IINN TTUNEUNE!! Newsletter of the Technicians Guild, San Francisco Chapter November 2012

Calendar of Events President's Message Frank French, RPT November’s Chapter Meeting 7:00pm Tuesday, November 6th

Callahan Piano Service 1800 Ferry Point Building 14, Suite 100. Alameda, CA Some of us have heard the story of what 94501 happened in the piano industry in the 20th century. The economic collapse of the 1930’s November’s Technical Presentation followed by a world war had dire consequences for the making of . “Building Bridges” Dale Fox and Brett Many firms retained old models and Deering of Sacramento chapter will reveal templates for making parts and components, some of their innovative ways of forming, but some of the newer workers lacked proper layout and notching of bridges to enhance understanding about the underlying principles tonal properties including, bridge redesign, of instrument making. Rebuilders replacing scaling, the possibility of auxiliary bridge, worn out hammers with heavier ones, the modifying the existing bridge or just laying knowledge of how to make lighter ones out an entirely new bridge root depending having been lost, often came up with heavier on what the existing plate design allows. playing actions with greater inertia. They will also bring pictures of their S/B conditioning booth and have an Fortunately, the work of David Stanwood and explanation of how it works and the others has helped us to better understand the general theory why they do what they do. principles of weighting, balance weighting and action geometry that make an action play and feel right. Investigation of Future Project Piano Meetings basic underlying principles along with some St. Anne's Church. This is located at 850 trial and error and perhaps some Judah at Funston – enter from the outdoor inspiration helped make a change for the basketball courts on Funston St. (and you better. Piano technicians are now putting can park there, too). 10:00am Saturday, these principles into practice with great November 10th Fee: $10.00 results.

The idea of comprehensive underlying Holiday Party Tuesday, Dec 4th principles and the scope of universal laws JB Piano, San Rafael might also be applied far beyond our own field of endeavor. If we assume for example Details on page 3 that templates for piano work wore out, but

people continued to use them without proper understanding with often poor results, why

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President's Message - continued from previous page not extend this idea with a leap of thought and Project Piano apply concept to a society as a whole. We have been operating off a certain model for a by Frank French long time and signs of wear are beginning to show up. Social scientists have been looking The Piano Project meeting was held at this picture for some time. Insightful minds Saturday, October 13. David Gordon, in the field of psychology have also suggested Douglas Braak, Brenda Meng and Frank to us the premise of individual and collective French were present to proceed with consciousness. This work has been stringing. undertaken with an eye to general improvement. We might conclude that with proper understanding of underlying principles and the right intent it may be possible to make the kind of changes that will result in a general societal improvement. In this way a concept that was applied to piano technology really has a universal application as well.

Today we might see the piano as an icon of 19th century culture with antecedents in earlier centuries. The topic of the evolution of the piano and its accompanying literature is a The next meeting will be 10 AM Saturday, fascinating study, but is it considered to be as November 10 at St. Anne's of the Sunset important as say the I-POD or whatever Moriarty Hall. Grant Hillemeyer will be on technological device supersedes it in the short hand to showcase touch-up methods that term? Some writers have suggested peril in may be used to improve the general this new cult of technology in that it appearance of the piano. This is an excellent encourages neglect of individuated forms of opportunity to learn an important skill that expression found in music, art or literature could be profitable in your business. If you're The premise is that ever-increasing emphasis planning to attend, it is suggested that you on high-tech entertainment detracts from the bring any portable work lights you may have, importance of the Humanities and the as this kind of work requires good lighting. strength of a reflective mind that appreciates the aesthetic value offered by art. 

If the ideal of music-making is important to us and we take our role in it seriously, then living Chapter Mentor Program for that ideal is a valiant struggle to improve Many of the more experienced members and and expand a general sense of well-being, RPTs are happy to avail themselves to not merely that it survives, but moreover that associates working towards their RPT status. it thrives. Our small group can realize its full You can ask around at a chapter meeting, or potential through its ongoing activities. ask any of the chapter officers to put you in Increased participation in our chapter touch with a mentor. activities and undertakings as a community effort will benefit all. 

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SF PTG Holiday Party Holiday Party 2011 Tuesday, December 4th • 6:30pm

JB Piano • 540 Irwin Street • San Rafael (415) 456-9280

Comprehensive Review and Written Exam Prep Class:

Tuesdays 7:30 PM at San Francisco State University, Creative Arts Building room 157 (enter from Holloway Ave., follow signs to room.)

