Voicing - A Hands-on Approach to Needles and Chemicals
(Parts of this seminar were presented at the 2022 and 2023 PTG Conventions.)
by M. G. Pollock, RPT
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Fee is $50 for the all day seminar. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Objectives
- recognize voicing issues
- demonstrate and practice mechanical and chemical voicing
- use a spectrometer app to show changes in tone
- demonstrate and practice mechanical and chemical voicing
- troubleshooting techniques & tools acquisition and maintenance
Seminar Details
This seminar will focus on practical voicing techniques and fixing errors. I will show tools and proper technique of using voicing tools. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools. I am referencing the work of Jason Cassel, RPT and David M. Koenig who used spectral analysis to make voicing changes visible.
I will also refer to the work of Dan Levitan, RPT, Steve Brady, RPT, Ken Eschete, RPT and Jim Houston, RPT.
Candy
- How do you remove a broken off needle that is stuck in the hammer?
- How do you handle an over-hardened hammer?
- How do you spot errors in rake and strike point?
- How do you fix an over-needled hammer?
- What is Steinway soft pedal voicing and how do you do it?
The seminar is divided into four 1 hour sessions:
1. Measuring voicing and identifying voicing issues
2. Making hammer juices (hands-on)
3. Working with needles
4. Needing, ironing & steaming (hands-on)
About Maria G. Pollock, RPT, AWE, TEC
1999 — present
I have dabbled with pianos since a young age; I figured out how to remove keys of our victorian upright when I was about 8 years old. If we moved the handle of the sustain lever rod just right it would make the piano silent and my brothers and sisters furious.
I am the last student of the late Virgil Smith, RPT . Though he was a pioneer in voicing in Chicago he did not teach me voicing. I picked up intonation skills from books, PTG classes and discourses with other technicians. I have worked as a college technician at Elmhurst University and own a piano service company in Chicago. In summer of 2018 I had the fortune to be part of the Shigeru Kawai Academy in Los Angeles.