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Piano Tech Seminars 2008
Piano Tech Seminars 2008
KUNGFUBROTHERS.COM
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| "An internationally respected program" |
The Piano Technology Program was
established at the University of
Western Ontario's Don Wright
Faculty of Music in 2000. Prior to that
this internationally respected
program was offered at George
Brown College in Toronto since
1977.
established at the University of
Western Ontario's Don Wright
Faculty of Music in 2000. Prior to that
this internationally respected
program was offered at George
Brown College in Toronto since
1977.
The field of piano technology is a highly
specialized area, requiring a high level
of education and applied skills currently
available at only a handful of schools
around the world. These schools are
located in the USA, England, Scotland,
Germany - and the University of
Western Ontario.
The program involves one full
academic year of study comprising of
degree courses in the physics of
sound, and history of music, and eight
certificate courses involving extensive
practice, tuning, problem diagnosis,
and repair on pianos of a variety of
makes and models.
Graduates have gained comprehensive
knowledge, skills and expertise
required for complete piano care. Many
move on to careers at music
institutions around the world, or
establish independent businesses.
specialized area, requiring a high level
of education and applied skills currently
available at only a handful of schools
around the world. These schools are
located in the USA, England, Scotland,
Germany - and the University of
Western Ontario.
The program involves one full
academic year of study comprising of
degree courses in the physics of
sound, and history of music, and eight
certificate courses involving extensive
practice, tuning, problem diagnosis,
and repair on pianos of a variety of
makes and models.
Graduates have gained comprehensive
knowledge, skills and expertise
required for complete piano care. Many
move on to careers at music
institutions around the world, or
establish independent businesses.
Eric and Don Stephenson
Half Cut Seiler Grand Piano
Wessell Nickel & Gross Composite Action Parts
It has been many years since I last
visited UWO and the piano technology
department, but going back for the 2008
piano tech seminars made me feel as if I
had never left. The first people I met as I
stepped into the music building was a
broadly smiling Don Stephenson and
Anne Fleming-Read with arms
outstretched. Technicians from across
the continent had come for a weekend of
seminars with several of the industry
experts, including notables such as
Ulrich Sauter, and Helmut & Norbert Abel.
visited UWO and the piano technology
department, but going back for the 2008
piano tech seminars made me feel as if I
had never left. The first people I met as I
stepped into the music building was a
broadly smiling Don Stephenson and
Anne Fleming-Read with arms
outstretched. Technicians from across
the continent had come for a weekend of
seminars with several of the industry
experts, including notables such as
Ulrich Sauter, and Helmut & Norbert Abel.
| Eric Yao June 2008 |
The 2008 Piano Tech seminars
included:
Upright Action Regulation Tips
Creating Stability and Building Tone
Don Mannino, director of technical
training Kawai
Wessell, Nickel & Gross Composite
Action Parts, Bruce Clark, Sr. Design
Engineer Mason & Hamlin
Modern Soundboard Design, Ulrich
Sauter, President Sauter
Abel's Natural Felt Hammers, Helmut
& Norbert Abel, Abel Flugel und Piano
Hammerkopfe, Germany
Yamaha Disklavier, Jim Welter & Mike
Voelkel, Yamaha Canada
Backcheck Installation, Robert
Marinelli, President, Piano Tech Supply
Co.
Steinway Action Rebuilding
Steinway Grand Service for Touch
and Tone
Kent Webb, Manager of Technical
Services and Support, Steinway and
Sons
included:
Upright Action Regulation Tips
Creating Stability and Building Tone
Don Mannino, director of technical
training Kawai
Wessell, Nickel & Gross Composite
Action Parts, Bruce Clark, Sr. Design
Engineer Mason & Hamlin
Modern Soundboard Design, Ulrich
Sauter, President Sauter
Abel's Natural Felt Hammers, Helmut
& Norbert Abel, Abel Flugel und Piano
Hammerkopfe, Germany
Yamaha Disklavier, Jim Welter & Mike
Voelkel, Yamaha Canada
Backcheck Installation, Robert
Marinelli, President, Piano Tech Supply
Co.
