BONUS CLASS
WEDNESDAY APRIL 7, 2027
ALL-DAY UPRIGHT HAMMER HANGING WORKSHOP 
with Josi Davis, Brooks LTD Piano Products
(If attending, must register in addition to seminar registration)

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Grand damper wire bending doesn't have to be mysterious. This class presents a systematic approach to understanding the purpose of each bend and how the geometry of the damper wire affects centering, lift, friction, and seating. Whether you're learning the process for the first time or refining your technique after years in the field, you'll leave with a framework you can apply to the grand pianos you service. Participants will need to bring their own tools (BYOT): single action wire bending pliers, needle nose pliers, and a small straight screwdriver. John will have 30 single damper models for participants to work on.

While the book Piano Servicing, Tuning & Rebuilding by Arthur Reblitz is wonderful for step-by-step grand regulation, we will be looking at Why you do things and not just follow the numbers. In this class, we will briefly look at numbers, but we will be asking about the why's of doing things: We'll look at the basics of key ratios and why we need to understand them, and you'll learn how to measure the keystick to cement the concept to memory. We'll look at why an action goes out of regulation and why the mighty capstan can be a lifesaver. Then, we'll look at why the let-off in a concert situation is different than in the home, and what's up with the drop screw done wrong: the drop screw is a delicate slide waiting to happen, not a hammer to pound the key and hide a strong return spring: Why are tech's adding so much drop... Finally, we'll complete the class with the basics of regulation and focus on adjusting the repetition springs. You'll learn why springs don't like to be moved and how we can coax them to deliver the right amount of spring/pressure. With repetition springs, macro is before the micro and that is the key. (E) Class is for everyone. 

There are a lot of 20 to 30 year old Yamaha and Kawai grands ready for service. Learn how to sell a 1/2 day service -with a reduced tuning fee- and complete the work in a little over 5 hours. We'll look at power phrases for selling with a detailed worksheet, and we'll go through the 1/2 day service step by step. We'll look at the  tools that you need, setting up the room, a quick cleaning, bedding the keyframe & A-Frame hammer filing with regulation. A fast paced class with lots of pictures and videos, you'll increase your income, your skillset, and gain award winning referrals.  (I) For Intermediate techs and brave beginners. 

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Raise the bar on your grand piano restorations in this comprehensive look at replacing hammers efficiently and accurately.  We will walk through the entire workflow—from taking precision measurements and proper preparation to selecting hammers, addressing touchweight, and choosing the right tools to master the art of hammer hanging. Discover how Brooks LTD's specialized parts and time-saving services can help you streamline your operations, maximize your profit, and grow your reputation for excellence.

Action Plans: Vertical Regulation - From Troubleshooting 1 Note to Full Regulation, walks technicians through the complete regulation process for the vertical piano action, from initial assessment through final adjustment, with emphasis on how each regulation step doubles as a diagnostic tool for troubleshooting touch and performance issues. This class covers basic regulation as well as advanced techniques. Students learn to recognize when tools don't perform correctly and find ways to modify them to achieve proper function or better suit the task at hand. Taught by Chuck Cook, RPT, and Allan Gilreath, RPT. 

"Using Coincident Partials" gives an overview of the harmonic series, interval ratios, coincident partials, wide versus narrow intervals, beats, musical commas, why we temper, inharmonicity, and ghosting. After that we will focus on how checks work and demonstrate them on a piano. This class assumes the audience knows their intervals. 

Explore 3D modeling for piano technology. Design piano components, leverage AI for precision, and explore innovative techniques like generative design and automated prototyping. Gain hands-on skills in 3D software and AI-driven workflows for piano parts and repair. Bring your laptop with a 3D mouse!

​Do you want to nail F-A at 7 beats per second? The piano can actually dictatethat speed and others. Here is a revolutionary strategy for getting the piano togive you those crucial beat speeds in your temperament. It is not black magic. I’ll teach you how. Come and see how the piano itself can improve your tuning.

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Piano technicians face a wide array of repairs and procedures that require various adhesives. The purpose of this class is to provide a reliable framework that can be used for a successful outcome. The choice of an effective adhesive can make the difference between a long lasting repair or an unfortunate call-back.

For customers who want to know how much their piano is worth when they want to sell one, buy one, insurance, or when they get a repair estimate. Special attention is paid to IRS regulations when donating a piano to a non-profit organization. 

From Semantics to Record Keeping: Ashley Turner, RPT will cover a wide range of non-technical philosophies, systems, and strategies for a satisfying career in piano technology, based on over twenty-two years experience as an independent piano technician. Ashley began her piano technology career in 2004 and utilizes her background in psychology and mental health to share perspectives harnessed and honed from countless mistakes she's made over the years.

The transition from passionate craftsman to profitable business owner can be a daunting leap. In this interactive session, your team at Brooks LTD pulls back the curtain on the true cost of doing business. Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned rebuilder, you will leave with the tools to justify your value, set actionable financial goals, and gain the data-backed confidence to say: "I am worth what I charge."

This class is broken into 4 parts consisting of: 

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER:

Using the proper space and tools to get work done efficiently

WANT TO GET A TIP FOR YOUR SERVICE?

Ways to earn a tip after servicing a customer’s piano.

DON’T LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE:

Acquiring work that brings in money, even if you don’t do the job.

FREE MONEY, MAKING YOU MORE FREE MONEY:

How to get commission and using that money to make more money.

“Prepping for the Tuning Exam” will be split into two sections. First, we will go over the sections and time limits of the exam. Here we can discuss time management and strategies for parts of the exam that don’t match real world experience. There will be time for questions.  Second, we will go over tuning strategies and troubleshooting for the entire piano, not just the midrange. More time will be allotted for questions here, and depending on the “audience”, we can go over fundamentals, checks, and more advanced tuning techniques.

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The PTG Written Exam is the first step on your journey in becoming an RPT. This class will explain what the experience of taking the written exam is like. I will go over the study guides available on MYPTG and show you a few sample questions.  After taking this class, the written exam should not be a challenge for an active piano tuner, and by doing a little homework , it will help guarantee a passing grade.

This class will examine the importance of fitment and alignment of parts. We will learn how to avoid common (and not-so-common) pitfalls when attempting to solve chronic problems and simplify the process with existing parts or replacement of new parts. These principals will be universal to any operation in the piano and relates to everything from string replacement and action work to global restoration. 

Raise the bar on your grand piano restorations in this comprehensive look at replacing hammers efficiently and accurately.  We will walk through the entire workflow—from taking precision measurements and proper preparation to selecting hammers, addressing touchweight, and choosing the right tools to master the art of hammer hanging. Discover how Brooks LTD's specialized parts and time-saving services can help you streamline your operations, maximize your profit, and grow your reputation for excellence.

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