I have several professional mentors who provide regular and ongoing training for me to further refine and perfect my skills as an artisan.  As with so many other areas of life, I’ve found that the more my skills are developed, the more I realize the more there is to learn and perfect.  Here is a photo of me with Jim, one of my mentors, at a recent PTG meeting where we team taught on regulation.

On the other side of the spectrum, I regularly open my shop and my schedule to aspiring technicians and tuners new to the field of piano technology offering them tips, time and technical advice and training.  It seems to be a good exchange to always be learning and to simultaneously always be giving back.

Here I am with another technician who I’ve enjoyed sharing providing some training for.

Here is the National PTG Code of Ethics in its entirety:

1. I will act honorably and in a professional manner.
2. I will render the best possible service under the circumstances, always keeping the best interests of my client in mind.
3. I will engage only in fair trade practices in the knowledge that I am reflecting the honesty and integrity for which the Piano Technicians Guild stands.
4. I will use the name and trademarks of the Piano Technicians Guild properly and will encourage others to do the same.
5. I will strive to upgrade my professional skills and I will encourage and help others to do the same.
6. I will promote, in any way that I can, good will toward my profession and toward the music industry.
7. I will engage only in business practices that are in accord with the antitrust guidelines as set forth by the Piano Technicians Guild.

The January 2011 Utah Valley Piano Technician’s Guild meeting was hosted at Brigham’s Piano Shop.  Keith Kopp taught the PACE tuning lesson followed by Jim Busby and Brigham Larson giving the technical portion of the meeting.  Jim presented on Regulation and Brigham shared his shop refurbishing list including various details of action prep, regulation and all items related to complete upright refurbishing.

Here are links to Brigham’s upright refurbishing checklist:

Google Docs Link to Brigham’s Refurbishing Checklist

PDF Link to Brigham’s Refurbishing Checklist

Excel Link to Brigham’s Refurbishing Checklist

Here are the 5 segments of video from his presentation.

Here is my report on the September meeting of the PTG Chapter of Utah Valley:

How to bridge the gap between Musician Request and Technical Jargon.

This month’s meeting was held at the BYU Piano Shop and Hyrum Weibel taught the technical.  Prior to the meeting, he regulated the repetition springs as strong as possible while still remaining within the range of acceptable regulation.  To start the meeting, he invited an accomplished pianist to play the piano and to offer feedback on touch, feel and overall playability and desirability of the current regulation.  The pianist then left the room while Vince Mrykalo and Jim Busby regulated the repetition springs to the other extreme: as soft as possible while again, still remaining within the acceptable range of regulation standards.  The talented pianist then returned and offered more feedback.

The point of the meeting was to improve communication skills between technician and musician.  Hopefully, we as professional piano technicians, can translate what is verbalized by the pianist into technical changes that satisfy his or her requirements.  For example, the musician might say, “it feels too heavy,” and the technician must translate that into, “the blow distance is too far,” or “the dip is too shallow,” or a number of other possibilities.  Making that diagnosis takes experience!

I deal with such requests on a fairly regular basis.  I enjoy the  challenge of helping my clients discover how their pianos can be transformed-beyond what they thought possible-to match their desired preferences.

-Brigham

At the 2010 National Piano Technician’s Guild Convention, Brigham received training from Don Manino.  After class, Brigham took the opportunity to ask Don to explain why regulation is necessary to maintain a piano over the course of its lifetime.  Listen to the above video clip to see how Don uses a grand action model to explain the essential nature of piano regulation in addition to basic tuning maintenance.

Brigham would be happy to evaluate your piano if you think it has been awhile since it was properly regulated.  To read more about regulation, click here.

The field of Piano technology is an unregulated trade. Therefore the Piano Technicians Guild has set its own standards of quality for piano technicians. The Guild has two types of members: Registered Piano Technicians (Brigham) and Associates. Associate membership is open to anyone with a “professional or avocational interest in piano technology.” On the other hand, the title of “Registered Piano Technician” must be earned by passing a series of examinations.

To attain the RPT classification, a PTG members must pass three examinations. A written exam tests basic knowledge of piano design, tuning theory, repair techniques and various other topics relevant to piano technology. Two separate practical, hands-on exams test tuning and technical skills. The practical exams are administered by panels of  RPTs under the leadership of examiners trained and certified in standardized exam procedures. Exam procedures are designed to comply with standards of objectivity mandated by US anti-trust legislation, thus assuring that exams are fair and equivalent regardless of where or by whom they are administered. On the tuning exam the candidate must match as closely as possible a “master tuning” created by a panel of examiners who have agreed – after painstaking experimentation and analysis – on an optimal tuning for the test piano. The exam is scored by  using extremely sensitive electronic equipment to measure the deviation of the candidate’s tuning from the standard thus established. Candidates who use electronic tuning devices in their work must nevertheless demonstrate their ability to tune by ear, unaided by electronics. The technical exam requires the candidate to demonstrate professional-level skills in assembling a grand and a vertical piano action (the mechanical component of the piano) and in making all the complicated adjustments (called “regulation”) so that they function properly. The candidate must also demonstrate facility in various common repairs involving wood, cloth, felt, piano wire and other materials commonly used in pianos. All the procedures on these exams must be completed in prescribed time periods – thus demonstrating the fluency required of a professional.

The rating of RPT is not meant to be a rating for a rebuilder; it is meant to show that the technician is ready to handle normal piano service and repair. The Piano Technicians Guild has put a lot of time and effort into its examinations to establish a good set of standardized tests which will help insure quality service. The written test takes about 1 hour. The tuning and technical tests take about 4 hours each.

Only Registered Piano Technicians can advertise with that title. The Piano Technicians Guild does allow Associate members to advertise as “Associate” members, but these members have not yet passed the exams. They are encouraged to take advantage of PTG’s educational offerings. When you are looking for service on your piano, look for a Registered Piano Technician. The logo above designates that the member is an RPT. Note the words Registered Piano Technician in the logo itself.

Here are our official descriptions of these categories :

A Registered Piano Technician (RPT) has passed a series of rigorous examinations on the maintenance, repair, and tuning of pianos.  Only RPTs are authorized by The Piano Technicians Guild to display the logo containing the words “Registered Piano Technician”.

An Associate is a member who has not passed the RPT examinations.  Associates may be studying piano technology and working toward RPT status, or may be piano retailers, rebuilders, refinishers or other specialists.

Brigham is a Registered Piano Technician, servicing pianos since 1995.

The above article used with permission from ptg.org.

“I’ll just call around and find the cheapest piano tuner……”  (have you ever thought that?)

May we recommend you read this information about RPT’s before price shopping and going with the cheapest option.  We know that our customers value quality and refer us regularly without hesitation!  Have the courage to shop around for quality, not just for price!  Are you looking for an experienced musical artisan, with proven and tested training, attention to detail, guaranteed workmanship and unmatched quality.  If that is what the musician in you desires… then Brigham is the correct match for your piano needs.