IINN TTUUNNEE!! Newsletter of the Piano Technicians Guild, San Francisco Chapter May 2010
Calendar of Events President's Message Next Chapter Meeting 7:30pm Tuesday, May 4 Israel Stein Piedmont Piano (the new one) 1728 San Pablo Ave. (at 18th St.) Oakland, CA 94612 510-547-8188 I wish to thank San Francisco PTG chapter members for voting in the recent election, and for entrusting me Business Meeting: with the Presidency of the chapter. I will work hard to Overview and explanation of future chapter fulfill your expectations. This was the first contested technicals and stand-alone technical events – election within anyone’s memory – and I hope that we we'll be looking for feedback from you, the will have more such in the future. Competition forces members. the candidates to put their best foot forward – and We'll vote on whether or not to reimburse a many good ideas were advanced by all. I believe that chapter alternate at PTG Annual Conventions, good ideas and good intentions expressed by a and if yes - what to cover. (The chapter member willing to stand for election should not be delegate is reimbursed for round trip airfare or wasted just because the chapter chose someone else. car mileage, 2 days' hotel stay, convention So I invited Frank French and Zhi Wei Huang to a registration and 2 days' per diem @ $35 ea.) planning meeting held at my house recently, and Vote on 2010 chapter dues remission for offered them the opportunity to make their ideas a Golden Gate chapter members wishing to join reality. They agreed to do so as co-chairs of the San Francisco Chapter after their chapter Program Committee working closely with Vice disbands later this year. That is, whether or not President Larry Lobel, to bring you an expanded and to try and collect this year's pro-rated dues, improved program of chapter technicals and stand- alone events. once they transfer to our chapter. President's Message continued on next page Discuss how much help our chapter is able/willing to offer to the first inter-regional conference this coming March (Joint West and Pacific Northwest regional). Chapter Meeting Minutes
Rob Mitchell
Technical Meeting: Special showing of Miracle in a Chapter Secretary Box. We're hoping that both the director and producer will be available. We're also expecting
some performances that evening.
Project Piano 10:00am Saturday, May 1 The chapter convened on April 6 at JB Piano in San St. Anne's Church – 850 Judah at Funston – enter Rafael. A quorum was present of 16 members (6 from Funston St. RPTs and 10 Associates).
Please note special first-Saturday session. Treasurers Report: we have $15,805 on balance. Please note that $1,555 of this are PACE and Project Delayed - The David Andersen seminar scheduled for Piano funds. May 22 has been postponed. Details regarding a new
date will be published as they become available. A special tuning seminar will be held on April 24 at Callahan Piano in Alameda. See the April issue of In Tune! for details.
We are also tentatively planning an all-day seminar PTG Members from other chapters are always with David Andersen on May 22. Details to follow. [Ed. welcome to attend our meetings. Please note this has been postponed]. Meeting Minutes continued on next page
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Meeting Minutes continued from Page 1 President's Message continued from Page 1
On May 9, finalists of the East Bay Music Foundation Our intention is to present a yearlong program will give recitals. Our chapter contributes some of the (possibly extending beyond the coming year) that prize money and Douglas would appreciate it if a appeals to both beginners or RPT candidates as well chapter member would volunteer to present the check. as to veteran technicians seeking to expand their skill Soon after will be the San Francisco Young Artists set. We want to emphasize hands-on presentations, concert. Details to follow. where members could learn or perfect skills by doing actual work – both at selected chapter technicals and The Project Piano group continues to meet (next is at stand-alone events. We also want to invite the best Saturday, April 10 at St. Anne's). The freshly re- and most sought-after presenters accessible to us, to covered and rebushed keys are in. We'll install these make attendance at chapter meetings and other events and make some action geometry measurements along as attractive as possible to the widest variety of with weighing using the Stanwood system. chapter members. Vice President Larry Lobel will be polling the chapter membership as to the sort of skills, We finished the business meeting with elections for topics and presenters you are interested in – and I ask chapter officers. Your new officers are: you to please do your part by replying to these surveys, which will be available via multiple distribution President - Israel Stein channels (web, e-mail, chapter meetings) for your Vice President - Larry Lobel convenience. We want to do what you want us to do – Treasurer - Douglas Braak but you need to tell us what that might be… Secretary - Rob Mitchell For the beginners or RPT candidates, we want to start Thanks to the outgoing officers and a rousing applause a new cycle of basic skills instruction, starting with for the great job Larry did as President for the past two small-group hands-on tuning training, led by RPT Zhi years. Wei Huang. It is planned to be a once-per-month continuing evening sessions, similar to the PACE The evening concluded with a technical presentation program of several years ago – but not necessarily by David Love regarding Hammer Selection. following the PACE curriculum. Zhi Wei is a top quality tuner and successful teacher, and these sessions (intended to be open ended, but not perpetual) should prove to be very useful for those looking to acquire aural tuning skills. Watch for details to be announced in future newsletters and on the chapter’s SFPTG e-mail list. Repairs, Regulation and General Knowledge classes will follow the tuning cycle. More details can be found in the Planning Meeting minutes, elsewhere in this newsletter.
