Another notice about the Berkeley event

Attention Northern California PTG Technicians: 

Lothar Thomma – Swiss piano designer will be in the San Francisco Bay Area at the end of January.

 Mr. Thomma worked for Bechstein as a designer from 1987 through 1994, was consultant to Fazioli and Steingraber and Sons, did design work for Honner and Young Chang and has designed the high end Ritmuler for Pearl River.

 The Ritmuller will début at the 2009 NAMM show and then make its way to Russell Kassman’s Piano Store in Berkeley Ca on 30, January 2009.

 The event will begin with wine and cheese at 6pm Friday January 30 and be followed by a lecture by Mr. Thomma on scale design.

 Technicians are encouraged to invite music teachers and interested friends and family.

 Please RSVP as soon as you know that you are going.

Russian School not real

The comments I've been getting convince me that the Russian school is not real. So don't send them any CDs.

Russian music school needs donations

I got this email recently. I went to their website and it looks legitimate. If it is a scam, it's for extremely low stakes.

I am writing to you on behalf of the teachers’ council of our Moscow Musical College after finding your e-mail address at the Piano Technicians Guild.

For more than 15 years we have been providing music training for children from 5 to 14 years of age. Unfortunately, because of the poor economic situation that has prevailed for a long time in Russia, we have received only minimal support from the Moscow government’s federal budget.

I would like to explain that we do not collect any tuition fees from the students at our college, otherwise the majority of parents would not be able to afford their children’s tuition. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue with this very worthwhile enterprise. Furthermore, when it comes to the matter of teaching materials, the situation is little short of catastrophic, particularly with regard to sound materials.

We would be extremely grateful if you could send us any recordings of music on CDs, DVDs or LPs, even if their boxes are damaged.

YOUR HELP IS NECESSARY TO US!

Yours faithfully and hoping for your help,

Nickolay Carmanow,
Director.

Moscow Musical College
39-5-25, 3-Barkovaya street
105037, Moscow
Russian Federation

Phone: 7-985-366-6917

E-mail 1: MusicalCollege@mtu-net.ru
E-mail 2: MusicalCollege@bk.ru

Web: http://MusicalCollege.narod.ru

Best job listing ever

If you are half of a dueling piano duo, click here.

Special PTG program in Berkeley

"Piano Scale Design" will be presented on Friday, January 30 at R. Kassman's piano showroom at 843 Gilman Street in Berkeley (phone 510-558-0765) by  renowned Swiss piano scale  designer Lothar Thomma, who on accolades for his redesign  of the C.  Bechstein line of pianos in the 1980's and who  regularly consults for  manufacturers Steingraeber and Fazioli, has recently  redesigned the entire  line of Ritmüller pianos. Please arrive by 6 pm to enjoy the light supper to be provided by our gracious host, Russell Kassman. 

     Mr. Thomma has an illustrious career in the piano industry as a designer and  teacher and is credited with being one of the main inventors of the “TF-65” calculator for piano scale design. He has worked or  consulted for 20 different piano manufacturers worldwide and has more than  30 years  experience as a member and director of both the German Piano Manufacturers’ Association and the European Piano Manufacturers’  Association. He taught the master course at the German Music Instrument Technical  School in Ludwigsburg, Germany and has been a member of the German Piano Industry Research Project in Ludwigsburg since 1968.  Mr. Thomma is an enthusiastic spokesperson for the new Ritmüller models. His  participation in the creation of these extraordinary new pianos speaks to  the Pearl River commitment to honor European tradition in the design and  construction of the Ritmüller brand.

       Representatives of other chapters: we would appreciate it  if you would  forward this on to your members who might be interested in  attending.  Thank  you.

        Rob Mitchell

    San Francisco PTG Chapter Secretary  

CCM makes largest Steinway purchase ever

CCM Joins Steinway & Sons in Historic Partnership

CCM's acquisition of 165 new pianos is the largest unit purchase in Steinway's history.

Date: 11/18/2008
By: Katie Syroney
Phone: (513) 556-9484
Other Contact: Curt Whitacre
Other Contact Phone: (513) 556-2683

    CCM, the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (“UC”), received approval today from the UC Board of Trustees to enter an agreement with Steinway & Sons to purchase 165 new pianos, the largest unit purchase in Steinway’s 155-year history.

read entire article

Very few people can play Lizst up to tempo

Notes from the last meeting

The PTG meeting was held Tuesday November 11th at Music Exchange. 5 RPT’s and 2 Associates attended the meeting. Technical fees for the PTG exam are going up from $90 to $180.