The first session was held Tuesday, October This year's holiday party, (which takes the 23 and a second session on October 31. The place of the December chapter meeting) is subject matter was acoustical theory shaping up to be a wonderful event. We're pertaining to and other aspects expecting great food and a great time for all. of piano tuning such as technique, stability and effects of humidity. The class meets We'll provide "the basics" (finger food, soft weekly, except for first Tuesday of each drinks, wine and beer) to get everyone in the month (due to the chapter meeting). There is holiday spirit. As in years past, please feel no fee. Classes are 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. long. The free to bring your favorite holiday dish to class continues on November 13 (see below contribute to the feast (this is entirely for subject matter). optional). Then we'll put the musicians in our midst to playing on the pianos (please bring This is a review of all that was covered in the any other music or instruments you need). hands-on classes taught over the past 2 ½ years – and will also present new material, Also, don't forget the Secret Santa gift not covered in the previous classes. New exchange. Wrap up a book or favorite tool to subject areas will include voicing, piano pass along to someone else in the chapter. design and materials, touchweight issues and more. Unlike the previous hands-on As a reminder, all SF chapter members are presentations, these will be mostly discussion invited and are welcome to bring guests. Cost and demonstration sessions. They could be will be $25 per person, paid in advance. We'll useful for Associates needing a review in be sending out a poll prior to the event to get preparation for the RPT written exam as well a headcount. In the poll we will ask whether as for those not yet ready to challenge the you intend to bring a food dish to help with the exams and just simply seeking knowledge.

planning. (For anyone NOT on the email list - please contact John Howard at [email protected] with your intentions to attend).

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Written Exam Prep - continued from previous page a training ground for future conference While it would be best to attend all sessions, leaders. It's hoped that eventually the San the material is not cumulative and sporadic Francisco chapter will be the host chapter for attendance could still be worthwhile. The Westpac conferences held in our city. tentative schedule going forward is: The major jobs -- Conference Director, Nov. 13, 20 and 27 (first half)- Action matters: Conference Coordinator, Institute Director, regulation, design, geometry, weight issues, and Registrar -- are already covered, but they etc. need an Assistant Director and some other jobs filled (I will post specifics as this Nov. 27 (second half), Dec 11 and 18 - Piano information becomes available). design/construction/materials, repairs, rebuilding I know in the past several of us have volunteered to take on minor roles in planning No need to confirm - just come. Come early and organizing these conferences, and hope to find parking. that those who have previously offered, plus new people, will step up to the plate for the Travel instructions here: 2014 conference. http://www.sfsu.edu/~parking/directions/ Campus map here: http://www.sfsu.edu/~sfsumap/ If you'd like to contribute your time and skills to bringing this important PTG event to San Israel Stein Francisco, please contact me or Conference Director Michael Reiter -  [email protected] or (253) 588-1311.

WestPac IV Coming To San  Francisco: Needs Our Help

Many of us attend the WestPac regional Fred Allen conferences and benefit from the great 1926 - 2012 classes and instructors available at them. In A Remembrance by Margie Williams 2014, WestPac will once again be held in San Francisco, and once again the host chapter is NOT us. The Puget Sound (Washington) On a recent Saturday I looked at my calendar chapter will undertake the responsibilities of and discovered I was about to have a Knabe bringing a great PTG conference to our grand kind of day. I wasn’t looking forward to locale. it, freely admitting to being a snobby, They've asked us to help, both because they Steinway kind of girl. One customer’s 5’ 2” Knabe piano was purchased under rushed need more people and in the hope that if circumstances, and the other customer had some of us get our feet wet by taking a small received a freebie from a family friend, also a part in running a conference, it will serve as small Knabe. It took some serious pep talking to get me out of my pity party and into the car.

