David C. Stanwood will be giving the
following presentations on:
February 19-22, 2009 at the California State Piano Technicians Guild Conference
Burbank, California
http://www.calstateptgconference.com
CLASS 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF HAMMER WEIGHT AND ACTION RATIO
The effect of Hammer Weight on tone and touch is
profound. Matching hammer weight with action ratio is critical. This
multi media class will cover essential issues surrounding the use of
light, medium, or heavy weight hammers including: a review of current
methods for measuring, analyzing, and improving hammer weights and action
ratios. There will also be presentation of recent research comparing
Weight Ratios with Distance Ratios and a discussion about why they are not
always similar to each other. The class will interactively investigate
the effects of changing hammer weight by evaluating the touch and tone of
a piano in the classroom and then assessing the change cause by clipping 1
gram weights onto each shank.
CLASS II: FACTS AND FRICTION
The positive effect of all your good work in restoring, regulating,
tuning, and voicing the piano can be erased if the keys are difficult to
play because of friction problems in the action. This class offers a
complete overview on the subject of friction and its important effect on
the playing quality of pianos. Learn how much friction is too much or too
little and about all the ways you can measure and control friction
components in piano actions.
April 23-26, 2009 at the Mid Atlantic Regional Conference of the Piano Technicians Guild
Harrisburg, PA
http://www.ptgmarc.org
CLASS I: NEW INNOVATION: THE VARIABLE LEVERAGE PIANO ACTION
The Variable Leverage Piano Action is a new innovation for grand or
upright pianos, invented by David Stanwood. Simple modifications to the
balance rail bearings and the addition of a rail under the front of the
keys make it possible to change the balance point of 88 keys
simultaneously by the operation of "Speed Levers" at either end of the
keyboard. A Ratio change of 1.0 may be achieved by moving the levers
forward or back thereby making the action dynamically light, medium, or
heavy in an instant. The class will show how it works and discuss the
possibilities for the future of piano playing and performance.
CLASS II: THE IMPORTANCE OF HAMMER WEIGHT AND RATIO
The effect of Hammer Weight on tone and touch is profound. Matching
hammer weight with action ratio is critical. This multi media class
will cover essential issues surrounding the use of light, medium, or
heavy weight hammers in combination with low, medium, or high action
Ratios. The class will interactively investigate the effects of
changing hammer weight by evaluating the touch and tone of a piano in
the classroom and then assessing the change cause by clipping 1 gram
weights onto each shank as well as shifting the action ratio, using a
variable leverage action.
July 15-19, 2009 at the Annual Institute of the Piano Technicians Guild
Grand Rapids, Michigan
http://ptg.org/conv/2009
CLASS I: THE IMPORTANCE OF HAMMER WEIGHT AND ACTION RATIO
: The effect of Hammer Weight on tone and touch is profound. Matching
hammer weight with action ratio is critical. This multi media class will
cover essential issues surrounding the use of light, medium, or heavy
weight hammers in combination with low, medium, or high action Ratios. The
class will interactively investigate the effects of changing hammer weight
by evaluating the touch and tone of a piano in the classroom and then
assessing the change cause by clipping 1 gram weights onto each shank as
well as shifting the action ratio, using a variable leverage action.
CLASS II: HANDS ON TOUCH WEIGHT METROLOGY
This casual walk in workshop offers technicians a chance to try out the
various methods of touch weight metrology with emphasis on measuring and
understanding up weight and down weight.
Recent past teachings:
May 17-18, 2007
for the Bund Deutscher Klavierbauer in Bad Blankenburg Germany.
for details go to http://www.bdk-piano.de
"Die Praktische Verwendung der Anschlagsgewichtsbalanzierung von
Teilen der Mechanik (Component Touch Weight Balancing) in der Klavier-
bzw. Flügelherstellung oder in der Werkstatt, und die Vorteile die
sie für den Fabrik, der Werkstatt, und der Kunde mit sich bringt."
Wenn man von Vorneherein in der Fabrik oder in der Werkstatt mit
einen digitalen Waage die Tastengewichte nach präzise
Designspezificationen einstellt, verbessert man gleichzeitig die
Gleichmässigkeit des Auswiegens von einerTaste zur Nächsten
enorm. Dabei wird es den Musizierenden erlaubt,eine grössere
Kontrolle über Dynamik, Tonnuanzierung, und Ausdrückskraft
beim Klavierspielen zu erlangen. Man kann das Ganze noch
Verfeinern,indem man individuelle Hammergewichte und Tastenreibungen
nach kalkulierten Specifikationen fein einstellt. Wenn mann bei
einen späteren Mechanikreparatur die Hammerköpfe wechseln
sollte, und sie nach dem auf den Tastenholz gestempelten genauen
Hammergewicht anpasst, kann man einen Verschlechterung der
ürsprunglichen specialangepassten Spielartqualität des
Instrumentes bis weit in der Zukünft vermeiden.
June 20 - 24, 2007 PTG National Institute in Kansas City,
Missouri for details go to http://www.ptg.org/conv/2007
Class Title and Description:
"Practical Applications of
Component Touch Weight Balancing in the Piano Factory
and its benefits for the Factory, the Pianist, and the Piano
Technician."
by David C. Stanwood
PTG VvPN
1 hour presentation with 1/2 hour discussion
Class Preparation - read and study the article "Component TouchWeight
Balancing - Blueprint for the Future" - by David C. Stanwood, Piano
Technicians Journal, April 2000 Available at: http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/Blueprint_for_the_Future.pdf