<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7> <DIV> <DIV>  Did Everbody get this?</DIV> <DIV>  Dale Erwin</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2>PTG 2006 Convention Update Dear Fellow Technicians, I am Rick Florence, Institute Director of the 2006 Annual PTG Seminar and Institute.  I have recently returned from Rochester and = the Convention Planning Meeting and wanted to give you a preview of s= ome of the exciting things on tap for June 21-25, 2006.  The following is a synopsis of what you will find in Rochester next year.  Start planning now to attend! The Rochester Institu= te has been designed to educate and inspire technicians in three areas:<B= R>• Showcasing the work of the best technicians in the business • T= eaching new skills through hands-on training • Introducing ways to keep mor= e of your hard-earned money Showcasing the Best Work We have invited the b= est rebuilders of our trade to bring their works of art for all to se= e and appreciate.  If you've observed endless slide show and PowerPoint presentations only to leave class still unsure of what= constitutes a finely rebuilt piano, this event is for you. The Rebuilders Showcase will begin the week with keynote lectures by Anders Askenfelt (Five Lectures on the Acoustics of the Piano) an= d Del Fandrich.  These lectures will be followed by two full d= ays of rebuilding presentations.  Individual classes will conclude wi= th a mini recital on the rebuilt piano, performed by students from Eas= tman School of Music.  Each showcase piano will then be placed in= a gallery for all to inspect and play. Other classes will showcas= e skills not previously seen in PTG seminars.  The Renner Team= will expand their All-Stars program to two days, demonstrating a complete action rebuild.  Andre and Christian Bolduc will = lead a class through a soundboard installation, including downbearing = and bridge notching – all in two days.  Other classes will <= BR>be added with an emphasis on showing complete work, as opposed to lectures= only. Hands-on Skills  Hands-on skills will be headlined by= new, multi-day programs in both grand and upright regulation.&nbs= p; Samick and Roger Jolly have created an intensive grand regulation= program using 12 pianos.  Each piano will have a mentor and = five students.  Instruction will include complete grand regulation and string work.  This multi-session class will consume four= days, three hours per day.  The Yamaha Team will re-introduc= e the Vertical Regulation Curriculum.  Running concurrently wi= th the Samick program for three days, this program will be taught on <BR= >15 upright pianos, three students per piano.  These classes are not= intended for the casual observer, but for those who can commit to= multiple sessions of intense hands-on instruction. Bob Marinell= i will offer a full day action weigh-off and design class at Eastma= n School of Music.   The emphasis of this class is to allow all attendees to participate in the work.  You will leave th= is class having weighed-off an action, drilled for and inserted weig= hts, and understanding more completely the issues of weight and action= mechanics. Another new program will be an all-day Introduction = to Piano Technology seminar.  This program is designed for the = new technician who has recently entered the field of piano technology= , or perhaps is new to a certain area of concentration.  This multi-session class, which can be attended by individual subject,= or as a complete program, will cover everything from identifying bea= ts in tuning, to tool selection, to basic understanding of the uprig= ht and grand actions and how to service them. We have asked a larg= e number of our instructors to teach classes with a particular skil= l in mind and be available the following class period (in the same classroom) to guide interested hands-on students through the newly learned skill.  Examples of a few of the classes we have scheduled in this manner are: • Spinet and upright= service with proper and safe action removal • Damper service and regula= tion • String repairs, including loops and knot tying • Hammer filing&= nbsp; • Player service and rebuilding • Principles of tuning Ano= ther new and exciting class for Rochester will be Hammer Design, with Ray Negr= on from Ronsen Piano Hammers.  Ray will not only discuss hammer manufacture and design, but will have one of his presses i= n class and will press a set of hammers as part of his lecture. Holding On To Your Money New to Rochester this year wil= l be a dedicated Business Seminar on Saturday afternoon.  If you = have struggled in any aspect of running your business, chances are we = will have a class tailored to your specific needs.  The money you will= save by implementing business strategies taught in these classes = will pay for your attendance not only this year, but in years to come.  Some of the topics covered will include marketing, business management, appraisals, client = and inventory control, health insurance, medical-spending accounts, t= ax planning, and retirement.   Many other classes and ev= ents are planned for Rochester.  Information will be posted on th= e convention web page http://www.ptg.org/conv/2006, so check it often beginning November 1, 2005. If you have made it this f= ar, thanks for your time.  I look forward to seeing you and learning= with you in Rochester, New York, June 21-25, 2006.</BLOCKQUOTE>= </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>