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Remembrance - continued from previous page After all, I still had plenty of work in these and he made it easy to go visit him and harsh economic times. chew the fat. What strikes me most about Fred was his modesty, especially in the face The first stop was a long-time (25 year) of his towering abilities as a piano customer of mine who had taken my advice technician. There was nothing he didn’t have (OK, insurrection) to replace her crummy old experience with, and nothing he hadn’t upright. Despite my offers to be involved in encountered. her search at no cost to her (looking at photos via email, telephone consultations, etc.) she Bruce Nalezny, who sells pianos here in the immediately jumped right in and bought a Bay Area, hired Fred to do lots of his small Knabe grand, what I feared was an technical work for many years. I asked inferior piano. Harrumph. I was disappointed Bruce for his observations of Fred: she hadn’t even consulted me, and feared I would still be stuck tuning a less than “After many years of having the pleasure of wonderful piano. She was ecstatic; I was seeing Fred at least once a week, and had I thinking “paino” or PSO (piano shaped taken notes of the details he told me about object.) his life, I could probably write a pretty fascinating book. Yes, he worked for Tupper Finally the time came, after her & Reed for a number of years and of course complimentary tuning, for me to tune the for Fred Mills as well. piano. I sucked it up and made no disparaging comments, figuring if she was He was definitely a ‘people person’: he loved happy, I was going to mirror her sentiments the circle of friends, and I mean real friends, unless it was a totally ridiculous situation. that he acquired over his 50+ years as a Good thing I kept my big mouth shut. piano technician. He was very flattered to have been appreciated by some of the finest Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find an musicians in the Bay Area. I will quickly add, immaculate piano that dazzled the eye with a however, that he never let it go to his head. serious and thorough restringing job. Before He was humility itself. One of his character my customer showed me the document from traits that I admired the most was his ability the seller, I immediately intuited that Fred to say ‘I don't know.’ While his knowledge Allen had done the work. What a nice and experience were vast and enviable, he surprise. As I was tuning, it was dawning on was the last person to put himself on ‘center me that this might have been Fred’s last job. stage.’ I also know that he was not fond of Indeed, this turned out to be the case. The memorials because he felt they tended to piano looked and sounded gorgeous: new idealize an individual into someone they strings, new dampers, new agraffes, were not. He was a deep thinker in so many refinished board and plate and refinished lid ways and his insight into life's many and music desk. The action was not unanswered questions, often with his excessively worn and still had life left in the inescapable sense of humor will remain at hammers. I was on cloud nine to have the core of my admiration. If there's such a encountered one of Fred’s legacies, but my place as ‘piano heaven,’ he is surely there.” happiness was definitely bittersweet. Israel Stein also had a close association I knew Fred from about 1987 or before; I with Fred: “I got to know Fred late in his life, know many other old-timers in our chapter go when we were both doing occasional work even further back. Fred lived less than a mile for Bruce Nalezny. One incident sticks in my away in my neighborhood here in Richmond, mind. I was working on a small grand of

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Remembrance - continued from previous page some sort, and found that the movers had more like a meth addict girl.) After switched the leg screws around so that one vacuuming it and getting a better look at it, I was sticking into the action cavity and declined to do any more work on it, having immobilizing the action. I didn't have a socket learned long ago that the second you start deep enough to unscrew that leg screw (it repairing a hopeless piano and charge a fee was a weird setup...). Bruce asked Fred if he for it, all subsequent problems get blamed could lend me a socket, so Fred just came on you. You’ve just bought yourself a turkey down later that day and started those screws of a piano for the rest of your career. I had to the point that any tool could get them out no problem eating my fee on this one. all the way. In the meantime I had gone off to Besides, I just couldn’t ruin the good taste in do a job of my own and had come back late my mouth from Fred’s little Knabe gem: his that evening (after dark) to finish that grand– final legacy. switch the leg screws around, and do whatever else I was going to do to that action. It was a hot evening and I left the door open. Rest in peace, Fred. Pretty soon, I see Fred getting out of his car. He got worried about me working on a piano  with loosened leg screws, and came back late in the evening to make sure I was OK...That's what I most remember about Fred: his concern for others.” The Piano ‘Moulds The Mind’

As several us have observed, he was always ready to talk about pianos, offer advice, and generally make one feel welcome and valued. The loyalty of his customers was absolutely legendary. As he began shedding customers during his latter years, many of us discovered pianos in great shape, and customers who still mentioned Fred and asked how he was

doing. He set the bar pretty high for those of Tuning a piano also tunes the brain, say us attempting to follow in his footsteps. researchers who have seen structural

changes within the brains of professional Fred’s beloved wife Virginia died a few years piano tuners. ago. He and his sons took care of her

in their house until the end. As we all know, Researchers at University College London this is no easy feat. He missed her terribly and Newcastle University found listening to when she died. two notes played simultaneously makes the Oh, and that second Knabe, the freebie, I was brain adapt. scheduled to tune the same day as Fred’s final project? Total wreck–from massive, Brain scans revealed highly specific multiple spills, to the infamous Knabe bridge changes in the hippocampus, which governs cracks, to torn out case parts, to a laughably memory and navigation. worn out action. (Think frat house attributes, although it was from an August family in These correlated with the number of years Lafayette. It had been a party girl, or as my tuners had been doing this job. husband Mark termed it,

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Moulds The Mind - continued from previous page The Welcome Trust researchers used Tool Safety While On The Road magnetic resonance imaging to compare the brains of 19 professional piano tuners - who By Larry Lobel play two notes simultaneously to make them pitch-perfect - and 19 other people. There have been quite a few tool thefts from What they saw was highly specific changes in chapter members' vehicles in the past few both the grey matter - the nerve cells where years. This is a painful and costly experience information processing takes place - and the we all want to avoid. While there's no white matter - the nerve connections - within absolute guaranteed way to prevent this, the brains of the piano tuners. some precautions can minimize the danger:

