arrives, be one of the first to
join us. Save money by registering before May 15. See you in KC!

The Institute Team
Malinda Powell, Institute Director
Melanie Brooks, Assistant Director
Ward Guthrie, Assistant Director
Jeff Hickey, Assistant Director
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Monday, January 29, 2007

They're here!

The long wait is over — Young Chang replacement action brackets are back.

Last California State Convention Update

This will be our final email regarding the California State PTG Conference, February 8th - 11th, 2007
at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. The Conference Web Site is: www.santaclaraptg.org We hope you will be able to attend. This will be another great CA Conference!
 
The Exhibit Hall will feature all tool vendors from A - Z (which includes B,F,F,J,J,P,S,S,T,R,R,R,V ), almost every piano manufacturer, and the usual number of interesting additional trade related vendors. The Institute Class List is extensive with 3.5 days of classes and over 40 Instructors. For a complete list of everything visit: www.santaclaraptg.org (the specific class schedule is now posted)
 
While we are past the Marriott Hotel group rate cutoff, you could call the Marriott local phone number
1-650-692-9100 between 9:00am and 5:00pm and see what they can do for you. Or, check the Marriot online reservations at: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SFOBG 
 
We have arranged overflow hotel booking for Wednesday through Saturday at the Clarion Hotel, 1/4 mile from the Marriot, at the same $96.00 Group rate until Jan 30 (Regular rate: about $110.00). Parking is $5.00 per day, and they have complimentary wireless for your laptop in the lobby. Clarion at: 650-777-7771, 9:00am-5:pm PST, Group Code PTG.
 
Most other questions may be answered on the web site and committee contact information is also available there.
 
We hope to see you in February!
 
Regards,

The CA State Conference PTG and Santa Clara Valley Chapter Conference Team


Saturday, January 27, 2007

Elton John's birdcage

Used from 1969 to 1972, Elton John and Bernie Taupin used this instrument to co-write the music that made them famous. Read more....

February technical

Early Steinway Grand Research Project Update

The February meeting will be held 7:30 pm on Tuesday the 13th at Music Exchange, 2245 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA

The technical will feature Bill Shull who will present his "Early Steinway Grand Research Project Update". This will be a supplement to the all-day class given back in 2005.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Preview of February technical

Hi, Gene,

how about an "Early Steinway Grand Research Project Update" of my all-day
class I gave back in 2005?

I'll have a handout on the three early Steinway families, and we'll talk
about the 1857 8' Steinway we documented in October in New Hampshire, and the
6'8" Monitors I've documented since the Sacramento class of a year and a half
ago. We'll cover approaches to use when encountering older instruments.
We'll look at important undiscovered early Steinways to be on the lookout for:
_http://www.shullpiano.com/html/undiscovered_early_steinway_gr.html_
(http://www.shullpiano.com/html/undiscovered_early_steinway_gr.html)

And I might have a story for you all about the discovery of one of the
long-lost 1869 Monitor prototypes - the amazing "Iron Grand." I may have found
one, as the result of contacts made at NAMM this weekend!

I'll have an 1860s Steinway grand on hand.

Bill

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Friday, January 19, 2007

Is a referral fee a bribe?

I've often pondered whether it is ethical to accept (or give) a payment in return for a referral. (I never do.) Here's a podcast on the subject from a professional ethicist. (It's the second item, so be patient.)

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Anyone do organ key repairs?

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

More on Young Chang action brackets

I called Young Chang today(866-798-6979: same as before). They have the action brackets on backorder and are taking the names of everyone who needs them. And they are still willing to pay for the parts and labor on the repair!

Update on the State Convention

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter proudly presents The California State PTG Conference, February 8th - 11th, 2007
at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. The Conference Web Site is: www.santaclaraptg.org We hope you will be able to attend. This will be another great CA Conference!
The Exhibit Hall will feature all tool vendors from A - Z (which includes B,F,F,J,J,P,S,S,T,R,R,R,V ), almost every piano manufacturer, and the usual number of interesting additional trade related vendors. The Institute Class List is extensive with 3 .5 days of classes and over 40 Instructors. For a complete list of everything visit: www.santaclaraptg.org

We would like to remind everyone who is considering attending the conference that: the Airport Marriott Hotel Group Rate is $96.00 plus tax if you make your Hotel Reservation by Jan 18th 2007. We encourage everyone to make hotel reservations early. We may not be able to get this cut-off date extended and the regular rate is $229.00. All Hotel links and information are available at: www.santaclaraptg.org The Marriott room block booking is currently about 92% full but we have also made overfill arrangements at the Clarion Hotel next door (.3 miles) to the Marriott. If the Marriott room blocks are full, and the Marriot will not add more rooms to our room block, you should be able to book rooms at the Clarion.
If anyone is trying to book a Wed and/or Thurs room along with Fri Sat nights, the Marriott Hotel online registration system (and the after hours phone people that use the same system) may state that there are no rooms available. You have to back up and change dates and try again, or tell the phone person to back up and try again. The system (and possibly the phone person) is not smart enough to tell you that Wed is not available but Thurs Fri and Sat are, or that Fri and Sat are. [hard to imagine in this age of internet technology] We have arranged Wed and Thursday overflow booking at the Clarion Hotel (next to the Marriott) at the same group rate for those needing Wed and Thurs rooms if not available at the Marriott. All details and links are available at www.santaclaraptg.org
Most other questions may be answered on the web site and committee contact information is also available there.
We hope to see you in February!
Regards,

The CA State Conference PTG and Santa Clara Valley Chapter Conference Team

Friday, January 12, 2007

Our own Scott Johnson is featured in this week's Sacramento News & Review in connection with Veterans for Peace. Read the whole article here.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007












I was talking to Dan Dannenfelser about Dampp-Chaser installation and suggested he get a 1/4" nut driver bit. It makes driving those little hex washer screws (that come with the Dampp-Chaser kits) very easy — they are self-tapping in fact. If you try to put them in with a slotted screwdriver you'll drive yourself crazy.
I also use these screws for repairing piano benches when the bottoms have fallen out. These screws are a lot better than nails or staples for reattaching the bench bottom.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Reminder about the California State Convention

The California State Convention is in northern California this year (South San Francisco). Associates especially should avail themselves of the educational opportunities that a nearby convention presents. The room group rate cut off date is January 17 and the early registration deadline is January 23.

The importance of a keyboard cover

A piano that was attacked by a vicious dog.

Young Chang action brackets are back

You can get action brackets from Young Chang again! Call them at 310-637-2000 or 866-798-6979. If that doesn't work, Jim Davis has a few at his Samick warehouse. Call him at 800-592-9393 x110.

Friday, January 05, 2007

This book was written by a piano rebuilder turned massage therapist.