Sir Stephen Hough’s Masterclass in Texas in June 2022
He’s giving a public masterclass on 1st September 2022 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore. Tried to snag a ticket online, but they sold out in a flash.
Making Do Without A Piano (Part 1)
The main reason for selling the Sauter Omega 220 was to give myself more housing options as I prepared to downsize my home in anticipation of imminent retirement. The Sauter was eventually replaced in late-December 2019 with a stage piano, with the intention of building a system around it that recreated as much of the real grand piano experience as possible. This I did over the course of two-and-a-half years, as and when funds were available.
Step 1: Kawai MP11SE, on a K&M 18953 table-style stage piano stand. Playing through Sennheiser HD300 Pro headphones. The supplied detachable music rack is not good–it has a bottom lip that interferes with page turns. So I put a RAT Jazz Stand in front of the keyboard.
Step 2: Replaced the Sennheiser HD300 Pro headphones with Audio-Technica ATH-R70x headphones. Much less fatiguing because of its open-back design and less coloured frequency response.
Step 3: Dusted off Pianoteq and paid to update to the latest version to run on a MacBook Air, driven by MIDI from the MP11SE.
Step 4: Added a pair of Yamaha HS7 powered monitors on stands in front of the keyboard (left and right), just above keyboard height, and angled upwards.
Step 5: Added a pair of Yamaha HS8 powered monitors on the floor on the left and right ends of the keyboard, on angled footers and aimed up towards the pianist.
I have not completely unpacked after the last house move in May. Will update this post with pictures once the system has been retrieved from self-storage and reassembled.
I am now a full-time piano technician!
I decided to retire from IT consulting and education in mid-2019. A good friend of mine who knows that I have been tuning my own piano since 2008 said: “Nothing to do, right? Go tune pianos!” So, in early 2019 I started to take on tuning jobs for a master piano technician who needed help. His generous help with feedback and tips gave me the confidence to become a full-time piano technician. There was further validation in October 2019, when Maduro Jazz Lounge engaged me as their resident tuner after I worked on their piano for a recital by Lynnette Seah.
I registered 88Keys Pte. Ltd. as a business in January 2020, to offer piano technical services and to represent QRS Music Technologies in Singapore.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The tuning jobs disappeared for a few months. In the meantime, musicians unable to play in-person concerts turned to live and pre-recorded streaming on the Internet. That opened up opportunities to indulge in another passion, audio engineering. I worked on live streams with Resound Collective, Singapore’s only professional chamber orchestra, live and pre-recorded streams for Maduro, and pre-recorded streams for a jazz pianist. And that’s why I also offer boutique audio engineering services.
If I sound excited its because I am. I am extremely fortunate to be able to indulge in my piano passion in my retirement. For that I have a number of people to thank for their encouragement and support — Mervin Beng, Lynnette Seah, Mr Kwan, Peter Ng. And most of all Andrew and Justin.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/88keyssgp
How Does a Grand Piano Work (2 videos)
Tuning a Harpsichord
I was fortunate to be asked to tune the Carey Beebe harpsichord used in the re:SOUND Collective‘s rehearsal sessions for their concert An Italian Extravaganza. The rehearsals were held at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
I also provided sound reinforcement for voice narration at the concert.
Baldwin Hamilton Studio Upright
Likely built in 1987. Semi-gloss walnut finish. It belongs to Eunice Olsen, who brought it with her when she relocated home to Singapore after a stint in the U.S. Look at the way the whole front opens up! Eunice has named the piano ‘Jaws’.
In pretty good shape, though the hammers need voicing. I tuned it to A=441Hz, Equal temperament.
Glenn Gould — Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major op. 110
Not your typical reading! Do yourself a favour and listen to it with an open mind. The tempi are jaw dropping (in a good way).
Scratching the Piano Technician Itch
Last year was far more ‘exciting’ than I would have liked. However, a few good things have come out of it, including the decision to take a gainful retirement. This allows me to scratch a major itch, which is to become a piano technician (at least on a part-time basis).
I have already done a few paid tuning jobs for some very satisfied piano friends.
As for piano regulation and voicing, all the reading I have done will be applied in an informal two-month informal apprenticeship with Mr. Eddie Low, the piano technician at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. I am grateful to the YST Con and Eddie for this priceless opportunity. And of course I thank the two friends who helped to arrange this for me. One of these friends even kindly gifted an old Yamaha DU1A upright to me, knowing that I have put my Sauter grand up for sale.
Mr Kwan of Emmanuel & Sons has also very kindly been helping to refine my tuning skills.
Cantaloupe Island (Blue Note Concert Live, 1985)
Herbie Hancock – piano
Ron Carter – bass
Tony Williams – drum
Freddy Hubbard – trumpet
Joe Henderson – tenor sax
The Piano Chronicles 