PTG Meeting and Barbecue Potluck Tuesday August 16th 1pm at Hilberts in Bristol

Again, 1pm, Tuesday August 16th at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol

Please reply to coordinate food dishes!

Also wishing a warm welcome from the chapter to our newer members Justin Rose, Patrick Bransteader, and Helen Weston

Guild Meeting Reminder:

Allan Day has offered to lead the technical for our January meeting, scheduled for Wednesday January 12th at 3:30pm at the corner of rt. 2A & Lincoln Rd in Williston:

HOW TO MANAGE TEMPERAMENTAL CLIENTS (AND PIANOS)

This will be an interactive presentation,

The business meeting will focus on preparation for the 2012 NEECSO Seminar.

From the Secretary of the VT PTG

Straight from the shop--

Here is an additional heads up--

Our Next Meeting,

Location: Hilbert Pianos in Bristol

Time: 3:30pm, Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Topic: Planning for a LARGE piano event coming to Burlington, VT in 2012 (New England Eastern Canada Seminar)

We Need Everybody to Weigh In. If you can't come to the meeting, but still want to join with us to make this event successful, please contact Chris Rawson by phone 802-318-0255 or E-mail RawsonPiano@gmail.com to coordinate efforts.

At this time, we are forming committees to organize and plan for things like exhibitors, classes, entertainment, registration, Etc.

Correction

Hello VT PTG

There is a correction in the last E-Mail

It says:

2012 Convention

It should read:

2012 New England Eastern Canada Seminar.

Thank you.

Chris Rawson

VTPTG Secretary

From the VT PTG Secretary:

VT PTG Meeting Updates:

Next Meeting, Tuesday, November 9, 2010

at 3:30 pm at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol.

Business Meeting Very Important:

2012 Convention in Vermont, Need All Brains, All Hands, All Expertise we can get to make it a good one! If you can't make it for the 11/9 meeting, please notify when you could. RawsonPiano@gmail.com A special meeting time can be arranged so that all can participate. Again- Very Rare Opportunity

At our last meeting, Allan Day led a thought provoking discussion about how to keep pianos going, and keep customers happy in this economy. Tom McNeil showed a fascinating restoration of a pre-1900 Knabe concert grand, & Chris Rawson showed different places and ways that laser beams can be used to assist in regulation.

At the Business Meeting, we discussed the needs we will have for the upcoming convention, and the need to prepare early:

Here are the possible committees we need so far:

Coordinator: work with the venue

registrar: registration with info transmittal

exhibitors: vendors

Teachers and clasees

publicity/ website/ program

entertainment

Allan Day has offered to lead the technical for our January meeting, Scheduled for January 12th at 3:30pm in Williston :

HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPERAMENTAL CLIENTS

October PTG Meeting in Montpelier

New Event:
PTG Meeting Wed. October 13th 3:30pm at Vermont Piano Restorations in Montpelier

At this meeting we plan to discuss 2 topics, 1 "Stayin Alive" discussing ways to keep old instruments going while staying within budget. For the second topic, Chris Rawson will give a demonstration of how to use lasers to mount and align action parts with great prescision.

September Meeting Update

PTG ANNOUNCEMENT

Our Next PTG Meeting

is scheduled for Tuesday September 14th, 3:30pm at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol

Topic:

Chris Rawson will give a presentation on the use of modern handheld computer technology to organize schedules and create databases on the go. The technical will begin with an open discussion on databases in general, then will talk about benefits of having a digital database, then of having a portable digital database. He will then describe how to build one using the Iphone app: Tap Forms Database, along with Microsoft Excel. Handheld scheduling software will also be discussed, along with how to use the database for digital billing.

Allan Day will demonstrate the technique of "molecular tuning" on problematic bass strings. This is a technique developed and tested by Marcel LaPointe of Quebec. Marcel is a technical "wizard" who breaks the art of tuning and voicing down to the anatomical and "molecular" level.

Allan will also demonstrate how " Pitch-loc" clips can improve egregiously bad bass string bichord unisons and problems with front duplex noise.

Both Chris and Allan's program will be exploring how "cutting edge" technology can make you more resourceful.

September Meeting

PTG ANNOUNCEMENT

Our Next PTG Meeting

is scheduled for Tuesday September 14th, 3:30pm at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol

Topic:

Chris Rawson will give a presentation on the use of modern handheld computer technology to organize schedules and create databases on the go. The technical will begin with an open discussion on databases in general, then will talk about benefits of having a digital database, then of having a portable digital database. He will then describe how to build one using the Iphone app: Tap Forms Database, along with Microsoft Excel. Handheld scheduling software will also be discussed, along with how to use the database for digital billing.

