The Day and A Half Hands-On Grand Action Renovation Seminar
A Pianotek Masters Training Seminar
(advance reservation required for Saturday and Sunday together or Sunday separately.)

Instructors: Bob Marinelli RPT, Chris Solliday RPT, Anne Garee RPT

Length: 1.5 days

Three of the Guild's 'Masters' will provide a comprehensive guided tour through all aspects of grand action renovation. The techniques presented will apply to old and new instruments and include all steps leading to regulation and voicing. Diagnosis through the taking and interpreting of relevant measurements, selecting the correct parts, introduction of newly designed replacement parts, applied action geometry, balancing component parts, and marketing to the customer will be discussed. Everyone, working in small supervised groups, will balance an action model practicing demonstrated techniques for modifying the hammer weight and action geometry, setting the Ratio and balancing the keys. There will be drilling and thrilling. If you ever wanted to do this type of work this is the place to learn the essentials.

The half day on Sunday will be a separable component dedicated to hands-on techniques for weight modification to hammers and keys. Final balancing of the action models will take place. It is suggested that anyone attending only the Sunday classes have a strong background in action geometry theory and grand action renovation in general.

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BIO: Robert Marinelli

Bob Marinelli, RPT, Detroit/Windsor, MI, Chapter 481; Pianotek Supply Co.

Robert Marinelli, founder and president of Pianotek Supply Co., has been a RPT since 1976. He began his technical career working in a cabinet shop with Henry Ford's personal cabinetmaker. Bob owned and operated a piano rebuilding shop in the Detroit area for seven years. At Pianotek he has been involved with new product development and manufacturing replacement keyboards for the trade. He has taught at many regional and national conferences.

BIO: Christopher Solliday

Chris Solliday RPT, Lehigh Valley, PA Chapter 180; C. Solliday Piano Service

Christopher Solliday began the study of piano technology and tuning in 1974 in Philadelphia under the guidance of Merrill Jackson. He completed the Steinway and Yamaha factory training programs and later David Stanwood's Touch Design course. Chris has run a successful piano service business in the Lehigh Valley, PA area for over 30 years. Currently he specializes in grand action renovations and is a licensed Precision TouchDesign Installer. He recently developed the piano service business management software "ExecuKey" with his partner programmer Sean Boyer. A RPT member since 1976, he has served as PTG Chapter 180 president for over ten years, been director and co-director of past PA State Conventions, currently serves as a MARC Board member and has served as a member/chairperson on national committees. He has been an instructor at all levels of the PTG. Chris was a piano teacher from 1976 until 1995 and has been a professional pianist since 1965. He served as a church pianist 1982-1992 and owned a small hotel/jazz club in the Pocono Mountains, the "Deer Head Inn," from 1992-2005.

BIO: Anne Garee

Anne Garee, RPT Tallahassee, FLA Chapter 323; Director of Arts in Piano Technology, Florida State University

Ms Garee designed and implemented the Master of Arts in Piano Technology degree at Florida State University. This advanced degree program is a first for the piano technician community and affords graduate students the unusually rich experience of working with students and faculty in a comprehensive school of music. Anne came to FSU as a piano technician in 1983 and joined the faculty in 2004 as Program Director for Piano Technology. Along with her tuning and restoration duties she has enjoyed a 23 year teaching career in the College of Music offering a series of piano technology courses. A RPT member of PTG Anne holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and completed a three year apprenticeship program in Piano Technology at the Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She has taken additional training with Steinway and Yamaha working with concert technicians and has studied piano actions with David Stanwood, a pioneer in the field of Touchweight Design.