SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHAPTER
Hello SD County Chapter,
We will not have a chapter meeting in December. Thanks to all who participated in our meetings in 2024. Here's a recap of the sessions we held this year:
January: Chapter member and inventor Steven Norsworthy introduced us to the PianoSens, a new device that replaces the use of a microphone when tuning with an ETD app.
February: Ryan Ellison, RPT (of Yamaha Piano Service fame) led a discussion on hybrid components of Yamaha pianos and what to watch for and understand in their service.
March: "The Anatomy of the Console". We pulled apart the action (every screw), cut the strings out, yanked the plate and broke down a console piano to its very back posts with free parts to all participants that attended.
April: Ed Whitting, RPT lead an all-day class on various lubrication points and methods to change how a piano feels to play. The touch and tone of the piano was remarkably improved after the expert level anti-friction treatment.
May: David Reed, RPT from Kawai America gave a lecture on the history and features of Shigeru Kawai pianos. This event was held at Artistic Pianos in San Marcos and was a high watermark regarding attendance.
June & July : No sessions were held due to busy season and the National Convention.
August: Our annual business meeting was held at Board & Brew. It was well attended by our newer and long time members alike and centered on a productive exchange of ideas regarding how to serve our members.
September: The exec board met to plan but there was no chapter technical session. Our chapter received a baby grand piano by donation for use in a series of technical meetings that will extend into 2025.
October: Mark Adams, RPT lead a session titled "Evaluating a piano prior to purchase." The class covered items to look for and ensure prospective buyers are aware of in consulting with them and how to do an inspection.
November: We held our first "OG Tuning School" where newer techs had the opportunity to get tuning technique instruction from a few seasoned pros. This was followed by another "Piano Hospital Deployment" which gave newer techs the opportunity to work in the field side by side with more experienced techs in the service of a venue in need, specifically in this case Zion Lutheran Church. Following the work, the church's piano player was thrilled with how the piano played and reports came back that the piano sounded wildy better.
Have a great Christmas season and looking forward to what 2025 will bring for the SD Chapter of the PTG!