Advanced Curriculum

Rebuilding Apprenticeship

Prerequisites: Certificate from Basic Curriculum plus CSPT Admissions Test, or RPT status in PTG plus CSPT Admissions Test

Keyboard repairCourse Length and Type: 40 weeks, one 8-hour day/week required; some further hours spent in completing the project may be required as needed; combined lecture, demonstration, hands-on (full and proactive participation in process)

Students will have two major options for rebuilding:

1: Student may choose to purchase a rebuildable instrument with the advice of Faculty; student will then be responsible for the purchase of all parts and materials for rebuilding (including refinishing which is subcontracted), will own the piano, and may either keep it, re-sell it, or donate it at the end of the rebuilding process.

Likewise, the student may furnish a piano which they already own for rebuilding, and will be responsible for the purchase of all parts and materials for rebuilding (including refinishing which is subcontracted). The piano will remain the property of the student after completion.

2: CSPT may locate a rebuildable piano owned by an outside party who would fund the purchase of all parts and materials for rebuilding (including refinishing which is subcontracted). The completed piano would then be returned to the owner. While this is attractive, it is not the likeliest option, and the interested applicant for this curriculum should inquire with CSPT. Arrangements for this could take significant time.

Text Requirements: none

Other Text Resources: none

Tools Required: none

Course Description:
At End of Course, Student will know and be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

  1. Assessing a piano for restoration
  2. Taking proper measurements, pattern and template making
  3. Disassembly of the piano for restoration and storage of parts
  4. Parts inventory, ordering, vendors, paperwork
  5. Preparing the case for finishing
  6. Removing and handling piano soundboards
  7. Removing and handling bridges
  8. Removing and handling pinblocks
  9. Recapping, carving, and repinning bridges
  10. Fitting, finishing, and installing new soundboards
  11. Plate preparation, refinishing
  12. Agraffe handling and preparation
  13. Drilling and fitting new pinblocks (case and plate)
  14. Major component assembly, rim, underpost, keybed
  15. Restringing
  16. Damper and back action reassembly or replacement, pedal lyres, action cavity
  17. Key repair, keyframes, key rebushing, backchecks, capstans
  18. Action rebuilding and regulation
  19. Hammer selection, preparation, hanging, regulation, and voicing
  20. All appropriate tool handling for the process of restoration
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