Piano Technicians Guild
SCRC Regional Conference
October 2-4, 2014
Burnet, TX
Instructors
The SCRC team has rounded up some of the best instructors in the U.S. Click the links on the left to see bios, which are below.
Ron Bergeron, RPT - Austin, TX
Ron Bergeron is the owner and technician at Austin PianoWorks LLC. Ron began his career in piano technology in 2001. He sought out Jim Coleman, Sr., in Tempe, Arizona for private lessons and studied under him while working at various Phoenix-area piano stores and served as lead technician for the Peoria Unified School District and began building his business immediately. Ron was able to quit his full time job two years after he picked up his first tuning hammer.
Jack Bresette-Mills, RPT - Austin, TX
Jack Bresette-Mills started working on pianos in 1980, after college. Having been a musician, an engineering student, and a carpenter, and finding a piano in his possession (belonging to a girlfriend), he felt it likely he should be able to tune it himself. The next eight hours changed his life.
"I thought you just had to make everything sound right, and it would be tuned. Instead, it turns out you must make everything sound slightly wrong in just the right amount, and make it stay that way no matter how hard someone plays the notes."
He read every tuning book he could find, made a single business card to order tools from Schaff, and worked for the parents of friends. His regular job was carpenter/maintenance man in his brother's business.
In the late 80's he completed a two-year master's teaching program, and then taught in a grade school full time two more years before being convinced that he was allergic to bureaucracies. Moving to New York in 1991 for his wife's master's degree, a Steinway tech named Madormo retired and referred his 1,000 private customers to Jack. The two had never met, no money changed hands, and more than anything else it convinced him he was on the right career path.
In 1996 he became an RPT and moved to Austin. From ads in the Yellow Pages he met Bernard Mollberg (Mollberg Piano Restoration) and Steve Bird (Steinway Piano Gallery), who he has worked with consistently ever since. His specialty has been dampers, regulation, voicing, and concert tuning. He takes on apprentices in tuning and beekeeping, and tutors most high school subjects.
Melanie Brooks, Associate- Brooks, Ltd. - Connecticut
Melanie is a third generation PTG member. After obtaining a BA degree in Economics and Business and working in the corporate world for 8 years, she returned to Brooks, Ltd. a family owned parts business where she has focused on marketing and technical services since 1995. http://www.brooksltdonline.com/
Christopher Brown, RPT - Boston, MA
In 1973, Chris graduated from Williams College as a music major. His traditional five-year piano technology apprenticeship included courses and employment at Berklee College of Music and two years at North Bennet Street School. In 1982, he moved to Concord MA and for 23 years split his time between in-home piano service, concert tuning, and rebuilding work. Then in 2005, he set up a new shop specifically for the restoration and fitting of actions. Out of this move toward specialization emerged The Piano Rebuilders, a rebuilding consortium that included Chris on actions, Mike Morvan on keywork, and Jude Reveley as bellyman. Another outcome was the Grandwork™ Regulation Station: a patented suite of tools designed by Chris to take as much of grand action work out of the piano as possible and make it more predictable, more accurate, and easier to perform. Chris is a member of the Boston Chapter and his company, Concord Piano LLC provides tuning and repair services to the Boston Metro West area.
