Hello, this is Randy Potter, Convention and Institute Director for the 2013 MPT Annual Convention and Technical Institute. Plans are in the works to firm up the details, but here is some “starter” information that should convince you to get this on your calendar – so you won’t fill the week up with “other” activities (like work).
Location: Sunny Melbourne, Florida (about 70 miles south of Orlando). You can fly in either to Orlando, or Melbourne. Sponsor: Atlantic Music Center, Melbourne, Florida Dates: July 28, 2013-July 31, 2013, Sunday evening through Wednesday evening. (Most people will fly in Sunday, and fly out Thursday – unless they decide to arrive early for some of the extra events we have planned.) Hotel: Marriott Courtyard, Melbourne, Florida. This hotel is currently going through a full renovation, and by the time we arrive everything will be “new”. I stayed there for a few days last fall, and I thought it was pretty nice then, and would not have thought it needed a full renovation. Rooms are just $79 a night (cheap). Shuttle from Melbourne airport. The Marriott is about two miles from Atlantic Music Center, and will provide a shuttle to get us back and forth (if we do not have enough cars rented to take us all). So you do not even have to rent a car.
About Atlantic Music Center, Melbourne, Florida:
AMC is operated by its owners, Brian and Ginny Gatchel. They are dealers for Yamaha Pianos, Yamaha Disklaviers, Yamaha Hybrids, Yamaha Clavinovas, Kawai Pianos, Kawai Digital Pianos, and have a shop with two staff technicians and do complete rebuilding there. They are also the North American Agent (i.e. Importer) of Steingraeber Pianos, and are North American Distributors of Wilhelm Steinberg Pianos, Phoenix Piano Systems, and Steingraeber-Phoenix Pianos. They also carry many other leading brands in their store, and when I was there last year had some Bösendorfer, Blüthner, Sauter, Schimmel, and oh my goodness I cannot even remember who all they had – more than 40 top name brand instruments.
Atlantic Music is a leading part of the music industry in the area, and has a 120 seat concert auditorium where they host leading artists on a regular basis.
Instructors and Classes:
We do not have the class schedule complete, yet, but some of the instructors we have booked include:
Gail Smith is widely known as an outstanding educator, recording artist and concert pianist. She has performed throughout the US, as well as in Europe and Asia. She is the author of more than 50 books written, arranged or compiled for Lillenas, Mel Bay, Hal Leonard and Creative Music Publications. In her class Gail will be lecturing on, and demonstrating, music for piano technicians (at all levels, beginning to advanced) to use when demonstrating the results of your tuning to clients effectively (some of them only get to hear little Suzie or Johnny play, except for us). For her concert that evening Gail will be performing her widely acclaimed “Anna Magdalena Bach in Concert” program, playing some of Bach’s most expressive music he wrote for her and their 20 children, as we narrates the program as well. It would be worth attending the convention just for this one concert. We will have the front row seats in the 120 seat auditorium.
Keith Frazier, piano technician at rebuilder at Atlantic Music Center, will demonstrate the Steingraeber Phoenix bridge system available on Steingraeber pianos, and then do a class demonstrating how technicians (like you and me) can install this system into your own client’s pianos.
Yamaha Disklavier Service Class, sponsored and taught by Yamaha, will demonstrate the basics of servicing pianos with Disklavier systems installed, and the basic system checks and services all technicians can perform on these pianos.
As always we will have Questions & Answers time, and Show Off Your Tools, of course.
Other Events:
Sunday evening Meet and Greet – sponsored by Atlantic Music Center at the store. Do not eat dinner before you arrive as they are providing food and drinks – and all the looking and piano playing on $50-150,000 pianos you wish.
Gail Smith “Anna Magdalena Bach in Concert”, mentioned above.
Banquet and Dinner Cruise on the coastal and inland waters, where we will be able to view dolphins and manatees in their native habitat.
We are “thinking” (considering) having a Kennedy Space Center all-day visit on Sunday, July 28 (for those arriving by Saturday). It costs $50, but people who have done it usually do it more than once. Some say it is better than Disney World and Epcot Center, so I will let you know after the visit.
Other Classes not Mentioned:
There are still openings for classes, so if you want to teach a class, or have an idea for a class you would like to see, or an instructor you would like to hear – now is the time to contact the Institute Director, Randy Potter, and make that request. The Subject line of your email should read: MPT Convention 2013 Class Suggestion. I will respond quickly (sometimes) and let you know I received your email. If you do not receive a response with 5 days – spam filter or cyberspace goblins got it, or else I just missed it. If that happens please resend, and please make sure I respond letting you know I have seen it.
Thanks to all who have read down this far, Randy
Important Information
First, the online registration form is included below and you can also register with the form in the journal.
Second, when making your reservations for the hotel, you must mention ATLANTIC MUSIC CENTER as the group you are booking with to receive the MPT discount.
The hotel may not be able to give you the best rate if you do not mention ATLANTIC MUSIC CENTER!
The hotel is:
Marriott Courtyard, Melbourne, Florida.
Phone: 1-321-724-6400
Room rates from $89 per night
Address: 2101 W New Haven Avenue · Melbourne, Florida 32904 USA
To Send Payments: Make Payable to Master Piano Technicians and Mail to:
Don Komorski
21 West 281 Devon Avenue
Hanover Park, Illinois 60133
Option 2: Register Online
Online Registration
One you have completed this form, Click Submit and you will be directed back to this page to make online payments!
First Name:
Last Name:
Address Street 1:
Address Street 2:
City:
Zip Code:
(5 digits)
State:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Is you spouse attending? If Yes, provide name.:
Email:
Comments:
Online Registration Step 2: Pay Convention Fees
MPT Member Rate valid through July 1st, 2013, and includes banquet ticket………....…...$180
Non-Member rate .......................……………………………………………………………....…$225
Extra Banquet ticket……………………………………………………………………………...…$58
One day pass, any day, does not include banquet ticket, no deadline …………………...….$100
Late registration (after July 1st) .........................................................................................add $20
ONLINE CONVENTION PAYMENTS IS UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.... PLEASE SEND CHECK TO:
To Send Payments: Make Payable to Master Piano Technicians and Mail to:
Don Komorski
21 West 281 Devon Avenue
Hanover Park, Illinois 60133
