The ProPTN Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Bechstein's Director of Concert and Institutional Service Torben Garlin. Torben, who is also the managing director of the Piano Mobil rental company, has been working in piano technology since he was a teenager. With several decades of experience under his belt, we sat down at the Akustika trade show in Nuremberg to discuss his typical concert prep checklist; the emotional traits necessary for concert techs to thrive in their field; voicing procedures and tricks; and how technicians need to communicate with artists before a performance.

-Torben's Instagram and Facebook accounts

-Piano Mobil website and Instagram

-Bechstein Technician's Academy website

-Bechstein's website, Instagram, and Facebook accounts

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In this episode, we sit down with Anna Petrof, the sixth generation family member to take charge of the 162-year-old Ant. PETROF piano brand to discuss how the Czech company survived World Wars and state ownership; its reclamation by the Petrof family in 2001; how they have restructured the company to better serve its Czech community; the importance of diversifying its services as a manufacturer; how the instruments have improved over the last two decades; and the difficult choices behind running a company with such a long family history.

-The PETROF website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and podcast series

-Find a PETROF dealer near you

-Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard performing "Falling Slowly" live for the PETROF Acoustic Sessions

-Piano Buyer's article and photo exploration of the PETROF factory, anechoic chamber, Gemini pianos, and family history

-The Piano Buyer brand profile of Ant. PETROF

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In this episode, we take a seat inside the August Föerster piano factory in Lobau, Germany to talk with Gabriel Wandt (Director of Marketing and Communications), and master piano builder Annemarie Kampf to discuss the challenges of redesigning their new 275 concert grand using 2D modeling; their knack for creating innovative and adorable piano designs; their narrower Stretto keysets for smaller hands; and the strenuous process of becoming certified as a master piano builder in Germany.

-Stretto keysets

-The Model 275 Sovereign Concert Grand

-August Förster Instagram, Facebook, and website

-Photos of the factory and the company's experiments

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In this episode, we sit down with former Hamburg Steinway technician and soundboard extraordinaire Oliver Greinus. Oliver is one of the co-founders of Klangmanufaktur, a workshop that specializes in rebuilding Steinways as well as providing rehearsal space and practice rooms for Hamburg's musical community. Following our tour of the workshop, Oliver sat down with me to talk about their reasoning for leaving Steinway in order to create their own uniquely rebuilt instruments; why old soundboards should never be replaced; doing away with polyester in favor of natural oil finishes; replacing lead weights with CKM brass; their rental program for connecting musicians and institutions with quality pianos; and the curriculum for their singular week-long training seminar.

-Klangmanufaktur website and Instagram page

-Registration for the June 22-28 training seminar, as well as the course information sheet. For questions or assistance, you can send an email to [email protected].

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In this episode, we sit down with Ravenscroft mastermind, Renner Academy instructor, manufacturing guru, and piano design innovator Michael Spreeman to talk about the process of designing a piano from scratch; conducting experiments in sound; creating a luxury-piano brand; and the details of piano construction which average technicians will constantly overlook.

-Ravenscroft Pianos

-The Ravenscroft Pianos Concert Hall

-⁠Nick Gravange legacy page and obituary⁠ (where you may also pay to plant a tree or send flowers in his honor)

-"Setting Up Shop: Commercial Edition" article featuring Michael Spreeman

-Ravenscroft 275 Virtual Instrument

-Ravenscroft 220 Virtual Instrument

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In this episode, we sit down with piano technician and rebuilder Tim Balke, who is one of the co-founding masterminds behind FB Flexure: a Utah-based company that has just revealed a potentially game-changing new action part design which could revolutionize manufacturing in the years to come. In addition to discussing the invention, we talk about the evolution of the piano; innovations that succeeded and failed throughout history; compliant mechanisms; the engineering and chemistry behind material science; and what piano manufacturers will need to do in order to carry on.

-"Manufacturing Innovation: A Historical Overview" article

-“Manufacturing Refinement: A Historical Overview” — Part 2 in Tim’s article series

-“Why Machines That Bend Are Better” video on compliant mechanisms

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In this episode, we sit down with Piano Buyer CEO Hannah Beckett to share a "State of the Union" address about the current predicaments of the industry; the obstacles keeping clients from upgrading to better pianos; how to confidently guide clients through the upgrading process; and how we can all come together to protect the industry in an uncertain future.

-Piano Buyer App on the App Store

-Piano Buyer App on the Google Store

-"The Value of Condemning Pianos" article

-"The Art of Condemning Pianos" article

-Free "Model and Price Supplement" PDF and printed book for sale

-Write to us for our Letters to the Editor segment!

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In this episode, we sit down with ProPTN contributor, rebuilder, technician, and dealership owner Morgan Cowell of Great Plains Piano to discuss his biggest failures in rebuilding; the duty of the technician to facilitate client upgrades; handling bad pianos in isolated areas; building trust with clients; and how pianos are only as good as the technicians who maintain them.

-“Setting Up Shop: Commercial Edition” article

-Original ProPTN tools for sale

-Letters to the Editor submission page

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In this episode, we sit down with keyboard conservator and bellywork specialist Ken Eschete of Bentside Arts to discuss his uniquely pioneered method of applying Acryloid B-72 to pinblocks and hammer felts; his online courses for bridge capping, soundboard replacement, pinblocks, and conservation; and his experiences learning from concert artists as well as factory training.

-Ken's how-to article on voicing with B-72

-Scientific article with photos of the B-72 consolidation ("Consolidant Distribution in Deteriorated Wood Treated with Soluble Resins by Schniewind & Eastman" )

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In this episode, we sit down with Chicago-based piano technician, YouTuber, and electric keyboard extraordinaire Emma Kleidon to discuss everything from DIY repair; the differences between piano and electric keyboard regulation; the history of these instruments; dos and don'ts of restorations; and how these instruments are functioning today.

-EmmaRepair YouTube channel

-EmmaRepairs Instagram page

-"Custom Fender Rhodes Rebuild" video

-"What Happened to the First Electric Keyboard?" video at the National Music Museum

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