PTG
Bruce Clark was interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program during the 2015 Piano Technician Guild’s (PTG) annual convention in Denver, Colorado in July 2015. During his interview he covered his passion for music and well as his long association with the piano industry. Much of his design work...
Larry Messerly likes to tell his customers who remark on how great a pianist he is that he is a “first page player.” After the first page all bets are off. It is a good line but perhaps not so true, as Larry has played piano since he was child and studied piano performance in college. After two...
Norbert Abel formed the Abel Hammer Company (Helmut Abel GmbH) in 1982 along with his father, to manufacture piano hammerheads, shanks and flanges for the piano industry. Over the years, they have created many interesting products such as chemical free felt and high quality hammerheads for both...
Joe Swenson played trumpet in grade school and was influenced by his mother who played the piano and gave lessons. While earning his degree in trumpet performance in college, Joe worked in a local music store where his interest in piano tuning began. He befriended the store’s piano technician and...
Paul Adams began his career as a piano technician in New Jersey after earning his degree in music at Rutgers University in 1972. Soon after establishing his business, Paul joined the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) to learn all he could about his profession. Within a few years it was Paul who was...
Jim Coleman Jr. has proudly served as president of the Piano Technicians Guilds (PTG) Board as well as provided classes and training for its members. He grew up in the industry and followed in his father’s footsteps, who also served the PTG over his long career. In addition to tuning, Jim Jr....
Steve Taylor was raised on music! His parents owned a large Baldwin retail store and both were piano technicians. While being taught to complete simple tasks as a teenager for the store, Steve realized he had a true passion for the craft of tuning. Years later he joined the family business and...
Rick Baldassin is the President and Founder of Baldassin Pianos in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a piano technician, Rick has been an active and passionate member of the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) both serving with his local chapter as well as on the board of the guild. Over the years he has...
Patrick Draine is the piano technician who established the Draine Piano Services, offering tuning, repair, regulation and voicing in the greater Boston area. Patrick joined the local chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) in the late 1970s and has been active in the organization ever since...
John Wright Jr. grew up in the piano business. His father and his uncle, Dan Hall, formed the Hall Piano Company in 1958. The store is currently located right on David Drive in Metairie, Louisiana, not too far from the first location, which John recalled running around in as a small child. Like...