For more information about learning to tune and service pianos, or to register for a hands-on seminar, please call me at 206-229-9735 or send me an email at

steve@stevebradypiano.com. 

CATALOG OF COURSES

                                         Hands-on Seminars

These seminars are limited to groups of two to four technicians. They are geared to people who already tune and have basic regulating and repair skills. Prerequisites are noted with a P in parentheses; in some cases the prerequisite may be waived by the instructor or if the student has passed the RPT exams. Seminars will run approximately four hours each except where noted otherwise, and each seminar includes lunch.

 401

Real-world vertical regulation. Regulating an action model is a far cry from regulating a real piano action in real-world conditions. In this seminar you will be guided through a hands-on regulation of at least one section of a real vertical action, doing every step yourself. (P: Must be competent in performing the steps of regulation using a model)

 402

Real-world grand regulation. Regulating an action model is a far cry from regulating a real piano action in real-world conditions. In this seminar you will be guided through a hands-on regulation of at least one section of a real grand action, doing every step yourself. (P: Must be competent in performing the steps of regulation using a model)

 403

Field Repairs I: String skills. Every piano technician, even those who “just tune,” must be able to deal with the occasional broken string. This seminar gives you a chance to learn professional string techniques and perform string replacements and other skills, including splicing and loops, under supervision and expert instruction.

 404

Field Repairs II: Flange bushing, pinning & repair skills. Learn professional techniques for repinning and rebushing action flanges, and repairing split flange tongues, in a hands-on setting. (P: 401 or 402)

 405

Field Repairs III: Hammershank & key repairs. Learn professional techniques for repairing and replacing broken hammershanks, and repairing broken keysticks and elongated balance holes. (P: 401 or 402)

 406

Voicing I: NY Steinway hammers. Get expert instruction and hands-on experience in voicing techniques unique to the soft-pressed hammers made by Steinway & Sons NY. Includes filing, lacquering, and needling techniques specific to these hammers. (P: 402)

 407

Voicing II: Hard-pressed hammers. Get expert instruction and hands-on experience in voicing techniques suitable for the harder hammers used in most modern pianos. Includes filing, needling, and chemical reinforcement techniques specific to these hammers.   (P: 402)

 408

Key rebushing I. Learn how to remove old bushings and size the mortises. A hands-on class where you will actually perform these tasks on at least one section of keys. (P: 401 or 402)

 409

Key rebushing II. Learn how to install the new bushings and ease them perfectly to the key pins. A hands-on class where you will actually perform these tasks on at least one section of keys. (P: 408)

 412

Prepping the new piano. An efficient method for making the new piano play and sound great in a limited period of time. Focusing on specific brands, this class offers a hands-on opportunity for each student to work under supervision prepping a brand-new piano to Sherman Clay standards. Checklists included. (P: 401 or 402)

 420

Grand action reconditioning. As part of a large-scale regulation job, it is often necessary to recondition various aspects of the action prior to regulating. In this shop-based procedure we give attention to hammer shaping, flange pinning, key bushing fit, bolstering the knuckles, cleaning, polishing, and lubricating parts as needed.  (P: 402)

 421

Grand action rejuvenation. For grand actions with anywhere from five to 15 years of moderate to heavy use, it may be possible to rejuvenate the action with this field procedure. Students will evaluate and correct problems with hammer shape, key bushing fit, flange pinning,lubrication, and regulation. (P: 402)

 500

Business practices. Learn how to manage your piano service business efficiently and effectively. Customer databases, accounting systems, spreadsheets, tax planning, and much, much more.

 501

Restringing I: Tear-down and prep. This hands-on class covers efficient removal of strings and tuning pins, sizing of tuning pin holes, preparation of string terminations, and installation of understring felts. (P: 403)

 502

Restringing II: Installing new strings and tuning pins. This hands-on class covers the installation of new strings and tuning pins, with emphasis on correct tools and stringing methodology. (P: 501)

 503

Soundboard repair I. In this hands-on session students will repair rib separations, open cracks with a shimming tool, and fit and install spruce shims with glue. Includes making a shimming tool. (P: 501, 502)

 504

Soundboard repair II. This hands-on session will cover trimming the new shims and scraping the old finish from the soundboard. Includes making and sharpening a scraper. (P: 503)

 505

Soundboard repair III. In this concluding session of the soundboard repair series, students will prepare the soundboard for finishing, and will apply sealer and finish coats to the soundboard. (P: 504)

 508

Replacing grand hammer heads. This hands-on class allows students to bore, taper, cove, and tail a set of grand hammers, remove the old hammers, prepare the old shanks to receive new hammers, and hang the new hammers. (P: 420)

 509

Replacing grand hammers, shanks, & flanges. Students in this class will mark string positions on a jig, remove the old hammers, shanks, and flanges, install new shanks and flanges and hang pre-bored and shaped hammer heads. Includes traveling and burn-in. (P: 420)

 510

Replacing grand backchecks. Included in this hands-on class are evaluating options for backcheck or leather replacement, the removal of old backchecks, and installation of new backchecks using a drill press and special jig. (P: 402)

 511

Grand damper replacement and regulation. In this hands-on class, students will remove dampers from the piano, remove old damper felts from the damper heads, and attach new damper felts. Following evaluation of the damper action and any needed repairs, the dampers will be re-installed and regulated. (P: 402)

 601

Concert piano prep. In this hands-on session, students will assist with preparing a Steinway D for an actual performance. The work will include tuning, regulation, voicing, and lubrication as needed, following a concert-service checklist. (P: 402, 406, 407, 421)

 605

Pinblock replacement I. This first session will consist of the students removing the old pinblock and creating a new duplicate from a pinblock blank. (P: 501, 502)

 606

Pinblock replacement II. In this hands-on class, students will participate in fitting the new pinblock to the plate flange, and drilling holes for the plate screws in the new block. (P: 605)

 607

Pinblock replacement III. The pinblock series concludes with this session, where students will re-install the plate and the new pinblock, and drill tuning pin holes in the new pinblock (P: 606)

 608

Bridge re-capping I. Removing the bridge pins, making a paper pattern, removing the old bridge cap, cutting out the new cap, preparing the bridge root for the new cap, gluing on the new cap. All-day class. (P: 501, 502)

 609

Bridge re-capping II. Trimming the new cap, marking and blacking the bridge cap, drilling bridge-pin holes, notching the bridge, installing new bridge pins. All-day class. (P: 608)