Speaking of the planning meeting, I can’t help but be impressed by all the officers of this chapter. We are privileged to have officers who are competent, knowledgeable, efficient, conscientious and easy to work with. I am looking forward to working with them this year (and perhaps beyond, if that opportunity arises) to make the San Francisco chapter work for you to the best of all our abilities. David shared many of his insights on hammers, Israel Stein, RPT soundboards and scale design. He was then able to demonstrate some of the tonal differences using the variety of hammers installed on grands at JB Piano.
Many thanks to JB Piano for the use of their facilities. Display Your Business Card If you would like a copy of your business card displayed on our chapter website, just give one to our chapter secretary, Rob Mitchell, at the next meeting. A scanned image will be placed on our website with a link to your site or email.
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Executive Board of Directors The new Executive Committee of the SF PTG along We then moved on to discussing things the chapter with the candidates from the most recent election met should be doing for the continuing education, not only on 4/15/10 at Israel Stein's home. Attending were Associates preparing for the RPT exams, but for all Israel Stein, Larry Lobel, Douglas Braak, Rob Mitchell, members, at levels appropriate to the member's ability. Frank French and Zhiwei Huang. The most likely would be to restart the PACE program or other Practical Examination Preparation for the The purpose of the meeting was to lay out plans for the tuning and technical series. We all agreed that Zhiwei year and get agreement on goals. Israel kicked off by would make an excellent teacher of the tuning portion stressing the importance of keeping good of this material. He will target for a September startup communications between the individuals on the of this activity. Israel, who has taught technical exam committee. There shouldn't be any problems as long prep classes many times, is willing to do it again after as everyone knows what everyone else is doing. the Tuning classes are done.
Israel then discussed his concerns with having only A discussion of the Mentoring program then followed. one delegate to the upcoming convention and the need Larry relayed that in spite of seeming to have plenty of to send an alternate. With so much going on at the willing mentors and mentees, there didn't seem to be a PTG Council, we can do a much better job of covering lot of activity. Everyone agreed that part of this is just everything if there are two members from SF. This will continuously repeating / reinforcing the message at be brought up for a vote at the next chapter meeting meetings and in the newsletter. The same discussion (the alternate would get airfare, two nights lodging and followed for the importance and availability of their convention fee paid for). prescreening before taking an RPT test.
