February 2019

Faculty Development Meetings

At the Utah Piano Conservatory, we believe in continually improving, and that applies to our faculty as well as to our students. To that end, we hold quarterly faculty development meetings, so we can continue to grow and improve as teachers. At these meetings, we discuss issues that I or the other directors have noticed […]

A “Grand” Transformation

Cleaning a grand piano really is a satisfying experience. From the soundboard, strings, and the bolts, it’s awesome to see the difference that a little hard work and patience can do! — Piano Technician McKinly Lopp

Whippen Flange Surgery

When you are working with an old piano and installing new parts, it can be tricky to get the exact fit. The new whippens matched the old ones but the grooves on the new flanges were different from the old flanges. This was a problem because the whole whippen could not tighten properly with the […]

February’s Virtue of the Month: CHARITY

Even though Valentine’s Day just ended, that doesn’t mean the love it creates has to! There’s a special kind of love called charity that just so happens to be the virtue we’re focusing on this month from our Virtue for Virtuosos list. In the scriptures we learn that charity is “the pure love of Christ.” Moroni […]

Key Removal Demonstration

A few people have asked me how the keys were removed in my last video, so here’s another video showing it up closer. This method generally isn’t used as it only works with certain types of keytops. The edge of the key is placed on a hard surface, downward pressure is applied, and pop! The […]

Performing as a Teacher

Our Piano Academy recitals were this past Saturday, and they went so well! Even though recitals are a lot of work for me and the students, they are so fun. I absolutely love seeing my students perform. They often surprise me and surpass my expectations by how well they play. I was so proud of […]

Satisfying Piano Cleaning

This video shows a dirty piano getting cleaned and the dust and debris being vacuumed. After being vacuumed, the piano will be taken outside and sodablasted with baking soda. –Piano Technician Jake Pulver

Got the Jiggles?

Sadly, this hammer had the jiggles. Because it was loose (pinning) it would bounce around as if it wanted to say hi to its neighbors. They however stayed their course and did not want to say hi back. This poor hammer strayed from its course, making an awful thumping sound as it hit the left […]

Unusual Tuning Pins

I had a wonderful opportunity to tune this Mason & Hamlin Upright with some VERY unusual tuning pins! First thing you notice on this piano is all that metal up front! Anyway, I was pleased to find the tuning lever was hiding on the inside to the left of the hammers with some notes on […]

A Basket of Lollipops

Sometimes doing piano work feels like candymaking, or being on the British Baking Show: my wife gets so excited after watching an episode that she’ll get on a cooking spree as late as 11 or 12 at night. Putting new parts on old pianos is exciting, and this week, it was like putting lollipop sticks […]

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