Jordan Bruce, Associate - Edmond, OK
Jordan is the oldest of four children in a very musical family. Growing up helping out around his father's piano shop, he has been working with pianos as long as he can remember. In 2006 he became a full time tuner technician for Bruce Piano Service. With a great respect for vintage pianos, he spends a lot of his time rebuilding pianos or educating clients of how they just don't build them like they used to!. His favorite pianos are Steinway and Mason and Hamiln. He loves his job and tells friends and family, I have the best job ever. It's great! I just drive around and make music all day. Jordan has been a member of the Piano Technicians guild since 2006 and has served as an officer for most of the years. He currently is serving as a board member for the region of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana and will help plan the next seminar in 2014. In his free time Jordan likes to listen to live music and spend time with friends. https://brucepiano.com/
Norman Cantrell, RPT - Oklahoma, National PTG President
Norman Cantrell began his career in musical instrument repair by working as an apprentice for B. L. McCrary Pipe Organ Service in Oklahoma City in the fall of 1978. After two and a half years with Mr. McCrary he left OKC and enrolled in Grayson County College in Dennison, TX to study piano tuning and repair. Upon completion of his studies at Grayson he returned to Oklahoma City and opened his own piano service business. Over the years he has specialized in the restoration of player pianos. He has been a member of the Piano Technicians Guild for several years and is currently a Registered Piano Technician and a Certified Tuning Examiner. He has been an instructor at regional and national PTG seminars. Norman is currently the National PTG President.
Celeste Coburn - Austin, TX
Celeste Coburn is from San Marcos, Tx, and now resides in nearby Wimberley. She studied Music Education for 2 and a half years at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State). She was introduced to piano tuning by an uncle, and discovered piano technology. It was 2007 before she started at Mollberg Piano Restoration where she has had the pleasure of working on many fine instruments with her talented and experienced co-workers. When she's not working she enjoys acting in local community theaters, gardening, and swimming.
Walt Connell, RPT - Dallas, TX
Walt has taught at local and national conventions, has been a Certified Tuning Examiner (CTE). Walt is a rebuilder in the Dallas area.
Nathan Cook, Associate - Austin, TX
Nathan has been working on pianos since 2003. In addition to operating his own piano service business, he has had the good fortune to work at Mollberg Piano Restoration in Blanco Texas for the past seven years. Working under the guidance of Bernard Mollberg, Nathan has contributed to the in-depth restoration of many fine instruments. When not on top of a 9' Hamburg, he's most likely strolling through his tomato garden with a salt shaker. www.cookspianoservice.com
Joshua Ello, RPT - Houston, TX
Joshua Ello, RPT is a second generation piano technician, and received the foundation of his studies from Steve Walthall, RPT and Mike Ello, RPT. After attaining a Master's degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from University of Houston in 2007, Joshua decided to pursue working on pianos the summer of 2009. In High School, Joshua learned piano touchup techniques from his father, Mike Ello, who is known in Houston Texas for his outstanding touch up work. Joshua services pianos in the greater southwest houston area, and is an active member of the piano technician's guild.
Claude Harding, RPT - Houston, TX Chapter
Claude Harding earned bachelor of music and master of music degrees from Baylor University. He started studying piano technology in 1975, when he joined the Houston Chapter, PTG. He passed the exams to become a Craftsman/RPT member in1977, and began working full-time as a piano technician in 1979, when he started Harding Piano Service. Harding Piano Service provides tuning and repair, regulation and voicing, shop work and rebuilding to piano owners on the east side of greater Houston and beyond. During this time Claude has also almost continuously served various churches as a part-time/bi-vocational music minister.
Claude has instructed at the chapter and regional levels. He is a recipient of the TSA/SCRC Jimmy Gold Award, the PTG Member of Note Award, and served as the PTG Institute Director for Nashville 2004.
Stephen Hopp, RPT - Midland, TX
Stephen Hopp, RPT currently lives in Midland Texas and has had a love of the piano since lessons began at 5 years of age. He has studied piano performance for many years and has a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Piano Performance and Education. He came to the technical side of pianos 13 years ago under coaxing from a local piano store owner. It now has become a major part of his life. After receiving his RPT honor he became engrossed in the piano technology world working in nearly all aspects of the field. Presently, he works with all three Steinway schools and a large performance venue which provides him opportunity to work with some of the most outstanding artists in the world. This often places him in situations where artist requests need to be effected quickly and to the highest level. He has the unique experience of understanding what a concert level pianist wants from a piano and how to facilitate that desire. www.pianoworksstudio.com
Scott Jones, RPT - PitchLock, Inc - Central Pennsylvania
Scott Jones began his career as a piano technician in 1984, after receiving a BM degree in music composition from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. From 1989 to 2001, he was employed by Steinway & Sons, New York, where he held positions as concert technician, technical instructor and product development researcher. From 2001 to present, he developed the PitchLock string coupler and TouchRail systems, both being demonstrated nationwide. Scott has authored 4 U.S. patents. The TouchRail is currently pending patent and trademark approval. http://pitchlock.com/
Ricki Klos, RPT - Fort Worth, TX
Ricki Klos has been working in piano technology for 33 years. She has had her own business since 1995, at the same time she joined the Guild. She has served as delegate to Council for three different chapters, and has served in all chapter offices. She is currently president of the Ft. Worth chapter.
