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.

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...

Concert Piano Selection

Owen Lovell

Coming soon...

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.

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...

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.

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.

Introduction to the Piano Life Saver | Dampp-Chaser Corp.

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's 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.

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...

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.