We discussed the need to plan the chapter meetings To encourage members of the Golden Gate Chapter to (technical sessions) further in advance so that join SF, we agreed that if they choose to transfer to our members could see what was coming up (at least chapter, we would waive the SF chapter dues for the several months ahead of time and hopefully longer). remainder of this year. This needs to be put to the Israel also plans to publish an agenda for upcoming chapter for a vote. business meetings. We'd like to have the future meeting locations selected (and published) well in Volunteers will likely be needed for the PTG Regional advance, though flexibility is needed here since the Convention in January 2011 (probably at the SFO topic of a technical session could dictate the location. airport Marriott). Israel will contact the coordinators to St. Anne's in SF may be available for meetings. see what they need. Additional discussion for chapter technicals: we'd like to hold at least two hands-on working technical
sessions a year (at the chapter meetings) and one or two hands-on all-day events that are an opportunity to learn new skills from veteran technicians. If possible, RPT Pre-examination we would tie the all-day sessions to a topic that was Any associate getting ready to take an RPT exam discussed in a presentation at a chapter meeting. As (technical or tuning) is strongly encouraged to get "pre- VP, Larry has overall responsibility for the technical examined". This is a dry-run of the exam and is an schedule. Frank and Zhiwei will now co-chair the excellent opportunity to make sure you understand the Program Committee to specifically organize these materials you will be tested on. hands-on sessions. The goal is to hold the first of these no later than January of next year (perhaps sooner). Larry will undertake a survey of members to pick suitable topics. Any suggestions for themes Andersen Seminar Postponed should be passed along to these folks. The all-day seminar with David Andersen that was We'd like to spread the responsibility of getting tentatively scheduled for May 22nd is postponed until refreshments for chapter meetings to other members further notice. The new chapter officers are re- (last year, this largely fell to Frank, who did a great focusing goals and priorities, and want to do a job!). Larry agreed to coordinate this, but the intent is thorough planning of chapter activities to insure we are that he will get other volunteers to bring snacks to the giving the membership what they want. This will be meetings. discussed at the next meeting.
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Front Weight, Key Ratio, Upweight and Downweight. Project Piano The measurements for the 18 sample keys were recorded on a Touchweight Analysis Data Form, and by Larry Lobel everyone was given the assignment, to be done for the next session, to calculate the Action Ratio for all 18 The 13th session of the Project Piano group met on keys using the Equation of Balance. Saturday April 10th at St. Anne's Church in San Francisco. We then returned the action to the piano and played it a little to familiarize ourselves with the touchweight as In attendance were Douglas Braak, Frank French RPT, it is presently. The piano has a very nice light touch, Dave Gordon, Zhiwei Huang RPT, Larry Lobel RPT, and we discussed that it will be our goal to preserve Brenda Meng, Rob Mitchell, Ernest Shimada, and this nice feature. It will be hard to do that, because the Shan Rong Yang. new hammers will undoubtedly be quite a bit heavier than the original ones, and we discussed the various Photos from the session were taken by Zhiwei, and options available to us. can be viewed by clicking on "Photos" in the left-hand column of this page. Then look for the album titled Now that the piano looks like a playable instrument, "Project Piano session 13." You can view them because of the new keytops, we realized we need a individually or as a continuous slide show. stage truck to prevent damage to the legs, as it will be moved around a lot. Zhiwei has one he bought from Larry at the chapter tool auction, and the group will buy it back from Zhiwei to install on our Baldwin. We also will order a clamp-style fallboard lock to prevent unauthorized use of the piano to protect it from damage.
Zhiwei invited us to his home after the meeting to see and play a Steinway M that he just finished rebuilding for a customer. He used the Stanwood PTD system for the first time, with guidance from Larry and permission from David Stanwood. Everyone thought the piano sounds beautiful and plays wonderfully, and has the tone of a larger piano. Nice job, Zhiwei!
