We have the pleasure of welcoming the following instructors to Richmond:
 - Rick Butler |
Teaching:
---Aural Piano Tuning--- |
 - Dave Carpenter |
Teaching:
---Tuning with the Verituner---
---PTG Tuning Exam self study with your ETD--- |
Dave is the lead designer of the Verituner electronic tuning devices and president of Veritune, Inc. Dave's background includes an engineering degree from the University of Illinois and a career in software design. After discovering the joy of piano technology, Dave joined the guild and pursued his Chicago area piano service business. Combining his skills and interests, Dave embarked on the development of a new tuning device in 1998, and since has enjoyed spending the majority of his time supporting and improving the
product line. A continual student of piano acoustics, Dave is a frequent instructor at PTG conventions and seminars, and an active RPT member and past president of the PTG Chicago Chapter.
| - Ed Dryburgh |
Teaching:
---CA Glues: Repair--- |
Ed Dryburgh has been a Registered Craftsman member of the PTG for over 25 years. Educated at Berklee College of Music in the 1970's, he began his study of piano technology and opened his business in the late 70's. Currently Ed tunes and rebuilds daily, specializing in Steinway rebuilding and PianoDisc installation for private customers as well as doing wholesale for other technicians. Through the years he has discovered multiple uses for the SUPERGLUES and shares these ideas with technicians at conventions whenever possible.
 - Dean Garten |
Teaching:
---Finding a Needle in the Felt Stack: Tone Regulation---
---Grand Damper Review:
Resolving Problems in the Field---
--- Business Practices
and Warranties--- |
Dean Garten has recently been an independent technical consultant for the piano industry. His technical experience includes more than 11 years as an employee and manager in the service or sales departments for three major piano manufacturers. He was a regional head CTE (currently inactive) before that time and has lately worked as a retail salesperson, regional sales manager & product specialist and an in-the-field-troubleshooter.
In his 32 years as an RPT, Dean has been and is currently a frequent instructor for in-house technical institutes, retail sales seminars, dealer-sponsored technical programs, many local PTG chapter meetings, numerous regional PTG conferences and annual Piano Technicians Guild conventions. Dean commands a range of knowledge, skill and insight that is truly unique in the piano community. Earlier this year Dean and colleague John Wilson, RPT began manufacturing custom technician’s tools as Flugelbauer Piano Supply, LLC. He is currently working part-time in retail piano sales for Piano City in Mission Viejo, California, and juggling the majority of his time between Flugelbauer Piano Supply and technical consulting.
| - Allan Gilreath |
Teaching:
---The Bechstein Story--- |
| - Kelly Hollifield |
Teaching:
---Humidity Control:
Valuable Technical / Sales Tips--- |
Kelly Hollifield, is Technical Support Representative for Dampp-Chaser Corp. Joining the company in 2004, she is a member of both the Management and Quality teams, providing technical support to Piano Life Saver System installers, worldwide. Kelly brings extensive knowledge of Dampp-Chaser products and broad experience in business and customer service.
 - David Hughes |
Teaching:
---Strings and Things--- |
David G. Hughes has been an RPT member of PTG’s Baltimore Chapter since 1981. He is a recipient of PTG’s Member of Note Award (2006) and the Baltimore Chapter’s Irv Cohen Award (2008). During his tenure, Dave has held every office of the Baltimore Chapter. He regularly presents technical programs to both his home chapter and neighboring mid-Atlantic PTG chapters. Dave has taught classes at both the regional and national levels for the past eleven years, beginning with the SERC in 1998.
He and his wife Judy operate a grand piano restoration facility in Reisterstown, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb. Installing new soundboards, bridges, pinblocks, keysets and damper systems, the shop specializes in the remanufacture of vintage Steinway & Sons and Mason & Hamlin pianos. Dave performs commissioned clientele restoration as well as speculative rebuilding for resale.
In 2001 Dave founded Vintage Case Parts (www.vintagecaseparts.com), a firm dedicated to the manufacture and sales of reproduction cabinet components for vintage Steinway grand pianos. The company produces toplids, music desks, legs and other parts vital to the national restoration trade.
Beyond piano work, Dave is a member of the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society and has an extensive HO gauge model railroad in the basement of his home in Glyndon, Maryland. He plays electric bass guitar and is a member of two pop/rock/jazz bands. He and Judy, who enjoy golfing together, have a two-year old Lassie look-alike collie dog named Freddy.
 - Don Mannino |
Teaching:
--- Grand Action Regulating: letting the action speak for itself---
---Action Centers: the secret of consistent touch--- |
Don began an apprenticeship with a piano rebuilder while completing his studies at San Diego State University as a piano performance major in 1979. As an independent piano technician in the San Diego area Don divided his business between normal tuning, concert piano preparation, rebuilding, and providing warranty work for dealers and manufacturers. He held the position of National Service Manager for Young Chang Pianos from 1990 - 1995, 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. He teaches regularly at regional technician seminars, PTG Annual conventions, and at PTG chapter meetings, and is known for his clear presentations with visual aids, using a practical approach which can be applied to servicing all brands of pianos. Mr. Mannino 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. Don resides in Cypress, CA with his wife and daughter.
