Exam Prep Classes

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

Technical Repair Skills (WestPac Style "Competency Playground")

Sue Babcock, RPT, Peggy Gravagne, RPT, Bruce Stevens, RPT, and Jeff Stevens, RPT

Sue Babcock, RPT

Sue BabcockSue Babcock has been working as an independent piano technician since 1985. She also works with David Vanderlip in his rebuilding shop. In 1990 she joined the Southern California Area Exam Board as a technical examiner.

Peggy Gravagne, RPT

Peg GravagneAs a member of PTG for 36 years, Peggy has been involved in every aspect of the piano technical business field, as well as piano rebuilding. In addition, Peggy works with Nick Gravagne in the manufacture of new soundboards. She is a graduate of the Yamaha Little Red School House and the Yamaha Concert Artist Class, and most recently completed the Shiguru Kawai Technical Academy. Peggy has taught at many state and national conventions with emphasis on piano prep and applied skills.

Bruce Stevens, RPT

Bruce StevensBruce Stevens connection to the piano began at age 7 when he started piano lessons. By the end of High School, he was an accomplished classical pianist. After two years of college studying electronics, he started his career as a piano technician in 1978. His business today includes in-home service and complete restoration of fine pianos. His service to the Piano Technicians Guild has included classes at the chapter, regional conference and annual conventions; leadership as president in the South Bay chapter, Conference Director several times for the California State Conference, Conference Coordinator and Board President of the California State Conference, Board President and current Institute Director for the WestPac Conference and last but not least, service to the Piano Technicians Guild Annual Convention as AV Director.

Jeff Stevens, RPT

After graduating high school in 2002, Jeff worked with his dad, Bruce, for the next three years in his piano restoration shop. In 2004, Jeff attended the Piano Technology Program at the University of Western Ontario, located in London, Ontario. Upon returning to California in 2005, Jeff took his PTG exams and became an RPT. He then began to build his piano service business which today includes private customers in Northern California, the Central Coast and Southern California. He is also the technician for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and for Long Beach City College.

This loosely structured class offers a rare opportunity for experienced and aspiring technicians to be tutored in a hands-on setting. You will have as much as a 3-hour block of time to practice and learn efficient methods for doing string replacement, hitch-pin loops, string splicing, hammer shank replacement, hammer filing and flange rebushing and repining. Spurlock style key rebushing stations will also be part of this session. 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.