The history of Campbell Piano Shop follows a winding path through my youth. In 1963 my piano career interrupted my baseball career. My parents described the advantages of playing the piano. So, after piano lessons one day, I decided to throw myself at music. (They were not going to give, and I was tired.) In the early 80s I studied with a member of the PTG and found I liked tuning pianos. Three years into building the business, I suspended it. We decided I should devote more time to raising our children. Campbell Piano Shop really got going when I grew weary of being hired for projects only to be let go when a project was delivered.
The Beginnings
In the year 2000 I decided to move a new direction with Campbell Piano Service. Finding myself out of work as a software engineer for the fourth time in eight years, it was time to restart. Ten years later I had joined the PTG, passed the Registered Piano Technician tests, and renamed the business to Campbell Piano Shop. The labor of learning, rebuilding, studying, and gathering tools continues to this day.
It would take volumes filled with glowing reports of all the Piano Technicians that have influenced my work. Many would likely be surprised to find their name in lights. These are but a few highlight experiences that continue to shape my piano work:
Experiences
- 2001 – Mentored by Chris Finger and Barth Story of Chris Finger Pianos. They taught me the fundamentals of tuning, rebuilding, and the art of sales. Mr. Finger and his associates were considered by many to be among the best rebuilders in the country, if not the world. Their influence keeps me hungry to learn.
- 2004 – Studied tuning and temperaments with Jim Coleman, Sr in Tempe, AZ. As a charter member of the Piano Technicians Guild, Mr. Coleman is thought of as the father of piano tuning. His knowledge and guidance set me on a path toward a lifetime of learning.
- 2011 – Trained with Del Fandrich, considered by many to be one of the world’s top piano design engineers. His knowledge makes him highly sought after as a clinician, teacher, and design engineer. If I may be so personal, Del taught me a great deal about this ‘machine’ we call a piano and how works.
- 2012 – Attended the General Maintenance of the FAZIOLI Grand Piano seminar. The instructor, Claudio Valent, was the head technician for Paolo Fazioli in the factory in Italy. The culture and habits of this top European technician influenced my approach to rebuilding pianos and continues to inspire me to this day.
- 2014 – Participated in the inaugural Renner Academy Class in Phoenix, Arizona. The intimate setting and concentrated training program provided a week full of inspirational experiences and great friendships. People like Carl Teel, Nick Gravagne, Michael Spreeman, Robert Springer, and many others are no longer names at the end of technical articles. These are my friends and continue to inspire and influence my growth as a tuner and technician.
- 2020 – Taught at the Arizona State PTG Conference. Presented a four-hour class on methods for addressing the geometry of a poorly designed action. It has been said that the teacher learns more than the students. I am living proof of this adage.
- 2020 – Taught action geometry fundamentals with Jim Ialeggio at the Piano Technicians Guild’s annual conference in Tuscon, AZ. In this hands-on class we showed the students how to choose and align new hammers and wippens to get the most performance. Sometimes, while reviewing a process, even if I know it quite well, I learn even more. Sometimes I become more convinced of my own ideas. Sometimes I learn something new and change my view. Either way, I win.
I Love My Work
The history of Campbell Piano Shop is a record of me embracing the challenges of wearing many hats. It is what makes my life interesting, and I love my work. Recently, the business has followed new paths leading to studios, concert halls, artists, and clients that fill me with joy. We can now offer self-scheduling, full rebuilds, and much more.
Piano Technician, software engineer, woodworker, designer, these and a host of others are roles I love. I use this knowledge and experience to keep your piano playing and sounding its bestd