Our Stanwood experts Douglas (L) and Larry discuss the process as Brenda takes notes. San Francisco Small Business Week May 15 - 21 Douglas and Larry gave a brief introduction to the concepts behind the Stanwood Precision Touch Dozens of networking and workshop events are Design system and explained the Equation of Balance offered this year. Events include: formula. Both were trained and licensed by David How Your Business Can Survive & Thrive in Stanwood RPT in the use of the system he invented. Tough Economic Times They demonstrated the techniques used to measure Commercial Insurance Buying; First Time Policies action components using the Touch Designer's Toolkit, Effective Goal Setting for Small Businesses which anyone can buy and use without being a How to Engage or Build a Community for your licensed installer. Business Maximize Productivity Using Microsoft Solutions We re-installed the keys with their beautiful new Making the Most of Your Online Marketing keytops and key bushings, reduced friction in the sample keys that were to be measured by polishing Don't miss the "Flavors of SF" on the evening of May keypins, lubricating friction points, easing tight keys 17 (Metreon) or "Business After Hours Grand Expo" on and key bushings, and making sure the regulation was May 20 (Club Level - AT&T Park). Details and fairly close to where it should be. Then everyone tried registration at http://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com/ their hand at measuring Strike Weight, Wippen Weight,
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which seems to suit the firms’ customers preference. Julius Feurich, Piano Maker The company keeps pace with advances in the By Frank French industry, not only with the idea of improving the new instruments, but also to explore all available technical This is the story of my encounter with Julius Feurich, a possibilities. Carbon fiber action parts, which allow for piano maker currently working in Gunzenhausen, less lead in the keys also open the possibility for Bavaria Germany. The first part of what follows is a increasing key mass at the front of the key through the loose translation of the company literature pertaining to use of more dense woods, such as iron wood (known its history and development. Then follows some of my as panzerhols in Germany) own reflections and recollections of conversations when I visited the firm in the spring of 2010. With modernization also comes the idea of creating something to last in order to avoid some of the current The firm was founded in 1851 by Juilius Gustav tendencies of a throw-away society. The firm builds Feurich at the cost of what was then one Goldmark, instruments with the idea that they should last 80 years the currency of the day. The founder’s father and or more. This is only possible through the use of the grandfather had both been piano makers and thus the best materials available and the most skillful methods founding of the firm was considered as the logical of construction by the best-qualified technicians and continuation of a family tradition. Julius Gustav builders. Keeping the best workers and limiting the Feurich was the first piano maker in Germany to place work week to the standard 40 hours is part of the idea. the dampers under the hammers in the vertical piano. Thus, the value and longevity of one of these pianos The style of the day in pianos of this type was called must be reflected in what it costs to build such and Oberdaempfung or the “birdcage” as is it commonly instrument and this in turn affects the price for which it known in America today. Even in the early years may be sold. The buyer of such an instrument can Feurich was considered in the elite category of piano enjoy the full value with all these factors taken into builders because of this and other methods of consideration, and indeed it is up to the buyer to construction. decide what is right. My own impression is that these pianos are made with great thoughtfulness and In 1910 a new facility in Leipzig- Leutsch was humanity. completed where about 1000 vertical and 600 grand pianos were completed and sent out all over the world. After going through the facility I can relate what I saw During these years the firm’s trade flourished even in there. At present it is a small operation with just two or what were considered some of the more remote three handworkers, who must be able to do every job. places the earth such as Australia, Chile and even Therefore careful attention to detail and Brazil At one time there were as many as sixty concert comprehensive knowledge is necessary. halls throughout the world that featured Feurich concert pianos. During World War II many facilities in Construction Methods Leipzig including the Feurich Concert Hall, where many In specific terms of construction there is no rib- famous pianists has played, were destroyed. By 1959 crowning in the building of the soundboards, but there the fourth generation of family piano builders had is some crowning on the underside of the bridges decided to flee East Germany for the West, and there where the tone is transmitted into the soundboard. to make a new beginning. Vertical bridges may be prepared and notched on the workbench. Not so with grand bridges, which must be For many years the firm operated in a larger facility not notched and prepared after the bridge is glued to the far from the present one where two other piano board inside the case. Vertical models, still in greater makers, Hoffman and Euterpe were also located. In demand than grands for the domestic market, have 1995 Euterpe wished to sell out and was acquired by their backs fitted and glued up in a special press with Bechstein. It was at this point that Feurich decided to hardwood posts and spruce frames. Rib notching is move to the current facility in Gunzenhausen. Although done from a template prior to installation of ribs and the facility seems small, it is able to build pianos with soundboard. The pin block is mounted to the frame, plates cast in the north of Germany and dried and later to be shaped to fit the plate. conditioned soundboards either partly or fully assembled prior to delivery. Action parts are provided Feurich observes that technical knowledge for building by various makers throughout the country. So with a grand pianos exceeds that necessary for building few experienced builders all pianos can be constructed uprights, therefore it is harder to build a grand piano or re-constructed as necessity dictates. that sounds good In new grand pianos, crown is obtained not by rib-crowning but rather by jig-crowning Today Feurich pianos are hand-finished instruments of the board itself. Special jigs and templates are built with great skill by experienced piano makers, continued on next page
