A Trip to New York

[Chris Olson]

>Greetings all,
>
>Just thought I would share a brief tid-bit on a trip I just completed to
>the "Big Apple".
>
>I just finished spending a week at the Steinway factory participating in
>one of the technical seminars. I must say, it was a wonderful
>experience, and I look forward to going again. Kevin Stock was a
>wonderful host (thanks again Kev), and the rest of the Steinway folks
>were equally a pleasure.
>
>I won't go overly into details, but the experience really gave me some
>new insight on what the Steinway piano is really about. It helped clear
>many of my mis-conceptions, and proved once again what a marvelous
>instrument the Steinway really is. The technical portion focused
>primarily on regulation and hammer voicing techniques. Lots of little
>"this's and thats" to help improve speed, accuracy, and image. The
>factory was also a marvelous thing to witness. From rim bending, to
>hammer pressing, to action assembly, to stringing, seeing the process in
>action is alone worth the trip.

I was also at this seminar with Rob and a couple of other nice folks and I
agree with him about the factory tour...also got to hear first hand the
Steinway explanation of why they use so much lacquer in their hammers and
their voicing techniques.  It makes sense now.


>Also included were some VERY nice meals, a brief tour of the city, and a
>stop at the Metropoliton Museum of Art where we saw the oldest known
>Cristofori Piano. Totaly unexpected, we arrived just in time to meet the
>conservator who was doing some cleaning and preparing for a tour with
>some other visiting piano technicians. This opportunity allowed us to
>actually hear the Cristofori piano! It sounds pretty much like a
>harpsichord, but of course, with expression capabilities. Some
>additional stops along the way included a visit to Steinway Hall,
>including the famous "Steinway Basement".

Yeah, We really lucked out at the museum, although now that Kevin and the
guy from the museum hooked up...the next 4 technicians who attend will
probably get to go into the basement and see some of the gems not on
display (including Henry Steinway's "kitchen piano" made in his house in
germany)

>Two thumbs up! Way Up!

a few technicians, when seeing the price of the 5 day seminar, thought it
was excessive but having been through it...it was a bargain...with all of
the meals and hotel they picked up...I'm sure it exceeded the $700 cost of
the seminar...

I agree with Rob....go if you can!!!!

Christopher Olson
Complete Piano Services
Sebastopol, California

Chris Olson
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