We discussed the idea of having a class on the Clark Souza tuning- temperament method, if there are enough people interested. The class would consist of several sessions and cost about $100.

Our next meeting will be in February at Pianodisc. It will be a hands on demonstration of how to install backchecks using the new Wessell Nikel and Gross action parts.

—Steve Coolidge

Sculpture using piano keys

Black Atlantic culture is explicit in Radcliffe Bailey’s installation “Storm at Sea,” left, with its wavelike crescent of splintered piano keys anchored at one end by a miniature black ship sparkling with glitter and at the other by a sculpture of Ogun, the Yoruba god of war.—New York Times
[click on photo to see the whole piece]

Piano technology program at Florida State University

Piano technology program keys up - News

Randy Rush in Guatemala

Randy Rush of the Seattle chapter is in Guatemala brushing up on his Spanish. He is keeping a blog which you can see here:

http://travelswithrandy-elafinador.blogspot.com/

Budget for 2009

Click here to see the budget for next year.

Looking for a Mason & Hamlin with an Ampico player...

PianoDisc needs to find a Mason & Hamlin with an Ampico player in good condition to put in a very upscale Museum. Does anyone know where we might find one to trade or barter? Please Contact: Tom Lagomarsino at toml@pianodisc.com or Jerry Reiersen at jerryr@pianodisc.com .

Looking for Wessell, Nickel & Gross action

PianoDisc is interested in obtaining an upright piano that has a Wessell, Nickel, & Gross action with lost motion compensation. If anyone knows of one that may be available, please contact:

Jerry Reiersen

(916) 567-9999 ext. 2720

Master and Commander of the piano

If you have read any of the Patrick O'Brian nautical novels, or seen the movie Master and Commander, you know that Jack Aubrey is a musician as well as a sea captain. Here are a couple of excerpts:

‘You have not changed much since the old Reso, Aubrey,’ said Yorke at last. ‘I hope you still play your fiddle?’
‘Yes, I do,’ said Jack, wiping his eyes. ‘All in one basket, ha, ha, ha! Lord, I must remember to tell Sophie that, when I write. Yes, I do: and I see you have risen to a pianoforte. How do you keep it in tune?’
‘I don’t,’ said Yorke. ‘I have a key, and I make my attempts; but it is a sad jingling little box, after all. How wish I could press [conscript] a piano-tuner...’
—The Fortune of War

‘I have just been picking out this piece, ma’m,’ said Stephen. ‘But the piano is sadly out of tune.’
‘I think not, sir,’ said Mrs Williams. ‘It was the most expensive instrument to be had — a Clementi. I remember its coming by the waggon as though it were yesterday.’
‘Pianos do go out of tune, Mama,’ murmured Sophia.
‘Not Clementi’s pianos, my dear,’ said Mrs Williams with a smile. ‘They are the most expensive in London...’
— Post Captain

Test your pitch!

The site tonometric.com has tests for your sense of pitch, rhythm, and melody. While you're testing yourself, you are also contributing to neuroscience research.

Just another piano butcher

Cunningham Piano Company Resumes Making Pianos

MyFox Philadelphia | Company Aims To Bring Piano Manufacturing Back To Town

Antonio in the Bee

Folks feel pinch--and pinch pennies

Here's how some cope as high costs hit home

Sacramento piano tuner Antonio Bombal spends about two hours on the road each day, and he says his gas costs have nearly doubled. He's cutting corners where he can, including giving up the monthly classical music concerts he loves, but he's considering raising his prices. Lezlie Sterling / lsterling@sacbee.com

Click on photo to enlarge

Skyrocketing gas prices have collided with layoffs, foreclosures and food costs to change the way we live in everyday ways. Meet seven people from the Sacramento region who explore how they are coping in small ways, from choosing omelettes over steak to postponing surgery and taking an extra job.

THE PIANO TUNER Antonio Bombal, 75, Sacramento

Tuning pianos has never been about getting rich for Antonio Bombal. What drives him is the passion for calibrating a sophisticated machine that emits the most beautiful sounds.

