Piano Industry Innovations w/ Del Fandrich

11/23/22 • 55 min

Bulky pianos have been in this world for ages now. Everything else evolved; our furniture and other technologies became sleek, slender, and aesthetically better, but pianos have hardly changed at all. For example, they have remained thick and bulky even when they are shorter in size. Del thinks there is a whole universe of opportunities for innovation in piano design.

He agrees that large pianos can be incredible, they give excellent performances. At the same time, those are not the pianos everyone can afford or accommodate in the limited space of their homes. That's why Del realized he could create more modern, sleeker pianos that even ordinary people could buy.

Del says that he wasn't reinventing pianos. But he was just creating a design that people preferred; narrower, aesthetically pleasing pianos suited for small living rooms.

Del notes that unfortunately many modern manufacturers know very little about pianos. They’re just copying old designs with not much understanding of the “why” behind the design elements. Thus a manufacturer’s attempt at narrowing pianos and making such drastic changes can lead to the production of poorly performing pianos. Thus Del created Fandrich & Sons to pursue the creation of sleeker pianos informed by solid design principles.

In this episode, Del reveals a world of exploration remaining: better ways to build solid, sustainable soundboards for small and large pianos; the feasibility of manufacturing in China, Central, and Latin America, and much more.

Here's a little bit about our guest Del Fandrich:

Since 1960, Del Fandrich has evolved from a basic service technician to an independent rebuilder, manufacturer, and design consultant. He served as the Director of R&D with Baldwin and has consulted with brands like Charles Walter and Young Chang. Most recently he has been working with John Martin of Wertheim Piano to develop a totally new vertical piano. He has authored numerous papers on topics ranging from basic piano technology to advanced concepts in design and manufacturing. He continues to lecture globally as one of the most forward-thinking minds in the piano industry, maintaining several active research projects in his workshop in Olympia, WA.

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Del says that he wasn't reinventing pianos. But he was just creating a design that people preferred; narrower, aesthetically pleasing pianos suited for small living rooms.

Here's a little bit about our guest Del Fandrich:

JOIN US FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT❗❗

Browse more masterclasses and lectures from Piano Tuning Pros here: https://www.pianotechniciansmasterclass.com/

How to tune pianos.
How to repair pianos.
How to rebuild pianos.
How to tune concert pianos for the finest performers in the world.

Instagram -Piano Technicians Masterclass (@pianotechmasterclass)

FB - Piano Technicians Masterclasses | Facebook

Spotify - Piano Tech Radio Hour | Podcast on Spotify

Previous Episode

Only Specialized Technicians Survive? w/ Ric Overton

It's not easy being an expert. Especially because your expertise makes it so only you can tell that you're right! Our guest, Ric Overton, has had many experiences where he warned his customers against purchasing a piano... but then they went ahead, bought it, and found themselves in trouble.

Rick thinks we all should frame our perspective from that of an expert–be it a piano dealer or technician; it's our responsibility to communicate the knowledge correctly. We have to be armed with the correct information to help our customers make the right decisions about purchases, investments or any other expenditure of time or energy.

Our knowledge also dictates how good we do in this industry in the future. To be successful with the right clients, you need to have some specialized skills that set you apart.

Our co-host, David Andersen, also chimes in, saying that, in a few years, only the specialized piano techs will survive. According to him, having high-end clients is something every technician should aim for if they want to last longer in the industry. He believes that staying up-to-date on new trends, techniques, and skills is very important.

Tune into this episode to learn more about what Ric thinks about building a relationship with a customer, providing them with value, being open to communication and making communication more accessible, and listening to the client's concerns while selling a piano.

Here's a little bit about our guest Ric Overton:

Ric has a 40-year history as a piano player, choir director, piano store owner and manager. He is currently the owner of R. Kassman, Purveyor of Fine Pianos in the Bay area, and has a profound knowledge of the entire worldwide piano business.

JOIN US FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT❗❗

Browse more masterclasses and lectures from Piano Tuning Pros here: https://www.pianotechniciansmasterclass.com/

How to tune pianos.
How to repair pianos.
How to rebuild pianos.
How to tune concert pianos for the finest performers in the world.

Instagram -Piano Technicians Masterclass (@pianotechmasterclass)

FB - Piano Technicians Masterclasses | Facebook

Spotify - Piano Tech Radio Hour | Podcast on Spotify

Next Episode

Building Trust In The Piano Industry w/ Rich Galassini

"We'll see a snap back in this industry."

In this episode, Rich Galassini joins us at Piano Tech Radio Hour while we are stuck amidst a pandemic. We are still figuring out how to bring our piano tuning businesses back. Most of us even think our careers are over, and we might never get back up again.

However, Rich has different opinions. And he’s tracking different indicators. The visits to his company’s website are increasing during the lockdown.

Not only that, but he joins us having gotten ten leads interested in purchasing a piano on a previous YouTube Livestream.

He thinks that people are getting more curious about pianos due to the sheer amount of free time available. He says, "If we were lunch providers for office goers, our business would probably be doomed (for at least a year or so), But we're piano dealers/techs. When people think about a purchase from us, they undergo a careful consideration process before buying."

According to Rich, the buyer purchases can be put off, the clients can do their research, and the piano business will see a snap back after the pandemic. Sit tight, take every opportunity to build trust with your clients during tough times, and you’ll come out ahead in the end.

Tune into this episode to learn more about Piano dealerships, building trust with your customers, the piano industry post-covid, and more with Rich Galassini.

Here's a little bit about our guest Rich Galassini:

Rich Galassini was nineteen years old when he first visited Cunningham Pianos as a customer with his parents. A few years later, in 1987, when he was just 23, Rich began working at the store. After working closely with the family that owned the business, Rich was able to purchase the company and remains the owner and president. His background in music performance and music education has played a strong role in the leadership of the business both within their community and within the music industry.

JOIN US FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT❗❗

Browse more masterclasses and lectures from Piano Tuning Pros here: https://www.pianotechniciansmasterclass.com/