Puget Sound Chapter

The Puget Sound Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild meets on the Second Monday every month except July, August, and December.
We skip July due to the Annual Piano Technicians Guild Conference, we have an annual picnic in August, and a holiday party in December.

Regular meetings consist of a business portion followed by a technical presentation. Visitors are welcome! Whether you are a full-time technician, a hobbyist/tinkerer, or just someone interested in knowing more about pianos, we hope you stop by!

Register now for the Washington State Hands-On Seminar at Central Washington Univeristy. Visit pnw-ptg.org for more info

Upcoming Technicals:

March 17: Nathan Jensen, Seattle Chapter: "The Touch Up"

This will be a trial run for the class Nathan will be doing on touch-up tuning for the State Seminar later in the month.

Sometimes, in the real world, a touching-up of the existing tune on a piano is a better approach than a full tuning. This might be the case when, as sometimes happens, you have very limited time or the piano was tuned only a short time before. But similar to tuning, it is a good idea to have a plan rather than fly by the pants. This class details a plan for the Touch-Up such that you can improve a piano's tune and be able to pick up and leave within a second's notice. It's a worthy skill for the piano technician and should be of great use in some tricky situations.

April 14th: Max Biggs, Portland Chapter: "Backweighting Vertical Actions"

Create a more grand-like touch and improve regulation through backweighting the keys in a vertical pianos. We go through the theory and the process of this approachable piano improvement.

May 12: Fred Riley, Classic Pianos Portland: "From the Dealer's Perspective"

Fred is one of Portland's busiest piano salesmen and also happens to have experience as a piano tuner as well. Fred will cover a number of topics such as:

1. How to sell your services more effectively

2. How piano technicians and dealers can work effectively together and avoid conflict

3. What's new with the piano industry?

4. How to sell pianos: what to do and what to avoid.

5. Customer relations: how to cultivate positive and lasting relationships

June 9th: George Mounce, Puget Sound Chapter: "History of the Piano Industry: the Politics, the Economics, the Digital."

Are you interested in piano technology?

While pursuing a career in piano tuning and repair is not a "get rich quick" scheme by any stretch of the imagination, it can be a highly rewarding and steady career path for those who are willing and patient enough to develop the necessary skills.

Joining the PTG puts you in contact with a community of professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts who are dedicated to helping each other forward in the understanding of what makes pianos sound and play beautifully. The ability to collaborate and consult with others in the field is one of the most valuable tools a technician can have.

You can learn more by visiting ptg.org. Also feel free to contact a local representative. Our current President and Vice-President are listed in the footer at the bottom of this page. They will be happy to chat with you and answer your questions.

Young Technicians Needed

Getting into the business as a young person can be a big advantage for the following reasons:

It can take several years to become competent and work at a professional level. Not having the pressure to support a family or household right away can allow more time to developing the craft.
You can't learn all there is in one lifetime! Getting in early increases your odds of mastering a diverse set of skills that can contribute to career success.
There is an inherent knowledge within the PTG that we need to perpetuate our shared wisdom into the next generation. Young, conscientious technicians who are willing to volunteer and contribute to the organization will find many doors opening before them.

Piano Work is Challenging!

Just learning to tune a piano at a professional level is very difficult. But it doesn't end there! You must learn an array of challenging repairs and adjustments that require a lot of finesse and nuanced technique. Even after 20 years you will still be developing your skills!

Being Self-Employed is Challenging!

While there are some full-time piano technician positions offered by universities, large piano stores, and piano service companies, most piano technicians are freelancers. This means you not only have to know how to work on pianos, you have to know how to run a successful business: An addition set of complex skills.

Working with the Public is Challenging

As a technician you will work with a widely diverse population of piano owners, with all sorts of different personalities and needs. In addition to piano skills and business skills, you will also need people skills!

If you love a challenge, love music, are mechanically minded and like working with people, being a Registered Piano Technician may be the path you are looking for!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse