Piano Technicians Guild
WESTPAC - Western and Pacific Regional Conference
March 3-6, 2011
San Francisco, CA
Special Classes
NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.
A Tale of Three Streichers: Defining the Restoration of Elder Instruments
Mike Reiter, RPT
Michael
D. Reiter, RPT is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest,
receiving his BM from Pacific Lutheran University. His formal training in
music was completed there and he continues to participate actively in the
musical life of the Tacoma area. His main performance areas are church music
and the harpsichord. He is a full time technician (RPT, 1975) specializing in
action maintenance and fine tuning and is currently the piano technician
for Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound. He also
lives with a mixture of 11 pianos and harpsichords in his home. Mike specializes
in work relating to historic pianos and harpsichords. www.precisionpianoworks.com
Michael Reiter will bring his 1846 JB Streicher to the class to present several ideas and concepts to the restoration, care and use of elder instruments. The class will include a brief history of the Streicher family and their instruments along with records of three different restorations on comparable instruments. Players are encouraged to bring music to play for the class.
Listening to Piano Recordings
Horace Greeley
Born
into a marginally musical family, Horace Greeley was indentured to a local
piano teacher before he was four years old. Fortunately, this worthy, a student
of Theodor Leschetizky, was so well trained and motivated that she was able
to help the young miscreant progress in spite of himself. At the age of 11,
having had brief flirtations with both the violin and the clarinet, he found
himself picking up the bassoon. Early study and orchestral experience led to
ten years of study with Frederick Moritz (principal bassoon of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic), five years study of harmony, theory and composition with a student
of Nadia Boulanger; and five years studying conducting with Frederick Zweig,
former principal conductor of the Berlin Opera (colleague of George Szell and
Bruno Walter). Maintaining an active performance career for many years, Horace
served as principal bassoon with many regional orchestras. Among others, he
has performed with Herbert Blomstedt, Zubin Mehta, Carlos Chavez, Darius Milhaud,
and Ingolf Dahl. He has also served on the faculties of U.C. Riverside, CSU
San Bernardino, and the University of Redlands.
After commenting to an established piano tuner that “any idiot” could tune a piano, Horace entered the piano tuning profession quite by accident in 1966. An unpaid apprenticeship which lasted two years was quickly followed by an abrupt entry into concert preparation and service in 1968. In September of that year, the Cerritos College Jazz Series opened with Oscar Peterson performing, and Horace in attendance as technician. A completely new aspect of piano service when Peterson said: “...ya’ done good, kid...”. Bright lights, shining faces...Ah...youth!
While concentrating on Steinway instruments, Horace has been actively providing
concert, and warranty, as well as private service for fine pianos for over
forty-four years. He has worked with over a third of the currently active Steinway
artists; and counts it his extreme good fortune to have been able to spend
significant amounts of time training with some of the top Steinway factory
and concert technicians. Among others, these have included Bill Hupfer, Fred
Drasche, Joe and Ralph Bisceglie, John Bogyos, Raymond Parada, Kenyon Brown,
Keith Hardesty, and Franz Mohr.
What does a piano really sound like, after all? An examination of ways in which our perceptions of piano tone and response are affected by the recordings to which we listen; and why we should question what we hear from them.
Conquer Your Harpsichord Hangups
Mike Reiter, RPT
Michael
D. Reiter, RPT is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest,
receiving his BM from Pacific Lutheran University. His formal training in
music was completed there and he continues to participate actively in the
musical life of the Tacoma area. His main performance areas are church music
and the harpsichord. He is a full time technician (RPT, 1975) specializing in
action maintenance and fine tuning and is currently the piano technician
for Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound. He also
lives with a mixture of 11 pianos and harpsichords in his home. Mike specializes
in work relating to historic pianos and harpsichords. www.precisionpianoworks.com
In this class we will explore the basics of harpsichord maintenance. The class will include string replacement, replacement of plectra and regulation. Action models will be present in the class for close viewing. While this is not a “hands on” class we will have some opportunity to demonstrate various techniques of repair and regulation.
Piano Disc Next Generation
Class: Piano Disc introduces the new Piano Disc High Resolution System and changes to installation procedures. iQcalibration with hands on training for technicians of all levels will also be covered in this class.
Part One: The "Weickert Special" Hammer Felt by Wurzen Co.
Jack Brand, Wurzen Felt Co.
The Ronsen Team:
Ray Negron, Ronsen Piano Hammer Co.
and Dale Erwin, Erwin's Piano Restoration
Jack Brand
Jack
is a master felt maker in his own rite. His family owns three felt factories,
including the Wurzen Felt Co., Germany, formerly the legendary J.D Weickert
felt factory. This factory is the oldest felt making facility in the world.
The hammer felts and other felts are produced combining Jack's vast expertise
with original J.D. Weickert felt formulas passed on to him in 1992 when the
family purchased the plant in Wurzen. Jack's passion is making piano felts,
especially hammer top felt. He is the piano technician's best ally and is ever
trying to improve the product.