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Continued from previous page. constructed for this purpose. The board is then placed level necessary to produce high-quality pianos does in a press with the bottom, rib side lacquered first to not yet exist in China. Feurich notes that since it is impart additional crown. Concave bridge crowning is easier to build a vertical piano than a grand piano that then used to match the bottom of the bridge to the top it is possible for an Asian vertical to come up to of the soundboard. The case rim-press jigs are also perhaps fifty per-cent of the quality of a high-quality contoured to match the existing soundboard crown. German upright piano. With a grand piano he surmises it is only possible in a mass-production On Restoration and Re-Building environment to come up to perhaps thirty per-cent of With regard to restoration and re-building there seem the highest quality. Even so, many foreigners are now to be some methods employed in the USA not studying at the Klavierbauschule (piano building considered necessary in Germany, though climate school) in Ludwigsburg, Germany. By this I infer that differences may be an important consideration. In the building skill and knowledge outside Germany will reconstructing an old concert grand that had been grow, though it is not likely to be applicable to a larger recently rescued from a school in Eastern Germany, piano building facility. Indeed, perhaps it is right that Feurich states that old soundboards are always re- the best musical instruments be made with proper used because one can only guess at the manner of consideration, care and skill so that we don’t wind up construction employed in an earlier time, so a new with what one maker has called. “soulless pianos” sounding board could mean a significant change in the character of a piano and strategic blunders are Production times for Feurich pianos possible when replacing soundboards. It seems as Verticals - four to six months though the formation of the soundboard is directly Grands - six to seven months including conditioning related to the formation of the rim of the piano when it Polyester finishes - two months is built. An old soundboard is repaired with the idea Lacquer - four to five weeks that most of what was there before is still good enough to use again if properly treated and no design changes Feurich Models need to be taken into account. Re-design is employed Grands - F 172, F 197, F 227 with custom styles only for new construction and therefore is not a factor available in each model in restoration. For an old soundboard on a Feurich Verticals - F 116, F 118, F 123, F 131 concert grand, the case has been mounted upside down on sawhorses with wedges driven between ribs Photos and further information are available at and posts. Several days of drying open up existing http://www.feurich.com/ cracks which are then shimmed to restore crown. Bridges are not re-pinned unless the existing bridge pins are loose, the idea being that crown restoration as described above will make for sufficient down-bearing By Laws Proposals Are Now On
with proper plate adjustment. In restoration, all plate PTG Website pins and agraffes are replaced. The 2010 Council Agenda Book - containing By-laws The real care in restoration seems to revolve around amendment proposals and also the San Francisco scraping every wood part clean like new. Keyboards chapter's request to amend the PTG Long Range Plan are generally not replaced and leather is considered to - has been posted on the PTG Website. We will be be a much longer and better-wearing material than felt discussing these matters and deciding on our chapter's for key bushings. Indeed, even back checks need not Council Delegate instructions during the May chapter be replaced when new leather may suffice. meeting. It would be a good idea for all chapter members to read these proposals and express their Philosophy as regards current state of piano opinions at our chapter meeting so that I as your making in the world - There has been some delegate could properly translate your desires into a discussion recently concerning the contraction of the vote in Council. If you do not expect to be at the industry and the fact that so many low-cost pianos are meeting, you can still express your opinion via e-mail now being built in China. I was curious as to the effect or by telephone [
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Classified Ads Chapter Officers Contact the newsletter editor to add or remove listings
President From Piedmont Piano Company Jim Callahan, RPT, owner Israel Stein, RPT (510) 558-0777 [email protected] For over 28 years offering the finest new and used pianos. New Yamaha, Fazioli, and Bechstein pianos. Fine used pianos from the world's great makers, specializing in vintage Steinways. We stock the largest selection of fine used grand pianos in Northern California Vice President Larry Lobel, RPT (707) 529-9676 As many SF chapter members know, we have worked for years with [email protected] PTG members and their customers to provide the finest instruments at the most reasonable prices.
