KEYNOTES
December 2010 Newsletter
Presidents Message.
Welcome to our December issue of KEYNOTES; it is hard to believe that another year is nearly over!
On behalf of myself and my committee I wish to take this opportunity of wishing all members and friends of
the Guild a very happy and safe Christmas and prosperous 2011.
I trust that you have enjoyed the programs that were offered this year, next year also will be a very
productive and busy year. Our first meeting for 2011 will be a “Master Class” held at the brand new Tuning
School in Ringwood in February.
Apart from our local meetings scheduled for 2011, we all have the opportunity of attending the APTTA
Convention in Wellington New Zealand from 18-21 August, it will be a wonderful opportunity for learning
and networking with other members from around Australia, New Zealand and different parts of the world. If
you have not been to a convention why not make 2011 your first, remember that the Australian Dollar is
worth more than the NZ Dollar therefore we receive a great incentive to attend at a reduced overall
amount.
Thank you to everyone that has supported our Guild and me during the year, it is greatly appreciated.
Finally I wish to again publicly thank my wonderful committee: Chris Whelan; Michael Whitney; David
Nyhouse and Eddie Tichelaar, without their support and input the Guild would suffer.
Last but not least I wish to also thank Gary Beadell for his invaluable input and direction as an ARPT
Examiner and Eddie Tichelaar for his outstanding work producing our innovative newsletter.
Merry Christmas
Christopher Streader
Please enter these proposed
dates into your diary for 2011.
Locations TBA
Monday 7th February 2011 Committee meeting 7.30pm start
Saturday 12th February 2011 Master class presented by Gary Beadell
Monday 21st March 2011 Committee meeting 7.30pm start
Saturday 7th May 2011 Tuning exam day
Monday 9th May 2011 Business meeting and OH&S talk by R Turney
Saturday 18th June 20011 Masterclass SPL’s multiple presenters
Monday 18th July 2011 Committee meeting 7.30pm start
Monday 1st August 2011 Business meeting and member presentation
Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st August 2011 APTTA New Zealand convention
Saturday 10th September 2011 Committee planning day for 2012
Monday 17th October 2011 Annual General Meeting time and venue TBA
Saturday 12th November 2011 Tuning exam day tuning school
Sunday 11th December 2011 Committee meeting
As a result of the elections held at the AGM on Monday the 19th October 2010, there have been no
changes to the committee for 2011. Chris Streader however has requested, if there are any members who
may be interested in fulfilling the Treasurers roll for 2011, please contact him as it would be desirable to
have another member fill this roll.
President Chris Streader also had great pleasure in presenting Mick Brizga with a
Life Membership of the Piano Tuners & Technicians Guild of Victoria
After the AGM and Business meeting, some 25 members remained to enjoy dinner and drinks to celebrate
the 30th anniversary of the PTTG Vic inc.
Committee for 2011
Christopher Streader …… President…………….…
0418 350 681……[email protected]
Chris Whelan ……………… …Vice President………
0427 514 418……. [email protected]
Michael Whitney…………..Secretary……………….0403 166 253….. [email protected]
Christopher Streader …… Acting Treasurer…… … 0418 350 681……..
[email protected]
David Nyhouse…………….. General Committee …… 0419 137 390……[email protected]
Eddie Tichelaar…………….General Committee …….0418 378 897……. [email protected]
Po. Box 34364 Birkenhead 0746 Auckland.
Convention Update August 2010!
[email protected]
Fellow Piano Technicians!
Now’s the time to reserve August 18-21 2011 to be at the 11th biennial APTTA convention in Wellington. We are planning
exceptional new presenters, great social events, and a warm collegial welcome at the James Cook Hotel.
André Oorebeek Netherlands the author of The Voice of the Piano. see www.thevoiceofthepiano will be giving all day
voicing classes.
Anne Garee and Robert Marinelli USA are offering classes on grand action design and touch modification, action
geometry and keyboard design and replacement.
Australian and New Zealand lectures.
We are negotiating with other new highly regarded international presenters.
Not to be missed special interest tours. We are planning add on day visits to exceptional private collections of historic
instruments and player and automated instruments.
Testing to upgrade to ARPT. Some class numbers will be restricted and APTTA members and ARPT will be given
preference.
Registration forms including great room rates will be sent in due course. In the mean time please keep the dates free
and do feel free to suggest lecturers and topics you would like to see. We are especially keen to have good practical
classes presented from our own talented members.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Graeme Harvey, David Jenkin, Stephen Powell.
Member profile
Graeme McGowan
For those who don't know me, my name is Graeme McGowan, and I have been tuning pianos for the past 43
years.
My life began on April 18th 1950. I was born three months premature and weighed only 2 pound 9 ounces. I was
given too much oxygen which was a common cause of blindness in those days.
I attended the Royal Victorian Institute for the blind's nursery and School from 1953 to 1966. I then went to the
Training Centre at the Institute, where I started learning piano tuning on February 21st 1967.
I spent the next two years with Mr Dick Sutcliff who was a piano tuner and musician, and also my mentor.
After completing my training I hung round for a year or so doing very little tuning.
In 1970 my mum said "Why don't you ring some music firms to see if they want someone." I decided to do that and
got an interview at Suttons with no success so I rang Allans just after Easter. I was put through to the workshop
and spoke to David Lawson, who suggested I come in for an interview the following day.
