60th Annual International Piano Institute

July 29, 2017 Dustin Adams

Ken Eschete, RPT teaches "Bellyman's Holiday" an all-day workshop dedicated to bridge capping, soundboard and pinblock replacement.

NEWS
THE PIANO TECHNICIANS GUILD
4444 FOREST AVE.
KANSAS CITY, KS 66106
PHONE: (913) 432-9975

JULY, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AREA PIANO TECHNICIAN PARTICIPATES IN 60th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PIANO INSTITUTE

ST. LOUIS, MO. Dustin Adams of Denver, CO was among more than 700 attendees, including piano service specialists, manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, who attended the Piano Technicians Guild Annual Convention and Technical Institute.

This year’s event was highlighted by two special milestones; the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Piano Technicians Guild and the hosting of the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians as part of the week-long event.

“I am constantly amazed by the level of talent that is present at these events,” said newly elected PTG President Paul Brown, RPT. “The incredible coming together of this worldwide community to learn and share means so much. You could sense a feeling of camaraderie and inspiration on the faces of attendees as they left for home.”

Education was the focus of the event with four days of classes covering all aspects of piano service as well as business and health and wellness classes. The exhibit hall, featuring more than 60 booths, offered attendees the chance to inspect new tools, play many different pianos and other instruments and talk to industry representatives. Evening concerts and awards banquets were also a highlight.

“We had nearly 90 first-time attendees this year,” Brown said. “There were so many new faces. I left St Louis thinking the future of piano service is on the right path.”

“I was able to take workshops on a variety of topics including business, tuning, regulation, and even full piano restoration,” Adams said. “I look forward to incorporating these techniques and knowledge into my business”

Dustin Adams is owner of Dustin Adams Piano Service in Denver, CO and is an associate member of the Piano Technicians Guild.

An annual event since 1958, the PTG Convention is the world’s largest piano technology convention. The 2018 Piano Technicians Guild Convention will take place in Lancaster, PA.

The Piano Technicians Guild is the world’s premier source of piano service expertise. It promotes the highest possible standards of piano service by providing opportunities for professional development, by recognizing technical competence through examinations and by advancing the interests of its members.

Keep Your Pianos in Tune

May 20, 2015 Dustin Adams

KEEP YOUR PIANOS IN TUNE
E.A. SMITH
THE ETUDE, MAY 1901

What trials and tribulations and frowns and tears the "out-of-tune" piano has innocently been the cause! Does anybody know why there is so much negligence manifest regarding keeping the piano "in tune"? Surely it is very poor economy to allow it to stay out of tune. Every musician, to his chagrin and humiliation, has been obliged to play upon pianos so badly out of tune they would neither do themselves justice nor bring to their listeners any degree of pleasure.

People who are supposed to be cultured and even musical are great sinners in this respect, inflicting as they have upon both pianist and listener the most dreadful cacophony of sound, all because the piano was "out of tune." Gradually the hearing becomes accustomed to such a condition and is vitiated, while the taste for "tone and quality" becomes almost depraved.

An experienced tuner should go over the instrument at least twice a year. "I haven't had my instrument tuned for more than a year." is altogether too common an exclamation. "A merciful man is merciful to his beast." Surely musical people ought to be merciful to their pianos, and to their listeners. Many times it has been necessary for the pianist to stipulate that "the piano must be in tune" before consenting to play. This ought not to be necessary, and it casts reflection upon somebody that such a condition exists. Moral: "Keep your pianos in tune."

Learning Jazz Theory and Improvisation

April 10, 2015 Dustin Adams

As a music educator, I am constantly asked by students about resources for learning jazz improvisation skills at the keyboard. Here are a few recommendations that I believe should be on every aspiring (and experienced) improviser's bookshelf.

Jazz Theory and Practice

By Jeffrey Hellmer, Richard Lawn

Buy on Amazon

Jazz Piano Voicing Skills

By Dan Haerle

Buy on Amazon

The Real Book: Sixth Edition

By Hal Leonard Corporation

Buy on Amazon

...and one other thing which should be obvious, LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN!

What to Look for when Buying a Used Piano

March 27, 2015 Dustin Adams

Buying a used piano can be a great way to acquire a nice piano for much less than the cost of a new one, but it can also be a risky purchase without the correct information. Some pianos may look great on the outside, but be completely worn out on the inside and either expensive to repair, or not worth repairing at all.

I provide piano evaluation and appraisal services. Give me a call if you are considering purchasing a used piano or selling your piano. I can help you find the right piano and ensure that you don't purchase a lemon. 720-295-8479

Here are some nice videos from Northside Music Company about what to look for when buying a used piano. These videos deal with upright pianos, but a lot of the same things to look for when buying uprights applies to grand pianos as well.

This first video discusses the different sizes of upright pianos.

The next videos deal with the soundboard, pinblock, strings, and action.