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2025 CLASSES
At PIPPA, we believe in fostering a community of professionals who share a love and passion for pianos. Our classes cover a wide range of topics like piano technician classes, pedagogy, and sales and marketing techniques.
We offer hands-on workshops where you can hone your skills and gain valuable experience. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned professional, our classes and workshops are a perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and learn from the best.
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Piano Portraits of Cuba: The Enchanting Music of Ernesto Lecuona
Dr. Darío Martín - Instructor at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks
Sing, Breathe, Move, and Play: Mindful Movement for Beginning Pianists
Dr. Lesley McAllister
Musas: Piano Works by Latin American Women Composers" and "Celebrating Women in Music: Exploring Works for Piano Duet
Dr. Gabriela Calderón Cornejo - Piano Faculty at The Community School of Music and Arts. Mountain View, CA
Spanish Fantasy: Use of Idioms and Folklore in the Fantasies for Piano by Manuel de Falla and Pascual Gimeno
Dr. Marina Bengoa Roldán - Assistant Professor of Piano at Eastern New Mexico University
Expanding Your Reach: Music for All
Hannah Creviston - Clinical Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Arizona State University
Traditional piano pedagogy relies heavily on Western classical music, notation and decoding. What if, instead, we utilize what we know of how children actually learn? Listening, movement, improvisation – these are all things that are often discussed for select populations, but they are really the foundation for musicality in all of us. This session will provide easy-to-implement ideas for both private and group lessons of all ages and abilities.
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Pedagogy Class
Astrid Morales
Coming soon!
How to Have Great Online Piano Lessons
Paul Adams
​M.M. Piano Performance and creator of the 1on1 Piano App
Take a deep dive into what technology is worth our time, what isn’t, and how we can use the apps available now to give students a great experience in online music lessons. As both an app creator and a piano teacher, Paul has a personal investment in improving the experience of both teachers and students as we adapt to an online world.
Hailun Floor Prep
Morgan Cowell
Learn how to prioritize and maximize your technical setup process! As one of Hailun’s top Technician Dealers, Morgan Cowell of Great Plains Piano will be sharing his Hailun prep process for both grand and upright pianos. This class will be held at the Hailun booth in the exhibit hall so that attendees can learn about Hailun dealer prep up close.
Safe Piano Moving Techniques & Tools
Leo Ostrander
This hands-on class introduce safe piano moving techniques gleaned from Leo Ostrander’s forty years of experience in the piano industry. Come work with KTT Smart Move products and find ways to minimize risk to both your body and the piano!
Tuning Hammer Technique & Body Ergonomics
Timothy Barnes
If you don't have good hammer technique and solid tuning stability, nothing else matters because the string will not stay where you put it. If you want to improve your tuning stability and hammer technique this masterclass is for you. We will be working with 4 participants in a masterclass format to discuss and improve their tuning stability and body ergonomics. Class attendees will get the chance to observe and learn as we deconstruct and reconstruct how different body types and tuning positions (short, tall, standing, sitting, right handed, left handed, and ambidextrous techniques) affect tuning stability; because tuning efficiently and without pain often comes down to your technique, tuning stability, and your body ergonomics; all working together to either create efficiency or produce frustration and pain. If you want more tuning efficiency, less pain, and more confidence that your tunings are rock solid, this is the class for you!
Tools for Technicians
Keith Bowman & Mike Carraher
Coming soon...
Seeing all sides: Better communication between pianists, technicians, dealers, manufacturers, and institutions
Dr. Owen Lovell, NCTM
True and sustained success in our industry requires a holistic approach between all stakeholders. Communication can be difficult because we’re comfortable “staying in our lane” as dealers, pianists, technicians, manufacturers, and institutions. This session will feature lively discussion and advice to bridge the gaps between these groups. Dr. Lovell, piano review editor for the Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer, will share his perspective after two decades working in academia, and as a piano technician, concert pianist, assisting with institutional purchases, maintenance, and budgeting.
Kioshi Installation
Bart Elbers
Coming soon...
Piano Life Saver System Troubleshooting and Service for Older Models Dampp-Chaser Corp.
Debi Gould
Enhance your skills in servicing older models of the Piano Life Saver System. Discover how components have evolved over the company's 75-year legacy of promoting pitch stability. Gain expertise in supporting these systems and understanding compatibility, from historic to current models.
