Explore Piano Technology

Have you always wondered how a piano works? Do you want to know more about piano maintenance and care? Are you interested in piano technology as a career?

Whether you are a performer or a music teacher looking to better understand your instrument or an established technician looking to broaden your experience, dip your toe into an exciting and unusual career with our one-week Introduction to Piano Technology class.

For those who have some tuning experience, check out our short classes on fortepianos and harpsichords.

• Introduction to Piano Technology: Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11
• Harpsichord Voicing & Regulation: Session 1, Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 13
• Harpsichord Voicing & Regulation: Session 2, Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27
• Fortepiano Maintenance, Regulation, & Repair: Monday, July 28 – Wednesday, July 30

Introduction to Piano Technology

This hands-on course provides a glimpse into the various tasks that a piano technician might encounter. Topics include nomenclature, basics of tuning and regulation, and an overview of common repairs. You’ll work with music wire and try many of these tasks out for yourself. Answer your questions about the logistics and basics of a career path, or just learn how to better advocate for your instrument.

There are no prerequisites for this class—all experience levels are welcome. Students are required to bring their own safety glasses, but all other tools and supplies are provided.

Harpsichord Voicing and Regulation

This course is structured for piano technicians looking to learn more about harpsichords as well as harpsichordists wishing to upgrade their skills dealing with repairs. The class covers voicing and regulation of a double manual harpsichord with three registers, 2×8′, and 1×4′. Topics will include requilling wood and plastic jacks with Delrin plectra; assembly of wood jacks and repair of plastic jacks; how to set plectra length and shape plectra to set voicing levels; coupler adjustment, timing, and regulating three registers; setting key dip and touch; an introduction to selecting and treating feather and voicing with quill; and how to loop and replace strings. 

Prerequisite: Proficiency in keyboard instrument tuning and a general familiarity with handling keyboard instruments. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Fortepiano Maintenance, Regulation, & Repair

This three-day long class will offer a hands-on introduction to the care and maintenance of the wood-framed Viennese fortepiano, the early piano most frequently made by modern builders and what today’s technicians will most likely encounter. Subjects will include how to handle the seemingly delicate parts of a Viennese Prellmechanic without trepidation or damage; how to regulate and repair the action, keyboard, and dampers for best performance, and to practice tuning an instrument much more lightly strung than today’s piano. 5-octave and 6 1/2-octave fortepianos will be available for the class.

Prerequisite: This class is intended for piano technicians (or fortepiano owners) who want to develop their skills. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.