The general meeting for this month will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 starting at 7 p.m. at:

Please note: Frank and Camille's closes at 8 p.m. The meeting must begin promptly.

This month's technical class will be presented by Allan N. Schumacker, RPT. The subject is soundboard repair on old, vertical pianos when traditional approaches are impractical. Regluing the soundboard to the ribs can be done without removing the strings and the plate, even when the plate covers the crack where it intersects with the rib. Few tools are required for the job. Having this knowledge will enable you to eliminate soundboard buzzing due to rib separation on older pianos without resorting to paper shims or wine bottle corks, while achieving a long lasting repair.

Allan Schumacker's interest in piano technology began while working towards his BA degree with a major in music at SUNY New Paltz. After completing two courses in piano tuning, he was hired by the college music department to tune the harpsichord for concerts and to tune the practice room pianos. After receiving his degree, he continued his music education in piano, studying privately with Albert DeVito, PhD. of Westbury, N.Y. This led to a performance at Carnegie Recital Hall (now known as Weill Hall) in 1979.

After joining the Piano Teachers Congress of New York in 1980, Mr. Schumacker was appointed their Official Piano Tuner. At the same time, he was appointed the official piano tuner for the Associated Music Teachers League (AMTL).

In 1981, Allan Schumacker was hired by the Music Department at Nassau Community College as a member of the Adjunct Professional Faculty, to service their pianos. He is still employed by the college music department.

In the late 1980s, Mr. Schumacker joined the L.I.- Nassau Chapter, PTG, and became an RPT in 1993. He served as chapter newsletter editor for seven years, and has held the chapter office of vice-president, president, secretary, and was secretary for NYSCON.

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Next month's meeting will be our year-end dinner party, to be held on Tuesday evening December 6 at 7 p.m. Our annual Holiday tradition will continue at:

Tesoro Ristorante
967 Old Country Road
Westbury, New York 11590
(516) 334-0022

The four-course dinner is $50 per person (including tax and tip) with a cash bar. We hope everyone will plan to attend. Further details will appear in next month's newsletter. Please send your reservations/payment to our treasurer:

Paul Keogler
C/O Dancing Ivories
11 Washington Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706

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