Allan Day will finish off the meeting with a presentation of his own TBA

VT PTG announcements

Upcoming Events:
*Wednesday, August 11, 2010 @1pm, PTG social potluck, located at Allan Day's
home in Williston. Please email rpsvt@juno.com if you are planning to
come. Please include in the email what dish you plan to bring.

*Tuesday, September 14, 2010 PTG Guild meeting, Please email
rpsvt@juno.com if you are able to host the meeting. Suggestions are
needed for the topic of the meeting.

Minute Highlights from the June 2010 meeting:
--Chris Rawson accepted the position of Secretary.

--A plan to hold future PTG meetings at different times and places was proposed as follows: Alternate meeting time and place each month. One month on tuesday at a southern location (possibly Hilbert Pianos), and the next month on Wednesday at northern location (possibly Allan Day's home). This proposal takes into account availability of different technicians. Data was collected over the previous several months. Tuesday would always be a southern location, and Wednesday would always be a northern location as a general rule.
More insight on this topic is always helpful to make the PTG meetings as effective as possible for all members.

--Rose gave a thorough and insightful powerpoint presentation on efficient business practices, using the latest technology.

May PTG Meeting

After an extended look at most of the 37 steps of Grand Piano Regulation the past two meetings, we will complete the final few steps this month. It has been a great set of technical sessions led by Ed Hilbert. Don't miss this last one!

Time: 3:30
Date: Tuesday, May 11th
Place: Hilbert Pianos
40 Pleasant Street
Bristol, VT



Any questions or comments, please e-mail vtptg (dot) now (at) gmail.com.

If any former Vermont PTG technicians do not wish to receive these blog updates, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the bottom of the page.

April Meeting

This month, we have a change in date for our meeting. It will be on the 27th starting at 3:30 with a business meeting as usual. We will continue the technical on Grand Piano Regulation, completing the 37 steps of regulation.

Time: 3:30

Place: Hilbert Pianos
40 Pleasant Street
Bristol, VT

We have been discussing a new monthly meeting day instead of Tuesday. It seems as if Wednesdays work better for most members. We should finalize this decision in the business meeting.

Any questions or comments, please e-mail vtptg (dot) now (at) gmail.com.

PS: If any former Vermont PTG technicians do not wish to receive these blog updates, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the bottom of the page.

March 9th Meeting

Hello Piano Technicians!

This month's meeting is on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 starting around 3:30 with the technical starting around 4:15 at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol.

Address: 40 Pleasant St, Bristol, VT

The third session would be actually going through the regulation procedure. Also, a discussion on the minimum and maximum parameters of various measurements and what happens when these get out of range - such as hammer blow, key dip, after-touch. etc. Jigs and tools to make the work easier and more accurate can be shown and explained.

Directions are available upon request.

See you there!

Greg Moore, RPT
Secretary for VT PTG

Part 2 Grand Piano Regulation

Tuesday, February 9th, the Vermont Chapter will be hosting the second part in a four part series on Grand Piano Regulation. The meeting begins at 3:30 PM at Hilbert Pianos on 40 Pleasant St. in Bristol. For directions and other information please call (802) 453-3743.

These opportunities can often come with a price tag, please take advantage of this FREE opportunity to improve and refine your skills.

Here is a description of the program, as described by Ed Hilbert:

February 9th: Part Two

The second presentation deals with what needs to be considered and done to many actions before they are really ready to be regulated. In other words, prep work such as cleaning, restoring proper friction, shaping of hammers, replacing or reshaping various parts (knuckles, whippen cloth, regulating button cloth, etc.) Only when this work is done is an action really ready for high level regulating.

Grand Regulation

Hello Piano Technicians!

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 starting at around 3:30 (technical starts at around 4:15) at Hilbert Pianos in Bristol.

Please RSVP by replying to this email or calling 802-453-3743 (Hilbert Pianos) 40 Pleasant St, Bristol,VT. If you need directions, please reply and I’ll be happy to provide them to you. If the driving conditions are questionable on the day of the meeting, please call the Hilbert’s to see if the meeting is still on.

These opportunities can often come with a price tag, please take advantage of this FREE opportunity to improve and refine your skills.

Here is a description of the program, as described by Ed Hilbert:

JANUARY 12th: Part One

“As for this Tuesday, Emily and I will both be in the shop and can be available to any and all who would like to come and work on any aspect of piano work in which we may be able to help. In other words, have an open, hands-on for any who come. If we are lucky enough to have any of the more experienced technicians come then they too can share their pearls of wisdom.

If you are able to come, please email me or call (453-3743) to let me know you are planning to come. If you have a particular project or idea you wish to work on, let us know about that and we'll try to be prepared to help you with your particular interest. We'll be glad to see as many of you as can make it. We'll be here pretty much all day, but certainly from 3:30 (our regular starting time) on.

