Public Apology

[Richard Brekne]

Folks, and Nils Henrick Jansen in particular

It has come to my attention that the following post conveyed a meaning 
about my colleague in town that I do not stand for whatsovever. It was 
late when I wrote these words, I was a bit out of sorts and it was meant 
to be included in the context of a private discussion where it would be 
far less easily misunderstood to begin with.
That said... upon re-reading these words  I am very much ashamed of 
myself and wish to correct in anyones minds what my meaning was, and 
what my general respect for Nils is.

The actual <<criticisms>> embodied below restrict themselves to the 
following. 

-- I was suprised that the years of Schimmel factory training had not 
resulted in a solid knowledge of key bedding.  The <<hasnt a clue>> 
comment is strictly confined to this.

-- I noted that like many many techs out there (if not the majority) 
following recipies doesnt always take you where you want to go. An 
academic understanding of relationships beyond whats in the cookbook is 
more often then not lacking. It was in my own work for years to far to 
great a degree, and this seems to be a more widespread phenomenom then 
perhaps it should be.

For anyone who may have any other impression as to my respect for Nils, 
especially any of you Norwegian readers out there, let me say the following.

Nils has been, is, and I sincerely hope will continue to be one of my 
absolute best pianotech friends. He has contributed to the music miljø 
in Bergen in a positive way on a level no other technician has done in 
the history of this town. He is an exceptionally good buisnessman as 
well as being a fine technician, and because of these attributes he has 
taken the only serious piano store in this region from near bankruptcy 
and extinction and turned it into one of the most thriving piano centers 
in Norway. He and I have traveled the US together where I encouraged and 
aided in his RPT status as well as sharing many wonderful adventures 
touring the Pacific Northwest.  He in turn has provided me with 
invaluable aid and encouragment in my own deveolpment, most notably 
recommending me for the Yamaha Academy despite the fact that I am not 
even an employee of his.

Every technician has his own way of going about things, his own 
strengths and his own weaknesses, areas of expertise and holes in other 
areas.  Pointing out any precieved lack of expertise in no way is the 
same as lacking respect for the many areas of skill one otherwise 
posseses. Make no mistake about it. Despite my comments I have only the 
highest regard for Nils, both as a technician and as a friend.

I understand that these formulations below may have injured that 
relationship severly, and knowing Nils, maybe fatally. I am deeply 
sorry, and thoroughly ashamed. 

In parting I would just like to say... its amazing what harm just a 
moments slack can cause yourself and others. I have come to love this 
list and the exchange of ideas and information it provides... yet it 
needs to be treated with far more respect then I have allowed it. 

Sincerely
Richard Brekne


Richard Brekne wrote:

> Hi Quentin.
> Thanks for the reply.  Got back from a chat with the dealer this 
> evening. He is a Schimmel trained tech, and I had to show him how to 
> do keybeding today... go figure.  He called me in because he had 
> decided that the keybed glide bolts were turned down too much, so he 
> had readjusted them and ended up mucking up my whole regulation. He 
> wanted to know how I set those and so I taught him what they showed us 
> at the Acadamy. When we were done the regulation was pretty much back 
> to how I had left it. It was really quite funny... this fellow goes 
> around the area here presenting himself as a piano god almost... and 
> he really doesnt have a clue about what he is doing.  All seat of the 
> pants and very much sticks to specifications and proceedures he 
> learned at Schimmel... but he doesnt understand any of it.  He just 
> follows recipies.  Sometimes they dont work for him very well.  
> Anyways... we decided to have another go at a C3 this time, and 
> combine my prep with his so we can see if we can end up with a good 
> routine for getting these things ready for sale.  But it looks like 
> about 15 hours on each.  We unboxed another one this evening... a C6.  
> Lots of problems here too.
>
> I dunno, maybe they send shit up here to Scandinavia. But it looks 
> like Yamaha is slippin to me
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>