Steinway Action Rebuilding
Steinway Grand Service for Touch
and Tone
Kent Webb, Manager of Technical
Services and Support, Steinway and
Sons
One of the most interesting seminars that I attended was the
introduction to the new Wessell, Nickel & Gross (WNG) composite
action parts. The WNG Piano Action Company was established in
New York City in 1874, and it became one of the leading
manufacturers by the early 1900's. Due to economic downturns
and internal strife the company dissolved and the name was
eventually picked up by Mason & Hamlin. WNG over the past 3
years has been developing composite action parts for use in
Mason & Hamlin pianos. The limitations and drawbacks of
traditional wooden action parts include weakness along the wood
grain, humidity caused dimensional changes, and non-uniformity
in production. The concept behind composite parts is to eliminate
these drawbacks. The material developed is a composite of nylon
and glass fibre. Nylon was selected for its strength in all axes and
its ability to be glued, however nylon by itself is very flexible.
Glass fibre was added at a 50% proportion to increase rigidity.
The density of the material is greater than that of wood, so the
composite parts were designed with slots and holes to reduce
their weight. Looking at the sample parts, you notice that these
introduction to the new Wessell, Nickel & Gross (WNG) composite
action parts. The WNG Piano Action Company was established in
New York City in 1874, and it became one of the leading
manufacturers by the early 1900's. Due to economic downturns
and internal strife the company dissolved and the name was
eventually picked up by Mason & Hamlin. WNG over the past 3
years has been developing composite action parts for use in
Mason & Hamlin pianos. The limitations and drawbacks of
traditional wooden action parts include weakness along the wood
grain, humidity caused dimensional changes, and non-uniformity
in production. The concept behind composite parts is to eliminate
these drawbacks. The material developed is a composite of nylon
and glass fibre. Nylon was selected for its strength in all axes and
its ability to be glued, however nylon by itself is very flexible.
Glass fibre was added at a 50% proportion to increase rigidity.
The density of the material is greater than that of wood, so the
composite parts were designed with slots and holes to reduce
their weight. Looking at the sample parts, you notice that these
parts look nothing like traditional parts. They have a very modern and well
engineered structure. At the moment, the composite parts are not yet available,
but from what I've seen, surely we'll all be seeing them in the near future.
I was also very impressed at a demonstration of the Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV.
It looks just like a classic grand piano, however its innovative features make it
truly a technological marvel. The Mark IV is a fully functional acoustic piano, but
includes WiFi control, and a Linux based operating system. You can record
your performances, with vocals or other instruments, which is stored on the
piano's hard drive, and can be played back through the piano or the files may
be transferred via USB to a PC. Thanks to the Zenph Re-performance Project,
classic recordings of the great musicians of the past and present are being
converted into precise nuanced keystrokes and pedal motions that recreate
these historic performances on the Yamaha Disklavier. If you've ever dreamed
about listening to a live Art Tatum or Glenn Gould performance, this is
essentially possible now. The Disklavier Mark IV series of pianos start at
around $20,000 so it'll take me awhile to save up for one!
The weekend all-in-all was filled with great information, demonstrations and
discussions. I had the pleasure of meeting many knowledgeable and
experienced technicians and making many new friends. Sharing piano service
horror stories over a pint of beer is something that can only be fully
appreciated by a special group of people such as these. Looking forward to the
next seminar weekend in 2010.
engineered structure. At the moment, the composite parts are not yet available,
but from what I've seen, surely we'll all be seeing them in the near future.
I was also very impressed at a demonstration of the Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV.
It looks just like a classic grand piano, however its innovative features make it
truly a technological marvel. The Mark IV is a fully functional acoustic piano, but
includes WiFi control, and a Linux based operating system. You can record
your performances, with vocals or other instruments, which is stored on the
piano's hard drive, and can be played back through the piano or the files may
be transferred via USB to a PC. Thanks to the Zenph Re-performance Project,
classic recordings of the great musicians of the past and present are being
converted into precise nuanced keystrokes and pedal motions that recreate
these historic performances on the Yamaha Disklavier. If you've ever dreamed
about listening to a live Art Tatum or Glenn Gould performance, this is
essentially possible now. The Disklavier Mark IV series of pianos start at
around $20,000 so it'll take me awhile to save up for one!
The weekend all-in-all was filled with great information, demonstrations and
discussions. I had the pleasure of meeting many knowledgeable and
experienced technicians and making many new friends. Sharing piano service
horror stories over a pint of beer is something that can only be fully
appreciated by a special group of people such as these. Looking forward to the
next seminar weekend in 2010.
