Piano Tech Radio Hour - The Piano And Tuner Are One w/ Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris (Part 1)

The Piano And Tuner Are One w/ Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris (Part 1)

12/07/22 • 56 min

Many of us feel pressure while we work, actively concentrating on what we are doing. It's not bad, but over time it can lead to frustration and puts a fence around our work.

Our co-host David Andersen shares his philosophy on piano tuning–just relax and pay attention to your work. Because 8/10 times, your body knows exactly what to do and you can just watch it perform. We just have to let our years of practice flow through us as we pay attention to our actions.

Arlan Harris, our guest, reinforces the concept that paying attention is an aspect of passive observance. When you can passively observe what you're doing, you can quickly become one with your work.

If you're playing/tuning and passively observing what you're doing, you become the piano. You are one with the piano.

In this episode, our guests Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris extensively talk about how you can level up as a piano technician by doing some simple but underrated things like training your ears. Listen to pianos and their tunings and study what you hear. Ask the pianists what they want out of a tuning/piano and listen carefully to their input. As per Arlan's experience, pianists love getting involved in the tuning process, and they are the happiest when we tune their piano just the way they want it to sound. We often get to learn from them just like they learn from us.

Learn more about communicating with pianists/customers, getting vulnerable by asking questions, and levelling up by “tuning” into this episode.

Here's a little bit about our guests:

Dale Erwin:

Dale being a piano technician wasn’t a planned event, he was unintentionally trainedcame by accompanying his dad to countless tunings and soaking in the craft through hours of absorption in a shop environment. His official training began with my Dad & Dick Hamlett in 1972 at the family Yamaha dealership in Modesto.

Dale became a registered piano technician in 1980. He had the privelege to serve as president of local Piano Technician Guild chapter five years, a tuning examiner for 8 years & an instructor at the local, state, and national level. He has had enormous opportunities and has taught many classes at state, local, and national Piano Technicians Guild conventions.

Arlan Harris:

Arlan is a piano restorer and a concert piano technician. After working in the Famous Steinway Hall Basement in the 80’s, where many of the world's most demanding artists arrived almost on a daily basis and working as an action specialist as well as tuner/technician, Arlan honed his skills learning from his superiors, colleagues, and top-level pianists. He is the president of Arlan Harris Pianos and Services and Arlan Harris Production.

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

Piano Tech Radio Hour is brought to you by Piano Technicians Master. We provide cutting-edge piano technology instruction from piano industry masters without leaving your home, featuring monthly subscriptions, conventions, single live streaming, and recorded masterclasses. Learn advanced skills:

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

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Many of us feel pressure while we work, actively concentrating on what we are doing. It's not bad, but over time it can lead to frustration and puts a fence around our work.

Arlan Harris, our guest, reinforces the concept that paying attention is an aspect of passive observance. When you can passively observe what you're doing, you can quickly become one with your work.

If you're playing/tuning and passively observing what you're doing, you become the piano. You are one with the piano.

Learn more about communicating with pianists/customers, getting vulnerable by asking questions, and levelling up by “tuning” into this episode.

Here's a little bit about our guests:

Dale Erwin:

Arlan Harris:

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

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/

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

The Piano And Tuner Are One w/ Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris (Part 2)

If you are someone who likes a power-packed lecture? This podcast episode with Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris is just for you.

They talk about everything from using B72, using it on low compression, high-density hammer, how B72 and acetone is the best hardening solution, diagnosing the hammers, and what might be needed to do to change the tone of the hammer.

Using different methods to brighten your hammer and how to find what kind of mixture to use to bring out the tone you want. Non-destructive ways to do the needle test on hammers and more.

Learn from Dale Erwin and Arlan Harris, who have worked on thousands of pianos, tried and tested several methods, and are now sharing their knowledge along with David Andersen and Eathan Janney.

Here's a little bit about our guests:

Dale Erwin:

Dale being a piano technician wasn’t a planned event, he was unintentionally trained came by accompanying his dad to countless tunings and soaking in the craft through hours of absorption in a shop environment. His official training began with my Dad & Dick Hamlett in 1972 at the family Yamaha dealership in Modesto.

Dale became a registered piano technician in 1980. He had the privilege to serve as president of the local Piano Technician Guild chapter for five years, a tuning examiner for 8 years & an instructor at the local, state, and national levels. He has had enormous opportunities and has taught many classes at state, local, and national Piano Technicians Guild conventions.

Arlan Harris:

Arlan is a piano restorer and a concert piano technician. After working in the Famous Steinway Hall Basement in the 80s, where many of the world's most demanding artists arrived almost on a daily basis, and working as an action specialist as well as tuner/technician, Arlan honed his skills learning from his superiors, colleagues, and top-level pianists. He is the president of Arlan Harris Pianos and Services and Arlan Harris Production.

JOIN US FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT❗❗

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