* Make sure to ALWAYS lock your vehicle. If Investigator Sundeep Teki said: "We already you use a push-button electronic , double- know that musical training can correlate with check by pulling on the door handle (one of structural changes, but our group of our members reported that the battery in his professionals offered a rare opportunity to key had died, so while he thought he locked examine the ability of the brain to adapt over the door when he pushed the button, it wasn't time to a very specialized form of listening." locked). Other researchers have noted similar hippocampal changes in taxi drivers as they * Avoid parking in poorly lit areas and/or build up detailed information needed to find unsavory neighborhoods. their way around London's labyrinth of streets. * Advertising signs on your vehicle are an open invitation to thieves. The amount of Prof Tim Griffiths, who led the latest study, business you may get from them isn't worth published in Neuroscience, said: "There has the risk. been little work on the role of the hippocampus in auditory analysis. * Carry insurance to cover loss of tools. This is made available to us through PTG at Our study is consistent with a form of reasonable rates. navigation in pitch space as opposed to the more accepted role in spatial navigation."  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19398413

Extra Tools? Stay Up To Date With In Tune! Remember to hang on to E-mail addresses have a way of changing extra or unwanted tools for frequently. When such changes occur, please a future Tool Swap email them to [email protected] so benefitting the SF PTG we can update your information. It is chapter. important that we be able to reach you. Thanks! The date of the next Tools Swap is TBA.

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If anyone has questions about woodwinds, Greetings From New Member feel free to contact us. We have many years of experience in this allied, though very From Daniel Deitch different field.

Best wishes, We feel we have received a very warm Daniel Deitch welcome from the Guild, though we have just joined. We can tell it is a very friendly bunch. By way of full disclosure, I have to come  clean about who we are. Our shop has been in existence for 18 years and we pride ourselves on putting into practice the tenets Newsletter Inputs Wanted! of the PTG all these years, even though we are not piano technicians! WE WANT YOUR INPUT!!! Contact the The truth be told, we have been requested by newsletter editor or any chapter officer with one of our important institutional clients, to your ideas about how to improve this obtain business insurance, something we newsletter or the chapter in general. Your have never had need of in all our years as a ideas and suggestions are always welcome. functioning shop. The only way we found we  can obtain insurance for our type of business is by being a member of your esteemed organization. PTG Code of Ethics We run a woodwind repair workshop, repairing and restoring all winds except for 1. I will act honorably and in a saxophones, in the Richmond District of San professional manner. Francisco. We are fortunate to count among 2. I will render the best possible service our clients, members of the San Francisco under the circumstances, always keeping and Opera Orchestras, as well as the best interests of my client in mind. top wind players in other orchestras and 3. I will uphold the principles of honesty chamber groups, all the way down to the local and integrity for which the Piano middle school beginners. But, lest I incur a Technicians Guild stands. wrath, I can report that at least three years 4. I will use the name and trademarks of ago I completed the building of a . the properly and We bought an incomplete Zuckerman will encourage others to do the same. bentside spinet kit and finished it up, fit and 5. I will strive to upgrade my professional balanced the keys, shaped and voiced the skills and I will encourage and help others to delrin plectra, strung it, of course, with pins do the same. lacking holes (!) shimmed the key heights and 6. I will promote, in any way that I can, all sorts of things that have nothing to do with good will toward my profession and toward woodwinds. So hopefully you will not think the music industry. too badly of us. 7. I will engage only in business practices that are in accord with the antitrust guidelines as set forth by the Piano Technicians Guild.

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Chapter Meeting Minutes New Business John Howard Chapter Secretary Counsel Proposals Please Note: Larry Lobel read over the summary that Israel Stein wrote up of what will be discussed and At the upcoming business meeting we will voted on at counsel. Israel called in and need to approve the last minutes from June. members discussed the topics and felt comfortable with the way our delegate will June 5, 2012 represent the views of the chapter.