Filling the gas tank of his 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan laden with tools, which recently cost less than $45 twice a week, now sets him back more than $80, so Bombal may have to charge more for a tuning.

"Now I make about $2,800 a month to sometimes $3,200 a month," he said as he estimated his gas costs. "A $335 difference is a big proportion; it's a big difference to the total income."

Bombal spends about two hours on the road a day and usually tunes two pianos. He is trying to adjust where he can – he eats more omelettes than meat or fish, and he no longer attends the monthly classical concerts that he loves. Although he has medical insurance, he is putting off a surgery so he can save for lost income during the three-week recuperation.

"It is hard," he said. "It has been hard and it looks like it's going to get worse."

– Gina Kim

We need a Vice President

Hi Sacramento PTG Members,

We still do not have a Vice President for next year. Gene has done an excellent job and he deserves a break. Vice President is one of the most important position along with the President to keep the Chapter going. Dan Dannefelser would consider the position if our Chapter meets every other month instead of every month to allow him more time to plan for quality technicals. I personally think that this is a good idea.

(A) I would like to find out if anyone in the Chapter has any objections for us to meet every other month and (B) if anybody else is interested to be our Vice President. We need your input. Please feel free to email back to me and I will forward your comments to the Chapter Officers for further discussions.

Thank You

Mabel Chan

Needs work

An old friend of the chapter sent in this great picture. If you like this sort of thing, check out the WARPS (World Association for Ruined Piano Studies) website.

Storing up for the winter

This piano had mice living in it and one of them brought a pistachio inside.

Tuning for car repair

Hi Ted -
I need help finding a piano technician in the Sacramento area who might be willing to exchange skill for skill.

Here is the situation -
Good friends of mine, Johnny and Chelsea Burke, have a piano that desperately needs tuning - from what I understand it is not even playable. Chelsea's health over the past couple of years has been deteriorating and she has recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia along with another serious condition that keeps her in too much pain to leave the house for any length of time. As a friend I asked if their was anything I could do and the only thing Johnny could think of, knowing I was a music major, was if I knew any piano tuners who might be willing to trade skill for skill. He thinks his wife would enjoy playing the piano if it was in tune (imagine that) and this would give her another option for activity while she is unable to leave the house. Johnny is an excellent mechanic and would be willing to trade work on a vehicle for work on their piano. They live in Rancho Cordova.

If there is anyone who would be interested please contact me at (916) 768-4044 or call Johnny directly at 916 631 7703, or email him at jandcburke@aol.com.

Thank you,
Amy Russell

Ulrich Sauter on soundboard design

On April 26, Ulrich Sauter will give a 1-1/2 to 2 hour lecture titled "Soundboard Design 2". The lecture will be followed by lunch or brunch and entertainment.

The pianists will be Robin Southerland from the San Francisco Symphony and Jazz artist Delbert Bump.

The location is R.Kassman Piano Store at 843 Gilman St Suite B in Berkley 94710. The lecture begins at 10 am.

You must RSVP especially to reserve your food.

The fee is $10; pay at the door or send a check payable to "Sacramento Valley PTG" to:



Gene Nelson

5585 Dragon Springs Road

Placerville Ca 95667

For further information, call Gene at

(530) 677-3366 or (530) 306-2942 (cell)

Or call the store at (510) 558-0765

Searching for a lost Chickering

Here are the details:

• Chickering Grand 1921 (may be dated 1922)
• Serial # 134326
• Case Lot# 258 8545
• Style: G135
• Brown Mahogany, Dull finish
• It originally had a small brass plaque above the keys, noting that it had been awarded to my grandmother Josephine Williams, but the plaque has probably been removed
• Lost approx 20 years ago from a storage facility in the Bay Area (Berkeley/Oakland/Albany/Emeryville area).

If you find the piano, please contact:

pam.kahl@verbal800.com
Home phone: 503.282.0402
Office phone: 503.284.1534
Mobile: 502.706.0259

Ted Kidwell bushes keys the Spurlock way

Kidwell on key bushings

Click on the image to see all the pictures.

Tuner map

Terry Miller made this great map showing where all the PTG members are in Sacramento.

