The ProPTN Podcast

Professional Piano Technician's Network
  • 5.0 (6)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The Professional Piano Technician’s Podcast features interviews with experts from all corners of the piano technology industry. Geared towards beginners and skilled craftsmen alike, we cover topics such as manufacturing, business, tuning, regulation, voicing, and the subtle differences of working for the dealership, educational institution, and concert artisan. This podcast is brought to you by the Professional Piano Technician’s Network (ProPTN) – an online platform for piano techs of all experience levels. Check out proptn.org to browse tools, how-to articles, DIY tips, videos, and more!

  1. JAN 27

    Dealership Prep, In-Home Voicing, and Midwest Piano Care with Morgan Cowell

    In this episode, we sit down with ProPTN contributor, rebuilder, technician, and dealership owner Morgan Cowell of Great Plains Piano to discuss his biggest failures in rebuilding; the duty of the technician to facilitate client upgrades; handling bad pianos in isolated areas; building trust with clients; and how pianos are only as good as the technicians who maintain them. -“Setting Up Shop: Commercial Edition” article -Original ProPTN tools for sale -Letters to the Editor submission page If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    53 min

  2. 11/18/2025

    Bridge Capping, Voicing with B-72, and Replacing Soundboards with Ken Eschete

    In this episode, we sit down with keyboard conservator and bellywork specialist Ken Eschete of Bentside Arts to discuss his uniquely pioneered method of applying Acryloid B-72 to pinblocks and hammer felts; his online courses for bridge capping, soundboard replacement, pinblocks, and conservation; and his experiences learning from concert artists as well as factory training. -Ken's how-to article on voicing with B-72 -Scientific article with photos of the B-72 consolidation ("Consolidant Distribution in Deteriorated Wood Treated with Soluble Resins by Schniewind & Eastman" ) If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    1h 4m

  3. 10/17/2025

    Electric Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, and Wurlitzers with Emma Kleidon

    In this episode, we sit down with Chicago-based piano technician, YouTuber, and electric keyboard extraordinaire Emma Kleidon to discuss everything from DIY repair; the differences between piano and electric keyboard regulation; the history of these instruments; dos and don'ts of restorations; and how these instruments are functioning today. -EmmaRepair YouTube channel -EmmaRepairs Instagram page -"Custom Fender Rhodes Rebuild" video -"What Happened to the First Electric Keyboard?" video at the National Music Museum If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more and subscribe to the newsletter!

    1h 4m

  4. 09/25/2025

    Climate Control, Tracking Rebuilds, and Building Shop Trust with Sandra Dębska

    In this episode, we sit down with Sandra Dębska: founder and developer of the Piano Guard climate control system and owner of the Piano Renovation rebuilding shop in Poland. We discuss everything from earning the trust of workshop technicians; the rigorous testing involved in developing Piano Guard; running businesses while parenting; dealing with difficult clients; and keeping track of the shop's numerous rebuilding projects. -The full Piano Guard system for sale on The Collection -The "Humidity Observer" partial Piano Guard system for sale on The Collection If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more and subscribe to the newsletter!

    52 min

  5. 08/26/2025

    Becoming a Dealer, Audio Recording, and Running a Shop with Sam Bennett

    In this episode, we sit down with Sam Bennett of Piano Works -- a dealership, recital hall, and rebuilding shop based out of Duluth, Georgia -- to discuss selecting the right brands to carry in your store; sales strategies; familiarizing yourself with your tools; building relationships within the industry; and tips for replacing pinblocks. Here are the resources discussed throughout the episode: -The Piano Works website, Youtube channel, and Facebook page -Hidrau benches for sale -"What if Rach had a Bösendorfer Imperial?" Youtube video If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    53 min

  6. 07/07/2025

    Historic Instruments, Conservation, and Museum Research with Arian Sheets

    In this episode, we sit down with Arian Sheets, the curator for stringed instruments at the National Music Museum, to talk about how instruments and music have changed through the years; invasive restoration vs. conservation; handling historic instruments in client homes; and how the museum's research is helping to preserve fascinating instrument designs for the years to come. Here are the resources discussed throughout the episode: -The history and sound of the choralcelo (sound clip #1 and #2), which is an example of a very early electronic keyboard instrument. -Additional examples of various reinventions using modern drivers but with the same principles as the choralcelo or historical "sostenuto pianos", which involved using the strings own vibrations in a recursive fashion (example #1, #2, #3, and #4). -The digital library of all the keyboards in the National Music Museum's keyboard collection. -The Pennsylvania-based EMEAPP Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project, which maintains and houses one of the best historical electronic instrument collections while also providing educational opportunities for piano technicians and other interested inquirers. -The "Frederick Piano Collection" Youtube channel CORRECTION: Arian misspoke when mentioning the early New York manufacturer who developed and sold upright actions to other manufacturers starting in the 1860s: she said the name Straube, but meant Strauch, whose labels can sometimes be found on the actions of 19th century upright pianos. Strauch Bros. published The Manufacture of Pianoforte Action, Its Rise and Development in 1904, which can be read at this link. On page 58, they discuss the founding of the company in 1867 as a specialty action manufacturer with particular mention of a soon-impending shift to upright and grand pianos, as opposed to squares, in the American market, which Strauch aimed to supply. If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    1h 13m

  7. 05/13/2025

    Hammer Heads, Replacing Parts, and Taking up Leadership with Josi Davis

    In this episode, we sit down with Josi Davis from Brooks LTD to talk about the services the company offers; the sound profiles of different hammers; how to efficiently communicate with clients and understand the scope of larger projects; and negotiating your worth as an aspiring "leader of the band." To subscribe to their newsletter or email your enrollment for the All Day Upright Hammer Hanging workshop, visit the Brooks LTD website. You can also stay up to date on their latest news, products, and articles by following them on Instagram. If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    53 min

  8. 04/09/2025

    Soundboards, Workshopping, and Belly Work with Jude Reveley

    In this action-packed episode, we sit down with Jude Reveley of Absolute Piano Restoration to talk about his favorite rebuilding recipes; bridge and soundboard design; his journey of experimentation and discovery in the industry; and why it's important to leave your ego at the door when you're learning how to rebuild a piano. If you don't already, be sure to follow ProPTN on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... or visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

    1 hr
See All (22)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Professional Piano Technician’s Podcast features interviews with experts from all corners of the piano technology industry. Geared towards beginners and skilled craftsmen alike, we cover topics such as manufacturing, business, tuning, regulation, voicing, and the subtle differences of working for the dealership, educational institution, and concert artisan. This podcast is brought to you by the Professional Piano Technician’s Network (ProPTN) – an online platform for piano techs of all experience levels. Check out proptn.org to browse tools, how-to articles, DIY tips, videos, and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Professional Piano Technician's Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Professional Piano Technician's Network
  • Show Website
    The ProPTN Podcast

You Might Also Like