 - Mike Morvan |
Teaching:
---Keyboard Restoration--- |
| - Ruth Phillips |
Teaching:
---Polyester Repair---
---Finish Restoration--- |
Ruth joined Allied Piano in 1979. Factory-trained in the Konig touch-up and repair products, she gives frequent seminars in the piano and furnitur industries. She spent many years in piano field service, working on over 30 pianos weekly, prior to specializing in her current work. Ruth is also in the PTG's Hall of Fame.
 - Randy Potter |
Teaching:
---Why Did You Give The IRS an Extra $10,000 Last Year---
---If You Did Not Earn $80,000 Last Year---
---How To Be A Mentor / How To Be An Apprentice--- |
 - Paul Rea -Petrof USA |
Teaching:
---Prepping the New Piano for the American Market,---
---Introduction to the Magnetic Accelerated Action--- |
 - Dean Reyburn |
Teaching:
---Introduction to the Smarter Reyburn CyberTuner and Pocket RCT--- |
Dean Reyburn passed his RPT exams in 1978 and has 28 years tuning experience. He has served on the PTG Examinations and Test Standards Committee since 1996 and acts as Advisor. Dean has 12 years experience as concert tuner for the Grand Rapids Symphony and DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was technician for the local Steinway and Yamaha dealers for many years and tuned for numerous concert and popular music artists. Dean attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago from 1976 to 1978 where he majored in electronics and learned piano technology from Virgil Smith, RPT and Robert Carbaugh. Dean is a self-taught Software Engineer with 22 years experience programming in five languages and six computer platforms. He enjoys whitewater kayaking and scuba-diving in his spare time
| - Paul Sanderson |
Teaching:
---The Finest Customized Tunings with Aural / SAT III Method--- |
 - Teresa Severin |
Teaching:
---Humidity Control:
Valuable Technical / Sales Tips--- |
As Marketing VP for Dampp-Chaser Corp., Teresa Severin brings broad experience in the creation of marketing and tactical strategies for businesses in manufacturing, service and retail industries. Since 1997, she has directed Dampp-Chaser promotions, brand development and Technician sales support, worldwide.
| - Joe Swensen -Hailun |
Teaching:
---Grand Regulating in the Real World--- |
 - Kent Webb |
Teaching:
---Boston and Essex Pianos: Designing a New Piano---
---Vertical Piano Service and Troubleshooting---
---When Bad Things Happen To Good Pianos--- |
Kent is the Manager of Technical Service and Support for Steinway & Sons. In this position, Kent provides service support for our Branch locations in Hamburg, London, Shanghai, and Tokyo. He also works closely with All-Steinway Schools and Institutions to develop and maintain service strategies and resources. In addition, Kent coordinates service literature and publications, works closely with Festival Events, and participates extensively in educational events.
Kent Webb has been involved in the piano industry for over 30 years as a concert technician and rebuilder. In addition to his position at Steinway & Sons, Kent served as a contributing writer and consultant for both editions of The Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments (Garland Press, NY, NY) supplying articles on rebuilding, regulation, tuning, and piano design. He also served as technical columnist for the Soundboard, a publication for music educators in the United States with a circulation of over 50,000. Prior to his position with Steinway, Kent was the National Service Manager for Baldwin Piano Company for 10 years. Kent also was on the Board of Advisors for the School of Piano Technology at Western Iowa Tech and the Board of Industry Advisors for Western Ontario University for their School of Piano Technology. Kent has taught at over 400 local, regional, national, and international events.
 - John Wilson |
Teaching:
---Finding a Needle in the Felt Stack: Tone Regulation---
---Grand Damper Review:
Resolving Problems in the Field---
--- Business Practices
and Warranties--- |
John Wilson’s passion for the piano began at age four. While studying music composition at Brigham Young University he became fascinated with piano technology. Since then he has not stopped studying and honing his skills in the pursuit of perfection of his unique trade.
John, a native of Chehalis, Washington and his family currently reside in Orem, Utah. He is a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild and is know by his clients for being personable, meticulous, and first-rate. John is the founding partner of Flugelbauer Piano Supply, LLC. John is always looking for a better design, and a
better, more efficient procedure to battle what he calls: ‘piano techno-a-phobia’ or the frustration involved in piano service when trying to make things work at their highest level. Thus, Flügelbauer, LLC was born. “The Right Tool For The Right Job” is his mantra.
John has recently been active in the international piano community offering his services in the way of consultation, warranty claim work, and technical instruction.
|
- Wally Brooks