Ray Negron - Ronsen Piano Hammer Co.
Ray
is a second generation piano hammer maker, following in the footsteps of his
father, Marty Negron, who was co-founder of Ronsen Piano Hammer Co. as well
as former manager at Pfriemer Piano Hammer Co. Ray started working summers
at Ronsen in 1961, and has been working full time since 1971, becoming company
president in 1983. Ray is always looking to learn more about piano hammers,
and enjoys talking with piano technicians regarding hammers, but will always
find time for a conversation about baseball. www.ronsen-hammer.com
Dale Erwin, RPT
Dale is a second-generation piano technician. His father, Harold, received training
from the venerable William Braid White in 1950. Belonging to a deeply musical
family prepared Dale for a career in custom piano restoration and rebuilding.
His wife Trix and son Dennis work together with Dale at the family business,
Erwin's Piano Restorations in Modesto, California.
Although he started out as a field technician for his dad's Yamaha franchise, his passion for creating his own sound and touch took him out of the field and into the shop full time. His 35-year journey has been one of incredible discovery, high enthusiasm and rich experience -- both personal and musical -- and a steep, constant learning curve, in pursuit of what he terms the "golden piano tone".
His newest ventures are building soundboard panels and pinblocks for the trade, as well as being a Ronsen sales & technical rep. His trademark soundboard design, the "variable radius" soundboard, has been displayed and heard at conventions since the early1990s, including Rochester 2006 and Anaheim 2008.
In the last 3 years the re-introduction of the Weickert Special hammer felt has been exciting news. For approx. 90 years, and until WWII, the J.D. Weickert Felt Co. of Germany produced the hammer felt of choice for Steinway and countless American & European piano makers. Experience why this legendary felt making method is unique. Master felt maker/owner Jack Brand takes us on a fascinating and historic journey of felt making from the 1800s to the present. From sheep to end product, you will learn volumes about the manufacture of piano hammer felt. Complete with slide show of the factory and the different steps necessary to make fine wool felt. Class members will receive a wide variety of complimentary samples to feel and compare. A must see event.
Part Two: Making and Voicing the "Weickert Special" Felt Hammer
The Ronsen Team
Ray Negron, Ronsen Piano Hammer Co.
and Dale Erwin, Erwin's Piano Restoration
with special guest
Jack Brand, Wurzen Felt Co.
Jack Brand
Jack
is a master felt maker in his own rite. His family owns three felt factories,
including the Wurzen Felt Co., Germany, formerly the legendary J.D Weickert
felt factory. This factory is the oldest felt making facility in the world.
The hammer felts and other felts are produced combining Jack's vast expertise
with original J.D. Weickert felt formulas passed on to him in 1992 when the
family purchased the plant in Wurzen. Jack's passion is making piano felts,
especially hammer top felt. He is the piano technician's best ally and is ever
trying to improve the product.
Ray Negron - Ronsen Piano Hammer Co.
Ray
is a second generation piano hammer maker, following in the footsteps of his
father, Marty Negron, who was co-founder of Ronsen Piano Hammer Co. as well
as former manager at Pfriemer Piano Hammer Co. Ray started working summers
at Ronsen in 1961, and has been working full time since 1971, becoming company
president in 1983. Ray is always looking to learn more about piano hammers,
and enjoys talking with piano technicians regarding hammers, but will always
find time for a conversation about baseball. www.ronsen-hammer.com
Dale Erwin, RPT
Dale is a second-generation piano technician. His father, Harold, received training
from the venerable William Braid White in 1950. Belonging to a deeply musical
family prepared Dale for a career in custom piano restoration and rebuilding.
His wife Trix and son Dennis work together with Dale at the family business,
Erwin's Piano Restorations in Modesto, California.
Although he started out as a field technician for his dad's Yamaha franchise, his passion for creating his own sound and touch took him out of the field and into the shop full time. His 35-year journey has been one of incredible discovery, high enthusiasm and rich experience -- both personal and musical -- and a steep, constant learning curve, in pursuit of what he terms the "golden piano tone".
His newest ventures are building soundboard panels and pinblocks for the trade, as well as being a Ronsen sales & technical rep. His trademark soundboard design, the "variable radius" soundboard, has been displayed and heard at conventions since the early1990s, including Rochester 2006 and Anaheim 2008.
In the second half we will see and hear why this felt is gaining such popularity. The Ronsen team will spend time sharing the production methods and techniques which makes this hammer unique in the world today. Come see why the traditional and historic method of “cold pressing” hammers with the “Weickert Special ” felt has much to offer in extracting tonal potential from our restoration work. Complete with updated slides of manufacturing. The Ronsen team counts it a privilege to have contributed to Jack’s efforts to re-introduce this felt. The class will culminate with a brief recital on an instrument restored by the Erwins showing off the “Weickert Special” felt hammers.