ABOUT BRAD SMITH, RPT

Experience
Professional piano technician since 1981
Concert and maintenance technician at Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA 1981-1992
Warranty work for Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway, Mason & Hamlin since 1985
Concert tuning for the top names in the music business at concert halls and recording studios in the Boston area since 1985.  Extensive concert tuning experience during the 80's and 90's for popular artists such as Billy Joel, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Keith Emerson, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Wynton Marsalis Group, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, the Cleveland Symphony and the Boston Pops.

Recent concert experience includes work for artists such as:
Menahem Pressler, Christopher Taylor, Andre' Watts, Sarah McLachlan and Michael Buble'
Currently serving over 1500 in-home clients throughout New England
New 3000 sq ft. piano rebuilding & refinishing shop, completed 2006
Concert technician at Concord Community Music School, Concord, NH since 2003
Concert technician for St. Paul's School, Concord, NH 2003-2007

Technical training
Apprentice to Tom Sheehan, Berklee College of Music, Boston, 1980-82
Graduate of Yamaha's Little Red Schoolhouse, grand piano regulation , 1992
Factory authorized service training, Yamaha Disklavier pianos, 1993
Factory authorized service training, Piano Disc installation & service, 1993 
Yamaha Disklavier authorized service training, 2003  
Yamaha Performance Piano regulation training 2003
Geneva International, Petrof WorkSmart training 2004

Piano Technicians Guild affiliation
Piano Technicians Guild continuing education since 1979
Active member of PTG, passed all RPT exams in 1990, aural tuning only
Retook RPT tests again in 2004, passing at examiner level, aural tuning only
Currently offer a business class for PTG at selected regional seminars
Active member of the Boston Chapter PTG

Musical background
Working pianist, mostly in acoustic jazz performance & recording since 1979
Specialist in solo jazz piano, vocal accompaniment and duo/trio performance.
Instructor, Jazz Piano & Improvisation, Northwestern Michigan College 1982-84 
Music therapy with blind & autistic children, Mass Assoc. for the Blind 1984-86 
Private instructor, jazz & classical piano since 1975

Musical Education
B.A. Jazz Piano Performance, Berklee College of Music, 1985
Private piano study with Mike Marra, Dick Odgren, Alex Elin, Bob Winter, Ed Bedner, Jeff Covell
Private study with Charlie Banacos, jazz piano and improvisation
Private study with Cathy Rand, Boston Conservatory, classical technique
Early years studied with Dr. George Mulder, Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan

Management experience
Developed sales fundamentals course for teaching business & sales principles for technical people
Recruited/trained piano technicians in college setting, shortening 'ramp up' time for skills transfer  
Customized database software for institutional setting to schedule/track/maintain piano work
Developed & currently teach course for piano faculty's increased understanding of technical matters
Developed customized climate control procedures, unique to the institutional environment

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
Your good will and word-of-mouth advertising is more important to me than a quick profit.
My concern is that anything I recommend, will be appropriate to your piano and to your needs.