Overseas employment

[Richard Brekne]

I personally know three <<Meisters>>.  All three said the same thing... 
the design of the piano was already done for them, and the case/rim was 
built.  Essentially all they had to do was install a premade soundboard, 
measure a pre-determined scale and notch the bridge accordingly, and 
assemble the instrument otherwise.  They did not have to measure out and 
cut their own keys from scratch, nor design and implement an action to 
fit the dimensions of the instrument. 

Personally, I draw a distinction between being a <<piano builder>> and a 
<<piano assembler>>.  That said, all three of these same had after many 
years of experience accumulated very much of the knowledge and 
experience neccessary to become what I would call a piano builder, and 
what I believe the title truly implies.  In any case... the lower degree 
of Klavierbauer is to my mind completely misleading.  In anycase 
misleading if interpreted in the direction of piano builder.

Cheers
RicB


    To get the title "Klavierbaumeister" in germany, you have to make a
    "Meister examination".
    You usually go to the school in Ludwigsburg for one ear to learn to
    construct a piano and a grand piano.
    To subscribe to school, you first must have been in profession usually
    for at least 5 years.
    At the examination, you have to proove, that you are able to build a
    piano.
    (you have to make a complete construction drawing and to assemble an
    instrument from scratch).

    Of course there are fellows who forgot to build a piano when they do
    tunings only.
    But this is a different question.

    regards,

    Bernhard Stopper