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Debi Gould, with over a decade at Dampp-Chaser Corporation, is a seasoned expert on the Piano Life Saver System. Throughout her career, Debi has been a dedicated provider of technical support to piano technicians and piano owners. Debi's class on the Piano Life Saver System promises to be an enlightening session that draws upon her extensive knowledge and dedication to the industry.
WNG - Why Choose Wessell, Nickel & Gross High Performance Piano Actions and Parts
Kirk Burgett
Coming soon...
The Importance of Voicing Pianos
Paul Rea
Learn easy steps for producing the tone you want from the pianos you service with this voicing class by Paul Rea. Paul brings a universal perspective to voicing from his varied career working for manufacturers, including Hailun, Petrof, Pearl River Piano Company, and Walter Piano. This class demonstrates tools and techniques for voicing pianos on the dealer floor or in your client's homes.
How to Align Your Marketing Mix and Goals to Create a Successful Brand
Laura Rose-Grabinski
Is your business cohesive with its product, price, placement, and promotion? Digital marketing expert Laura Rose-Grabinski will show you how to align your marketing mix and goals to create a successful brand.
Going Up Against A Mega Brand and Winning
Brigham Larson
Coming soon...
Cash Flow Through Service/Experience
Ed Tomlinson
This class will cover ways to help your support staff/technician to bring in more action work and to add to their service calls bottom line. Offering upgrades to player systems and other offerings while at customers home. Also tips and techniques to assist in setting up your store for add on sales.
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​Ed started in the industry as a performer at the age of 15, touring 41 countries of the world as a lead trumpet player then pianist and vocalist 1980-1985. In 1985 he started in piano sales at a large Yamaha dealer then 15 years later he bought California Keyboards Music Center in Bakersfield Ca and now, 24 years later, it is a full line music store servicing the Central Valley in California. For the last 15 years he has been a favored clinician with the Piano Technicians Guild at their national conventions.
Grow with Gazelle
Timothy Barnes
Learn how to build a better business using tools like Gazelle to save time, wow your customers, and grow your piano service business. In this class we will bring decades of business experience together to help you grow your business using industry best practices and tools like online scheduling, automated reminders, invoices, payment solutions, estimates, Quickbooks integration, and more...
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Timothy has a B.S.B.A in Economics and is also a 20 year veteran of the piano service industry with decades of experience in aural tuning, field service, concert services, CAUT (College and University Technician) services, mentoring and training young technicians, and building a team based piano service business. He is also a co-founder of Gazelle and spends his time teaching, mentoring, coaching, and helping piano technicians around the world build a better business and improve their skills. When he is not doing something related to pianos he is cycling and raising a family in Charlotte, NC with his wife Rachel and their four kids.
Retail Sales Training
Basilios Strmec
Coming soon!
Introduction to the Piano Life Saver
Debi Gould
Struggling with tuning stability related to humidity fluctuations? This is a great course to check out, whether you are new to Dampp-Chaser & Piano Life Saver System or just looking to brush up your skills and knowledge. We will provide a broad overview of product functions, system selection, basic installation, and service.
What Are We Doing to Help Americans Want Our Products? - Retail Roundtable Discussion
Glenn Treibitz
After many years without leadership, we in the piano industry need to ask the hard questions. For many years, the piano industry rolled along. A general appreciation of music, and in particular, the public’s love of the piano ensured that about 90,000 uprights or grand pianos were sold annually as late as 2006.
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Things are much different now. Can we come together and find the ideas that will allow us to turn the boat around and increase the value of the piano in the public eye and entice more young and old people to learn to play.
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On behalf of PIPPA, I would like to invite you to a discussion of these questions at the PIPPA Show. If you have ideas and thoughts please send them to me at office@pippaevent.org under the subject line #pianostrong.
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I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Las Vegas.
Expanding Your Piano Store: Pros and Cons of Selling Musical Instruments
Michael Sayyad
Are you a piano store owner considering expanding your product range to include other musical instruments? Join us for an insightful class where we'll explore the pros and cons of diversifying your inventory. In this session, you'll learn about the potential benefits of adding a variety of musical instruments to your store, such as attracting a broader customer base, increasing sales, and enhancing your store's market presence. We'll also discuss the challenges you may face.
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This class is designed to help you make an informed decision about whether selling musical instruments aligns with your business goals and capabilities. Our expert instructor will share real-life case studies, practical tips, and answer your questions to ensure you leave with a clear understanding of the opportunities and pitfalls.