Christopher Brown PT ’81, PA ’82

What led you to become a student at NBSS?

I arrived in the Basic Piano Technology program with three years experience, which included Berklee training, private tuning, and some shopwork. I continued into the Advanced Piano Technology program as well. NBSS provided exactly the professionalizing rigor I hoped for.

What was the best part of your NBSS training?

David Betts [former Piano Technology Department Head], briefly hovering above my work with neutral look and no comment. He inspired me to look again, think through what I was doing, and try what I thought would work. I discovered that I often learned the most from my mistakes. He empowered me to make mistakes and learn.

What are you up to now?

I do a modest amount of piano work, mostly grand action regulating and rebuilding now, supported by the tuning and repair talents of my two good friends and fellow NBSS grads Yoshi and Xiaodan. The rest of my time is split between designing and making grand regulation tools, selling, packaging, and shipping the same, and teaching/training others from what I have learned.

What advice do you have for students in your industry?

Stick with it, believe in yourself and in the good work you offer a world that needs good work, and stay open—to your customers, to what happens, and to the little voice in your head.