Filed under: The pianos in and out
Ken has just finished working on this amazing Louis the 16th Steinway C. Always fun to see one of these old (1860) art case grands. I got to play it “in” a bit one night….. all 7’4′ of it. The night couldn’t be long enough! Believe me, a bass like that takes your breath away! The owner is readying this instrument to have in his home for his children to learn to play! Lucky kids, eh?
Filed under: News
Ken was a presenter this past summer at the Twin Cities Piano Technicians Guild. He chronicled and discussed –step by step — the complete rebuilding process of a Steinway B piano that was restored in his shop. Opening the floor to discussion after the power point presentation prompted good discussion and questions among the Mpls./St.Paul area piano people. Ken will be a speaker later in the year in Iowa at one of the regional conventions.
The nuts and bolts of a Steinway grand
I was warned about the difficulty of keeping up a “news” section in a website. …..
Belatedly I am adding this great picture of Ken explaining the workings of a Steinway at Lynn Hutchinson’s CANVAS event in Los Angeles, February 17th, 2013. The concert was the music of Rachmaninoff and an in depth and very unusual look at the instrument delivering that lush, romantic music.
An unforgettable night for all.
Filed under: The players
Canvas, a concert series in LA
Ken and I are thrilled to be traveling to LA in February for the dedication of one of his Steinway rebuilds. A beautiful model A, this piano is the one I spoke of in an earlier post, A Musical Bond; Sustaining Level. The instrument was donated to Canvas by a very generous Minnesota pianist. Besides being able to attend a Canvas event live and see the piano in her new home, Ken will be part of the program discussing piano restoration and fielding questions. It’s our honor.
I’ve copied a snatch of what Lynn Hutchinson, founder of Canvas, has publicized about the event:
“As many of you know, the beautiful piano that we have been able to enjoy this year as part of the Canvas experience was a gift from a patron. An entirely unexpected gesture coming out of a one-time meeting, his desire in giving me this gift was to bless you – the Canvas audience – with its beauty.
We are honoring this extraordinary act of generosity by creating the Canvas Da Capo Scholarship fund. All proceeds from this event will be collected and put aside to be given to a young professional-track musician in need of financial assistance for his or her studies.”
Filed under: The pianos in and out
It’s an honor to have this amazing Steinway concert grand from Gustavus College here in our shop. Happens that this is the third 9 ft. piano that Ken has worked on this summer! How gratifying. Anyone with the opportunity to make music on such an instrument counts him or herself lucky. So inspirational to have that kind of musical potential under your fingers.
Filed under: The players
Steinway & Sons “Lady” A
This post salutes our new friend Michael, his love of piano music and his generous heart.
We came to know an extremely ardent musician over this past year. A player passionate about playing himself, discriminating about fine pianos and invigorated by all things musical. Over the course of several months he infected us with his enthusiasm over pianos of all shapes and sizes.
In his enthusiasm Michael made a gift of this beautiful rebuilt S&S A to a friend of ours who lives in LA. She, like Michael, is passionate, discriminating and invigorated by all things musical. She stands at the edge of launching a chamber music series called “Canvas” and in an unbelievably generous gesture, Michael offered this instrument in support of her creation. Like the soirees of old, Canvas now has a true patron.
A fairytale-like story like this one helps all who hear it believe in wild and wonderous potential happenings. “Lady A” as she has been dubbed will be an inspiration to one very talented CA pianist and to musicians, amateur and professional, around the globe!
Michael, you’re one special man.
Filed under: The pianos in and out
a Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday piano!
A young high school player came home from school this week to find this instrument in his home. … Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas from his father! Gotta love it. Wish I could have gotten a big red bow on it, but Ken forgot to tell me which day was the delivery day.