First, we should discuss basic concepts of how an action works and why it is designed as it is. We can discuss the artist's needs for control which includes ESP = Efficiency, Speed, and Power (the action conveying the artist's desires, repetition speed, and dynamic level range. How has the modern action evolved to answer these needs?

FEBRUARY, 9 2010 Part 2

The second presentation deals with what needs to be considered and done to many actions before they are really ready to be regulated. In other words, prep work such as cleaning, restoring proper friction, shaping of hammers, replacing or reshaping various parts (knuckles, wippen cloth, regulating button cloth, etc.) Only when this work is done is an action really ready for high level regulating.

MARCH 9th, 2010 Part 3

The third session would be actually going through the regulation procedure. Also, a discussion on the minimum and maximum parameters of various measurements and what happens when these get out of range - such as hammer blow, key dip, after-touch. etc. Jigs and tools to make the work easier and more accurate can be shown and explained.

April 13, 2010 Part 4

In the fourth session, we can discuss trouble shooting of various problems. While many of the common problems in actions not working well are cleared up in the preparation work and regulating, often actions just don't work properly because something fundamental (but not obvious) is wrong. This could include problems such as action geometry not being correct (think of parts that have moved, pot metal action brackets that have changed, etc.), incorrect parts having been installed by someone else previously, poor quality parts not functioning well, etc

October 2009 Meeting

This month we are planning on a trip to the Frederick Collection in:

ASHBURNHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, USA

Please check out: http://www.frederickcollection.org/

The purpose of the Frederick Piano Collection is to give musicians and music lovers a chance to hear works by major piano composers, played on pianos such as those the composers knew, and for which their music was conceived.

The Collection includes only grand pianos, by important makers whose instruments were highly regarded in their day, acquired in basically good condition, with most of their original materials intact (especially soundboards). It aims to match each instrument to a specific composer or generation of composers known to have used or preferred that make and vintage of piano. The period of pianos in the Collection extends from about 1790 to 1907, representing music from Haydn and Beethoven through the French Impressionists.

We look forward to seeing you there. For more information please contact visit the web site.

Details will follow as to timing and carpooling. Please tell us if someone can ride with you at vtptg (dot) now (at) gmail (dot) com.

June Cookout

It's BBQ time! Ed and Emily Hilbert will be hosting this month's get-together featuring a potluck cookout. So be sure to come with an empty stomach. Chicken and hamburgers will be provided. Please RSVP if you haven't already with what food you want to bring and eat.

We will have an abbreviated technical on managing future appointments and customer databases.

Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00
Place: 40 Pleasant St.
Bristol, VT

Contact info: Ed or Emily Hilbert 802-453-3743

Don't forget to bring some extra food along!

May Meeting

SOUNDBOARD AND RIB:

Ed Hilbert will be sharing his expertise on soundboard and rib repairs for both grands and uprights.

Date: May 12th Generally the second Tuesday of every month unless otherwise noted

Meeting Place: Ed and Emily Hilbert

40 Pleasant St.

Bristol, VT

Meeting Time: 3:30 - 6:00 PM

April in Review

The past meeting's discussion focused on contracts used by members of the Vermont Piano Technicians Guild. Tom Roby and Ed and Emily Hilbert brought a number of very insightful contracts to the table. They included contracts for moving pianos, selling pianos, working on pianos, renting pianos etc. The bottom line: if you are a piano technician, it is very important to have the right contracts for the job to protect yourself. All attendees had the additional benefit of being given copies to peruse.

April Meeting

Next month’s meeting will be Tuesday, April 14th at Hilbert Pianos located at 40 Pleasant St, Bristol. If anyone needs directions please call the Hilberts at 802-453-3743.

Technical: Please everyone bring in your contracts! We will discuss business contracts (for example rental agreements and project estimates). Ed Hilbert will moderate the discussion.

We will also have the unique opportunity to look at a 1792 Broadwood Square which will have just returned from Tim Hamilton's shop in Boston. It has had a complete rebuild to be restored back to good playing condition. I think the members who can turn up will enjoy seeing it and getting a chance to play on it. So, all of you out there who would like to try a properly restored 217 year old piano, come early so you can get a little playing time in on it.

Meeting time is 3:30 - 6:00 PM.

March Meeting

Allan Day said he would be happy to present a technical at his house on a review of the classes he attended at the California State Conference. He says, "I was very impressed with the caliber of the teachers and practical application of the subject matter. One technical of note was by Darrell and Heather Fandrich. They have developed a computer assisted touch weight control method and program. This makes it possible to achieve a remarkably smooth and uniform touch that can be applied to any piano. I will show the graphics on my TV screen and explain how the program is used." He also indicated that he would follow up on the mystery lubricant that necessitated a full restringing on a customer's Steinway model 45.


See you on March 10th!

Place: Allan Day
8 Lincoln Rd.
Williston, VT
Call for directions: 1-802-879-4338
Time: 3:30- 6:00 PM