Doug Knabe, Associate - Dallas, TX
Doug joined the PTG in 2001 and has been a constant contributor to both the Dallas Chapter and Regional PTG Chapters, primarily in electronic communications. He has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering with many years experience in the computer and communications industries. Doug tuned his first piano in 1981. He has developed and taught a number of piano related courses at the chapter and regional levels, including “World Wide Web for Piano Technicians”, “Temperamental Temperament”, “An Introduction to Tunelab” and “Calibrating Your Tuning Fork or ETD”. He builds and maintains this website for the seminar each year.
Carl Lieberman, RPT - South Bay, CA
Carl has been on the Development Team since the initial release of CyberTuner in 1996. He has been an independent piano technician for over 40 years. Carl is currently the staff piano technician at the Village Recording Studio in West Los Angeles.
Don Mannino, RPT - South Bay, CA
Don began an apprenticeship with a piano rebuilder while completing his studies at San Diego State University as a piano performance major in 1979. As an independent piano technician in the San Diego area, Don divided his business between normal tuning, concert piano preparation, rebuilding, and providing warranty work for dealers and manufacturers. He held the position of National Service Manager for Young Chang Pianos from 1990-1995, then was Manager of Technical Support for Kawai Pianos in the US and Canada, and now serves as the Director Technical Training for Kawai. Don and his wife Patty are the editors of the Southern California Combined PTG newsletter. He teaches regularly at regional technician seminars, PTG Annual Conventions, and at PTG chapter meetings, and is known for his clear presentations with visual aids, using a practical approach which can be applied to servicing all brands of pianos. Mr. Mannino has had articles on a variety of technical topics published in the Piano Technicians Journal, including action center service, a series on grand action regulation, and the use of plastics in piano actions. Don resides in Cypress, CA, with his wife and daughter.
Bernard Mollberg, Associate - Mollberg Piano Restoration. - Blanco County, TX
Bernard Mollberg began piano work in 1976. Mollberg Piano Restoration www.mollbergpiano.com is located on a mesa in rural Blanco County, and specializes in the full restoration of grand pianos. Bernard has been an Associate (non-tuning) member of the Austin, TX Chapter since the mid-‘80’s. He has been fascinated with the problem of how can one learn to produce high quality work, be well paid for one’s efforts, build a specialized business that most folks don’t need, by word of mouth referrals. One of his long term goals is to have an unlisted business telephone number.
Dale Probst, RPT - Oklahoma
Dale Probst has been restoring, repairing, servicing and tuning pianos in the Texoma area for over thirty years. A musician since the age of eight, Dale played in groups in Austin, Houston, and Wichita Falls, TX. A native of Wichita Falls and graduate of Midwestern State University, he feels fortunate to have a vocation that combines his love of music, woodworking, metalworking, and electronics. He attributes most of his success to his mentor, Jimmy Gold, RPT. He also received training at PTG and MITA seminars, the Baldwin Piano factory and is a graduate of the Yamaha "Little Red Schoolhouse".
Dale's piano service business classes are very popular and have been 'standing room only'. He has served the Piano Technicians Guild at the local, state, regional and national levels, as well as instructing at chapter, state, regional and national seminars. Dale lives in Wichita Falls, TX with his wonderful partner, Elizabeth Ward, RPT.
