LANCASTER, PA. Matt Hirschfelder, of Northwest Piano Service LLC in Salem, OR was one of the institute presenters among more than 600 attendees, including piano service specialists, manufacturers, and suppliers from around the world, who attended the 61st annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention and Technical Institute.
At the request of the institute staff, Matt Hirschfelder presented on Pnumatic Player Pianos for the 61st International Institute. “It was an honor and unique opportunity to present To Player or Not to Player as part of the Institute staff this year.” Additionally, I had a chance to interview and work with studio technician Carl Lieberman-RPT from Los Angeles, CA. Travel to the convention focused piano education, and world-class rebuilding classes help me to bring excellent piano service back into the Willamette Valley.”
August of 2018 will mark Northwest Piano Service LLC first decade of service in our community. Matt Hirschfelder and his team of piano technicians 
(Christopher Barlow and Nick Wilson) serve Marion, Polk, Linn and Benton Counties with regular piano service to many in our community.
Some new faces highlighted this year’s event. Nearly 100 technicians attended their first PTG convention, and the trade show featured ten first time exhibitors. Education was the focus of the event with four days of classes covering all aspects of piano service as well as business and health and wellness classes.
The exhibit hall featured 70 booths and offered attendees the chance to inspect new tools, play many different pianos and other instruments and talk to industry representatives. Evening concerts and awards banquets were also a highlight.
“The PTG Convention is the world’s largest gathering of piano technicians,” said PTG President Paul Brown, RPT. “The people who come to this event know this is the place to come to challenge yourself with long days of learning from the best technicians in the business.”
An annual event since 1958, the PTG Convention is the world’s largest piano technology convention. The 2019 Piano Technicians Guild Convention will take place in Tucson, AZ.
The Piano Technicians Guild is the world’s premier source of piano service expertise. It promotes the highest possible standards of piano service by providing opportunities for professional development, by recognizing technical competence through examinations and by advancing the interests of its members.
