Regulation Classes

NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.

Forefinishing Demystified

Paul Revenko-Jones, RPT

Don Mannino, RPT - Kawai

Don Mannino, RPT, began an apprenticeship with a piano rebuilder while completing his studies at San Diego State University as a piano performance major in 1979. After working as an independent piano technician in the San Diego area, he held the position of National Service Manager for Young Chang Pianos, then was Manager of Technical Support for Kawai Pianos in the US and Canada, and now serves as the Director of Technical Training for Kawai and Shigeru Kawai Pianos. Don and his wife Patty are the editors of the Southern California Combined PTG newsletter. In addition to teaching at regional technician seminars, PTG Annual conventions, and at PTG chapter meetings, he also has designed technicians tools and has had articles on a variety of technical topics published in the Piano Technicians Journal, including Action Center service, a series on grand action regulation, and the use of plastics in piano actions. In 2010 he was certified in Japan as a Kawai "Master Piano Artisan" (or MPA), the highest level of technician for the Kawai company. Don resides in Cypress, CA with his wife Patty. Their daughter Sarah is studying Aerospace Engineering at UCSD.

A presentation of the processes involved in what is called forefinishing, or fitting the key frame and action to the geometry of the constructed piano and action cavity.

Grand Regulation Actionpalooza

Rick Baldassin, RPT, and Carl Teel

Rick Baldassin, RPT - Renner USA

Rick BaldassinRick received his education and piano technology training from Brigham Young University. He is the author of the book On Pitch, which was recently re-published. Rick served as the Tuning Editor for the Journal from 1987 to 1991. His teaching has taken him to piano factories and conventions throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Korea and Australia. Rick has served as the Concert Technician for the Utah Symphony for over 20 years, and has been the Teaching and Technical Consultant for Renner since 1989. He has been trained in the concert and artist programs of Fazioli, Steinway and Yamaha, and has been a consultant to the Falcone, Mason & Hamlin, and Pramberger Piano Companies. Rick also serves as the Technical Support Director for Fazioli in North America. He is a Member of Note, Jim Burton, and Hall of Fame award winner. Rick and his wife Cindy currently operate Baldassin Pianos, a full-line rebuilding and retail showroom located in Salt Lake City.

Carl Teel - Renner USA

Carl TeelCarl has been repairing and restoring pianos for over 30 years. He has been a member of PTG since 1976, and since 1979 has served continuously as Treasurer of the Salt Lake City Chapter. Carl was instrumental in running the Utah Intermountain Seminar for a number of years. He is a popular instructor at local, regional and national conventions, and is a consultant to piano technicians throughout Utah.

This all-day class sponsored by Renner USA, is the popular Are You Still Regulationally Challenged class on "steroids." Each student will regulate a grand action model according to a step-by-step procedure. The instructors will check all work for accuracy before moving on to the next step. The class will be hands-on, and the necessary tools will be provided.

NOTE: Limit 24 Participants – Pre-registration Required - All spaces are filled, but you can sign up for the waiting list.

The Mechanics of Grand Regulation

Wally Brooks, RPT

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A thought provoking study and demonstration in simplicity of the grand piano action and regulation. Learn the whys and wherefores of each step of regulation and the ability to regulate by feel and touch. This is a good class for expert or novice alike.

Teacher's Notes from the Little Red School House

LaRoy Edwards, RPT

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Tips and techniques culled from over 40 years of the "Little Red Schoolhouse".

Vertical Regulation Plus

Keith Bowman, RPT, and Mike Carraher, RPT, Hailun USA

Keith Bowman, RPT

Keith BowmanKeith has a broad background in woodworking spanning over 30 years. His interest in piano technology began in 1979 leading to an apprenticeship and eventual management position in a full service shop learning service and restoration of pianos, players, reed organs and harpsichords. In 1984 he started his company, Bowman’s Piano Service. Keith has been a PTG member since 1982 and an examiner for the RPT exams for 20 years. He originated a full product line of tuning and voicing tools, as well as shop fixtures, for Renner USA, and is a technical consultant for Hailun USA.

Mike Carraher, RPT

Mike CarraherMike has been a member of PTG since 1979 and an examiner for the RPT exams since 1981. He designed the first repair jigs for the technical exam and still participates in their construction. For over 20 years Mike has taught various tuning and regulation classes at the local, regional and Institute levels. He makes shop fixtures for Renner USA, and is a technical consultant for Hailun USA. Mike has owned and operated Carr’s Piano Service in Elizabethtown, PA for over 25 years.

This new class features comprehensive procedures in upright action diagnosis and regulation. Specific topics will be demonstrated, including regulating damper timing and damper spring tension, setting after-touch, and solving bobbling hammer problems. See our large-scale upright action model as well as some new tools developed from the Hailun piano factory. If you are interested in complete, accurate upright regulation with emphasis on consistent after-touch, this is the class!

The Catcher and The Fly

Dale Probst, RPT

Dale Probst, RPT

Dale ProbstDale Probst has been restoring, repairing, servicing and tuning pianos in the Texoma area for over thirty years. A musician since the age of eight, Dale played in groups in Austin, Houston, and Wichita Falls, TX. A native of Wichita Falls and graduate of Midwestern State University, he feels fortunate to have a vocation that combines his love of music, woodworking, metalworking, and electronics. He attributes most of his success to his mentor, Jimmy Gold, RPT. He also received training at PTG and MITA seminars, the Baldwin Piano factory and is a graduate of the Yamaha "Little Red Schoolhouse".

Dale's piano service business classes are very popular and have been 'standing room only'. He has served the Piano Technicians Guild at the local, state, regional and national levels, as well as instructing at chapter, state, regional and national seminars. Dale lives in Wichita Falls, TX with his wonderful partner, Elizabeth Ward, RPT.

This new class is an exploration of action regulation beyond the usual steps. Many times only a few adjustments need to be made to make the action perform better but which ones when? By contrasting the use of the back check and jack in vertical and grand actions we learn how to effectively transfer regulation skills from one action to the other. Efficient and speedy regulation results from knowing what to adjust and when.