Darren Speir, RPT - Dallas, TX
Darren Speir grew up in the piano business. He is an RPT in the Piano Technicians Guild. Darren had a full time job working on pianos since he was 15 and at age 20 started his own piano service business. Darren Speir is currently owner of Metroplex Piano, Inc. and holds several roles including Chief Executive Officer, President and Director.
Leon Speir, RPT - Dallas, TX
Leon has been professionally tuning and servicing all types of pianos since High School days in central Oklahoma. Shortly after graduating from high school, he moved to Dallas and has operated a tuning and rebuilding business at the same location since 1965. He has served in various leadership capacities in the Piano Technicians Guild at the national, regional and local levels. Leon is proud of his degrees from SOHK University, and will share his expertise in his Vertical Repairs class. He is looking forward to seeing you all at the Canyon of The Eagles Lodge and Nature Park in the Texas Hill Country!
Kent Swafford, RPT - Kansas City, MO Chapter
Kent Swafford, is a piano technician in Kansas City, a college tech at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, past president of the PTG, and a recipient of PTG's Golden Hammer.
Michael Tocquigny, RPT - Sanger, TX (Dallas Chapter)
Michael Tocquigny has been a self-employed piano technician since 1977 (about half-time in the Ft. Smith, AR area and half in north Texas) - all this after a one year experience as a public school math teacher. Training began with a course in piano technology at Grayson Co. College, continuing with Yamaha's Little Red School House, Steinway's technical school and, of course, many trips to PTG conventions. In recent years he's been privileged to teach at several national conventions. His work has included contract tunings for schools and colleges, but his preference is for shop work/rebuilding, especially pinblocks and restringing. In his spare time, he enjoys barbershop singing.
Steve Walthall, RPT - South Central RVP - Austin, TX
Steve has a bachelor degree in music education from Southern Arkansas University (1981) and is a graduate of Grayson County College in piano technology (1982). He now works half-time as a piano technician for the University of Texas in Austin and has a large private piano service business.
Elizabeth Ward, RPT - Oklahoma
Elizabeth Ward, RPT continues to service pianos in North Texas, Southern Oklahoma and Louisiana. She is a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, has Steinway, Yamaha and Bosendorfer factory training and grew up in Kelly Ward's piano shop. With over thirty years experience, her specialties are tuning, repair, regulating and voicing. She is a Certified Installer of Piano Life Saver systems by Dampp-Chaser Corporation. Currently Empress of Ward and Probst, Inc. and anything to do with yarn.
Jim Watson - Austin, TX
Music has been part of Jim Watson's life since early childhood. He began taking piano lessons at the age of five, and at thirteen started learning to play the drums. He studied both Music and Engineering at Texas State University, and worked for fifteen years at a civil engineering firm. In 2008, he parlayed a long-time hobby into a full-time career as a piano technician and now works as a bellyman at Mollberg Piano Restoration. He continues to play the drums in both studio and live performances.
Jack Wyatt, RPT - Dallas, TX
Jack began his career as a full time technician in May of 1946. Working in his brother’s rebuilding shop he was tutored by several expert rebuilders and tuners of this time. This was an opportunity that few technicians ever have and Jack took full advantage of it. He began his own business in 1952 and added a rebuilding shop in 1956. He installs new pin blocks, soundboards, bridges, actions and back actions. He has developed many techniques designed to achieve maximum potential of each piano he services. This includes voicing and using the mechanics of the action to even the volume across the entire keyboard. He has serviced thousands upon thousands of pianos from all over the world. His business was built on the principle of delivering more than his customer expected. Jack teaches piano technology thoughout the country and is recognized as an expert on vintage, antique, and unique pianos. For the past 46 years he has been compiling information for a book on the evolution of pianos that he hopes to complete and publish soon. Jack serves on the PTG Foundation Board and was instrumental in creating the PTGF Jack Wyatt Piano Museum at the home office in Kansas City.