View Larger Map

Poor man's square

This is a very odd piano... downward striking hammers and strings that go horizontally under the keys. No manufacturer's name anywhere I could see.

Yamaha to Buy Boesendorfer: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- Yamaha will become the new owner of famed piano maker Boesendorfer, an Austrian bank said Thursday.

In a statement, BAWAG P.S.K. bank said it had reached an agreement with Yamaha over the sale of 100 percent of Boesendorfer shares. No price was specified.

read full article...

Daily Herald - Music failed to soothe beast

It is a chilling question that we have all asked ourselves: What would we do if, God forbid, we had to get a squirrel out of a piano? This very question confronted an animal-control officer in Fairfax County, Va., recently, according to a news report from the Washington Post sent in by roughly two million alert readers. According to this report, the officer was responding to a report of "a squirrel running inside a residence." When the officer arrived, the squirrel "jumped into an open baby grand piano." Fortunately, the officer had the training, the courage, and -- above all -- the musical talent to deal with the situation.
read full article...

NPR Music: The Bowed Piano: Fishing for a New Sound

Morning Edition, February 5, 2008 - What happens when you take a perfectly good invention — one that's been around for several hundred years — and completely rethink it? That's what an enterprising musician and composer named Stephen Scott has done with the grand piano.

read full article...

Piano Trebuchet at Burning Man

Thanks to Ron Berry for posting this on the PTG Blog.

A Midlife Obsession with the Piano

MEMOIR

Keys to Happiness ... Ode to Joy

An amateur musician tries to recover the sound of her beloved piano.

SLIDESHOW

Previous Next

Reviewed by Eugenia Zukerman

Sunday, January 20, 2008; Page BW04

GRAND OBSESSION

A Piano Odyssey

By Perri Knize

Scribner. 371 pp. $27.50

"A soul seems to reside in the belly of this piano, and it reaches out to touch mine, igniting a spark of desire within me that quickly catches fire," writes amateur pianist Perri Knize in Grand Obsession.


read full article

Missing Kimball

I got a call from Jim Geiger, a technician in Kentucky. He told me about a woman named Jean Peterson who moved from Sacramento to Oregon. Somehow a Kimball vertical got left behind and no one knows where it is.
It has a cherry finish and is serial number 11309.
If you find this piano please contact Jim Geiger at 606-683-3059.

Kirsi Lassi explains how to tune a birdcage

I met Ms. Lassi on Facebook. She is not just a tuner in Finland — she is president of the Pianotechnician's Association. She mentioned that she sees a lot of birdcage pianos and I asked her to explain how she mutes them during tuning.

Oh yes... the "birdcage" pianos are a bit challenging :) Some of them are just old and not so good, but I've noticed that Julius Bluthner over-damper pianos are actually very good quality. They seem to have made them still, when others had already started the normal action style. I have a few of them at my regular customers, and they are really quite nice to tune. Of course the dampers don't work as well as in normal action, but the sound and quality are pretty nice. I usually put the felt strip between the strings above the damper system, as far as it goes - maybe just one and a half octaves in the middle (and the whole bass part, too). After that I use the long nylon wedge I use for the treble in normal uprights, sticking it in between the damper wires and hammer shanks. It is a bit slow, but doable. After doing it for a while, you sort of get the hang of it, and can move the wedge to the next one just listening to the noise it makes when you scrape it against the strings, knowing where you are with it :) But, usually it takes a bit bending down and trying to see where the strings are, and with the felt strip, looking from the top to see which strings the hammer is hitting, so it's a bit tiring for the back. You should try it one day, especially if you meet a good quality "birdcage" piano. The customer would be so happy to finally get it in tune :) And especially if you happen to see a Bluthner over-damper piano - those are really very nice to work with, compared to all other "birdcage" pianos I've ever met.

New use for a pegboard

A piece of pegboard (with a couple of pieces of wood glued underneath to raise it off the tabletop) is a great way to store screws when you're taking apart an action.

Technology Review: Gibson's Self-Tuning Guitar

It's every guitar player's nightmare: you step onstage, strike your rock-god pose, triumphantly strum the first chord of a song--and discover that your guitar is out of tune.

A new line of instruments from Gibson Guitar now promises to banish this scenario to the dark ages with high-tech self-tuning technology built into the company's flagship electric-guitar models.

read the full article