Current used inventory includes: Treasurer Hamburg Steinway B 1908 - We have just completed an exhaustive Douglas Braak (415) 255-4737 restoration including polished ebony finish, Stanwood system action and brand new ivory keys. This piano is in perfect condition. It has [email protected] the beautiful clear sound which is unique to the German built Steinways and the perfectly balanced action makes it a joy to play.
Secretary, Webmaster & Newsletter Steinway M French Provincial 1926 - Purchased new in San Francisco and owned by just one family. In very fine original Rob Mitchell (415) 994-1030 condition. Walnut finish, ivory keys. Fine tone. [email protected] Used Yamaha grands: currently have second hand GH1, C1, C3, and C7 models in stock. Recent models, at very reasonable prices. Not gray market! Chapter Librarian Mark Skowronek, RPT (415) 864-4688 Plus dozens more including Steinway, Baldwin, Chickering, Knabe, [email protected] Bechstein, Yamaha, Kawai, and others.
For more information please visit our website www.piedmontpiano.com or e mail: [email protected] IN TUNE! is a monthly publication of the Piano Technicians Guild - San Francisco Chapter. It is distributed free of charge via e-mail or in paper for $15/year to non-members without e-mail.
E-mail addresses have a way of changing frequently. When J.S. Bach, "The Well-Tempered Clavier 48 Preludes and Fugues" such changes occur, please send them to us at played in Thomas Young's Well-Temperament of 1799 by Frank mailto:[email protected] so we can stay up to date. It French. is important that we be able to reach you. Thanks! For the first time the Well-Tempered Clavier can be heard in the Deadline for newsletter submissions is 12 DAYS before the explicitly-stated, 18th Century well temperament that allows the first Tuesday of the month. The newsletter will usually be characteristic of each major and minor key to emerge as intended distributed 10 days before the upcoming Chapter Meeting. during the time of the composer. A subtle but certain difference is apparent when this music is played in this authentic tuning. Classified ad listings are available to chapter members for free. The following schedule is available to anyone wishing This four-CD set contains more than four hours of music with liner to run a separate ad in the newsletter (prices are for 12 notes on the history and development of tuning keyboard months): instruments by Owen Jorgensen with French, Spanish and German 1/8 page ad - $60 language texts. This production, more than two years in the making, was expertly recorded using a Boesendorfer 225 concert piano. 1/4 page ad - $108 1/2 page ad - $204 Price $49.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Order your copy of this historic recording by check or money order from Chapter website: www.ptg.org/chapters/sanfrancisco Send suggestions, literary contributions, or advertisements to Frank French the secretary or webmaster. P.O Box 225202 San Francisco CA, 94122 Disclaimer: All expressions of opinion and all statements of supposed fact are published on the authority of the author as or by Master or Visa Card by calling 415-731-8611. Available on-line at www.cdbaby.com or www.frankfrench.info 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. continued on last page
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Classified Ads - continued
Chapter Mentor Program
Many of the more experienced members and RPTs are
A new recording from Shawn Skylark: "Still Life - 10 Pieces For Solo happy to avail themselves to associates working Piano". Finished last year, this is a collection of 10 original piano pieces, towards their RPT status. You can ask around at a which are released on CD. (Available at CD Baby, iTunes, and shawnskylark.com). chapter meeting, or ask any of the chapter officers to
put you in touch with a mentor. It was recorded on a Boesendorfer 225. Last month Boesendorfer informed Shawn that they have added it to their online Music Library which is part of their web site at Boesendorfer.com.
Piano Technicians Guild – SF Chapter c/o Rob Mitchell 17 Perego Terrace #8 San Francisco, CA 94131
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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 Rob Mitchell to make this change (contact information listed inside) SF PTG Newsletter IN TUNE! 8