I went for the interview the next day, and David picked me up from North Melbourne station, which is pretty
unusual. I was asked to do a theory test, then was given a chance to tune a piano, and started with Allans on April
7.
I have made many good friends from Allans such as Joe Kade and his family, whom I got to know very well. David
has also been a good friend of mine as well as Glenn Bush and Tony Fierenzi.
I was one of the first Guild members in 1980 when the Guild was founded. I have tuned for many leading artists
including Diana Ross, Chicago, George Shearing, Neil Diamond, John Farnham, Tina Arena and of course, the
ABC. I also did concert work at the Melbourne Town Hall for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
In those days, Allans hired most of the pianos round Melbourne mainly the Steinway Concert Grand. Brashs took
Allans over in 1976 and I worked for both of them until 1982 when I decided to become self employed as most
tuners were.
These days, I still tune for the Allans/Billy Hyde Group as well as Bernie’s Music Land from whom I recently
purchased a Schimmel 132 upright piano, something for which I have always dreamed, but never thought I would
own; a very generous gift from my parents, who both passed away earlier this year. I also have a steady, growing
clientele, many of whom I have looked after for years.
Continued next page……..
Member profile continued
I have had six guide dogs, my first dog being Rep, whom David and Joe will particularly remember. My current
Guide Dog is Pepper, a very happy, spirited, but gentle black lab.
I have had an interest in piano tuning since I was 12 years old, but also learnt piano, clarinet, drums and
recorder; I especially enjoyed the vocal group I helped to create at school. I loved to play Hammond organ and
worked regularly at various reception centres. I love cricket and played in the Victorian Blind Cricket Association
for 38 years.
Carol and I re-met and married in 1991 and we have 5 children and 15 grand children. I travelled to America to
the Piano Hospital and Training Centre in 1981 to learn more about grand regulation and the specialised tools we
use for that purpose. Carol and I went back last year to see our friends Martin and Pat Nemecek. Martin is also
blind and has been in the trade since 1965. The Piano School was founded in 1949 by a blind piano tuner, Mr
Emil Fries, who had a dream: To get blind people out in the community skilled in piano technology and business
operation. TODAY, it is thriving and is strictly for blind students and is located in Vancouver Washington State.
I have enjoyed my time in the tuning industry, and love life with all its challenges!
Training DVD’s available now.
DVD’s are available at a cost of $30.00 each or $90.00 for the full set,
plus, postage and handling for members.
Otherwise, $45.00 each or $135.00 for the full set, plus postage and
handling for non members.
We have a limited number available at this stage so please place you orders with David Nyhouse at
[email protected] .
FOR SALE
Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild of Victoria mugs
Available for $15.00 each.
Please place you orders with David Nyhouse at [email protected] .
27 October 2010,
NEW AMA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTED IN
The new Executive Committee met for the first time since the AGM yesterday and
elected the office bearers for the 2010/11 year.
We welcome Carol Brandman from Engadine Music in Engadine, NSW as the new AMA
President.
Supporting her are two vice presidents: Chris Cumming from National Audio Systems
and immediate past president Bernie Capicchiano from Musico (Bernie's Musicland).
General Members are:
Dom Di Sisto from Holden Hill Music, Adelaide
David Steedman from Maton Guitars
Richard Snape from AMPD
Rob Walker from Allans+Billy Hyde Music
Peter Trojkovic from CMI Music & Audio
Mark Smith from Roland Corporation
Mark Amory from Yamaha Music Australia
The Treasurer position has been offered to a General Member who is currently
considering it in light of his other commitments.
Please welcome your new Executive Committee.
Regards
Sara
Member profile
Ben Briggs
Benjamin Briggs, was born in summer of 1980 at Box Hill Hospital, years later moving to Bendigo
where he completed his high school education. He was interested in woodwork, classical music and
electronics. Ben is an accomplished pianist born into a third generation musical family. Master
classes with international pianists such as Roger Woodward have refined his expression through
music. During his studies towards a B.Mus at Monash Conservatorium in 2000 he studied under
Max Cooke and Darryl Coote. It was in late 2001 when he was introduced into the world of piano
tuning and repairs by David Morgan. He started work on a Thurmer overdamper learning action
repairs in David’s workshop, later re-stringing under guidance. He greatly enjoyed this work as it
utilized years of practice in pulling things apart to investigate there workings. The music degree
started to lose its appeal after the realization that teaching would be the most likely job prospect,
something that he swore he would never do as most members of the family teach.
Benjamin joined the Victorian Piano Tuners Guild in late 2005, attending many workshops over the
years in the search for knowledge and perfection. Given the lack of structured learning, studying
books followed by trial and error assisted his development help always only a phone call away. He
at one stage owned one Pianola, three Uprights, one 6ft-Grand and a Harpsichord which didn’t
leave much room in the flat for his poor girlfriend, now his wife. Ben is fascinated with all aspects of
servicing and rebuilding, with a particular interest in older instruments.
Benjamin joined the staff at Wakeley Pipe Organs in 2006. He is currently working on completing an
apprenticeship as an Organ Builder which falls under a furniture making certificate.
The strangest place that he has ever tuned was in a Russian military offices concert hall where he
met with an Estonia 9ft concert grand. The ebonized finish badly scarred by plenty of vodka (if only
the piano could talk).
The Committee and members would like to congratulate Ben on the arrival of
his new baby daughter earlier this year.
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