Dates: Monday, June 9 - Friday, June 13 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructors: Allan Winkler & Louis Del Bene PT '06, PA '07

This course is structured for piano technicians looking to learn more about harpsichords as well as harpsichordists wishing to upgrade their skills in dealing with repairs. The class covers voicing and regulation of a double manual harpsichord with three registers, 2x8', and 1x4'. Topics will include: requilling wood and plastic jacks with Delrin (white acetal plastic) plectra; assembly of wood jacks and repair of plastic jacks; how to set plectra length and shape plectra to set voicing levels; coupler adjustment, timing and regulating three registers; setting key dip and touch; an introduction to selecting and treating feather and voicing with quill; the basic metallurgy of harpsichord wire and how to loop and replace strings.

Two optional late-afternoon field trips are:

• Thursday afternoon to the Musical Instrument Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• Friday afternoon to Allan Winkler’s workshop in Medford for a closeup look at harpsichord making tools and techniques and sampling a few new and antique instruments.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. To prepare for class, please familiarize yourself with chapters 7, 8, 9, and 11 from Edward Kottick’s “Harpsichord Owner’s Guide”.

Prerequisite: Proficiency in keyboard instrument tuning and a general familiarity with handling keyboard instruments. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

Dates: Monday, June 23 - Friday, June 27 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Oliver Strand

A mountain banjo, in the style of Frank Proffitt, is a musical instrument you can build with basic woodworking skills and tools. These homemade, fretless banjos have a unique and wild sound that factory instruments just can't match! We'll carve the neck, construct the rim assembly and tone ring, and fit the instrument with a hand-carved bridge, nut, and pegs. Advanced students can incorporate relief carving to decorate the neck, peghead, and rim. The final class will include a banjo lesson! 

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Dates: Monday, June 23 - Friday, June 27 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructors: Allan Winkler & Louis Del Bene PT '06, PA '07

This course is structured for piano technicians looking to learn more about harpsichords as well as harpsichordists wishing to upgrade their skills in dealing with repairs. The class covers voicing and regulation of a double manual harpsichord with three registers, 2x8', and 1x4'. Topics will include: requilling wood and plastic jacks with Delrin (white acetal plastic) plectra; assembly of wood jacks and repair of plastic jacks; how to set plectra length and shape plectra to set voicing levels; coupler adjustment, timing and regulating three registers; setting key dip and touch; an introduction to selecting and treating feather and voicing with quill; the basic metallurgy of harpsichord wire and how to loop and replace strings.

Two optional late-afternoon field trips are:

• Thursday afternoon to the Musical Instrument Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• Friday afternoon to Allan Winkler’s workshop in Medford for a closeup look at harpsichord making tools and techniques and sampling a few new and antique instruments.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. To prepare for class, please familiarize yourself with chapters 7, 8, 9, and 11 from Edward Kottick’s “Harpsichord Owner’s Guide”.

Prerequisite: Proficiency in keyboard instrument tuning and a general familiarity with handling keyboard instruments. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

Dates: Monday, July 7 - Friday, July 11 (5 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Will Roper PT '19

This course provides a glimpse into the various tasks that piano technicians encounter. Topics include materials used in piano construction, tuning basics, an introduction to working with music wire, an overview of grand and upright action regulation, various in-home repairs, key debushing and rebushing, and career paths in piano technology.

Tools & Supplies: Students are required to bring their own safety glasses. All other tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Prerequisite: None

Dates: Monday, July 28 - Wednesday, July 30 (3 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Rodney J. Regier

Teaching Assistant: Corie Melaugh PT '21, PA '22

This three-day class will offer a hands-on introduction to the care and maintenance of the wood-framed Viennese fortepiano, the early piano most frequently made by modern builders, and what today's technicians will most likely encounter. Subjects will include how to handle the seemingly delicate parts of a Viennese Prellmechanic without trepidation or damage; how to regulate and repair the action, keyboard, and dampers for best performance; and how to practice tuning an instrument much more lightly strung than today's piano. Many steps will be familiar, however, a few are unique to a Prellmechanic with no counterpart in the modern piano. 5-octave and 6 1/2-octave fortepianos will be available for the class.

Prerequisite: This class is intended for the piano technician (or fortepiano owner) who wants to develop their skills. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.