Chapter Meeting Business Meeting Discussion The chapter meeting was held at Ris Piano in Frank French noted that we don't always San Rafael. We did not hold an official have to have a business meeting each business meeting since we were one shy of a month. quorum. 14 members were needed and we had 13 members and a few honored guests. Tuning Mentoring Both Mark Shecter and Frank French have offered their services to help tutor associate Announcements members to assist in preparing them for the RPT test. Stage Truck Needed Rob Mitchell is in need of a stage truck for a Technical Programs Discussed six-foot grand. If you have one, please Larry Lobel presented an opportunity for the contact Rob Mitchell. chapter to have a business program offered by a professor at UC Berkeley. It was Israel Stein Calls In addressed that we might hold the business Larry Lobel announced that since Israel Stein program as a separate evening than our is out of the country in Israel (no pun normal monthly meeting. intended), he will be calling in to discuss the proposals to be brought before counsel. It was also discussed that we possibly offer technical meetings before the business Old Business meeting, as more people would likely have an Program Committee interest in the technical meeting. Then, attendance at the business meeting would be Frank French brought up that we still need a optional. We also discussed that we might program committee and we are open to start offering more all-day seminars and invite suggestions. technicians from outside of the area.

A suggestion was posed that John Swenson offer a technical class on how to make your  own tools. It was warmly welcomed by all.

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Classified Ads Chapter Officers Contact the newsletter editor to add or remove listings

President Piedmont Piano Company Jim Callahan, RPT, owner Frank French, RPT (415) 513-9021 For over 33 years offering the finest new and used pianos. Authorized dealer for new Yamaha, Mason & Hamlin, Bluthner, [email protected] Bechstein, and Fazioli pianos. Fine used pianos from the world's great makers, specializing in vintage Steinways. We stock the largest selection of used grand pianos in Northern California. This Vice President Could As many SF chapter members know, we have worked for years with PTG members and their customers to provide the finest instruments Be You at the most reasonable prices.

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Treasurer For more information please visit our website www.piedmontpiano.com or e mail: [email protected] Randy Chastain (510) 357-6882 [email protected]   

A recording from Shawn Skylark: "Still Life - 10 Pieces For Solo Secretary Piano". This is a collection of original piano pieces, which are released on CD. (available at CD Baby, iTunes, and John Howard (650) 421-6355 shawnskylark.com). [email protected] It was recorded on a Bösendorfer 225. Bösendorfer informed Shawn that they have added it to their online Music Library which is part of their web site at Boesendorfer.com. Chapter Librarian Israel Stein, RPT (510) 558-0777    [email protected] AUTHOR: JS BACH ORDER FROM http://www.frankfrench.name/discs.html PUBLISHER: Alpenglo ISBN: 826816121025

J.S Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier 48 Preludes and Fugues IN TUNE! is a monthly publication of the Piano Technicians Guild played in Thomas Young's Well-Temperament of 1799 by Frank - San Francisco Chapter. It is distributed free of charge via e- French mail or in paper for $15/year to non-members without e-mail. E-mail addresses have a way of changing frequently. When For the first time the Well-Tempered Clavier can be heard in the such changes occur, please send them to us at explicitly-stated, 18th Century well temperament that allows the [email protected] so we can stay up to date. It is important characteristic of each major and minor key to emerge as intended during the time of the composer. A subtle but certain difference is that we be able to reach you. Thanks! apparent when this music is played in this authentic tuning. This four-CD set contains more than four hours of music with liner notes Deadline for newsletter submissions is 12 DAYS before the first on the history and development of tuning keyboard instruments by Tuesday of the month. The newsletter will usually be distributed Owen Jorgensen with French, Spanish and German language texts. 10 days before the upcoming Chapter Meeting. The Newsletter This production, more than two years in the making, was expertly Editor reserves the right to edit article submissions for clarity and recorded using a Boesendorfer 225 concert piano. length. * Reviewer from England author: Nigel Taylor I have to say that I am Classified ad listings are available to chapter members for free. delighted with musical experience of listening to the W.T.C. played in The following schedule is available to anyone wishing to run a Thomas Young's temperament. Thank you for such an excellent separate ad in the newsletter (prices are for 12 months): recording. The differing key characters are obvious, and the W.T.C. statements or opinions have been adopted by the Chapter or the sounds so much more musical and expressive than when all the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. keys sound the same! Nigel Taylor

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• 1/8 page ad - $60

• 1/4 page ad - $108 • 1/2 page ad - $204

Chapter website: www.sfptg.org .Send suggestions, literary contributions, or advertisements to the secretary or webmaster.

Disclaimer: All expressions of opinion and all statements of supposed fact are published on the authority of the author as listed, and are not to be regarded as expressing the view of the Chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc., unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the Chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.

Piano Technicians Guild – SF Chapter c/o John Howard P.O. Box 2222 Redwood City, CA 94063

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If you received this by US Mail and have an e-mail address, you can save your PTG Chapter’s money by electing e-mail delivery instead. Please contact John Howard to make this change. .(contact information listed inside) November 2012 SF PTG Newsletter IN TUNE! 11