In this episode, we take a seat inside the August Föerster piano factory in Lobau, Germany to talk with Gabriel Wandt (Director of Marketing and Communications), and master piano builder Anne Marie Kampf to discuss the challenges of redesigning their new 275 concert grand using 2D modeling; their knack for creating innovative and adorable piano designs; their narrower Stretto keysets for smaller hands; and the strenuous process of becoming certified as a master piano builder in Germany.

-Stretto keysets

-The Model 275 Sovereign Concert Grand

-August Förster Instagram, Facebook, and website

-Photos of the factory and the company's experiments

In this episode, we sit down with former Hamburg Steinway technician and soundboard extraordinaire Oliver Greinus. Oliver is one of the co-founders of Klangmanufaktur, a workshop that specializes in rebuilding Steinways as well as providing rehearsal space and practice rooms for Hamburg's musical community. Following our tour of the workshop, Oliver sat down with me to talk about their reasoning for leaving Steinway in order to create their own uniquely rebuilt instruments; why old soundboards should never be replaced; doing away with polyester in favor of natural oil finishes; replacing lead weights with CKM brass; their rental program for connecting musicians and institutions with quality pianos; and the curriculum for their singular week-long training seminar.

-Klangmanufaktur website and Instagram page

-Registration for the June 22-28 training seminar, as well as the course information sheet. For questions or assistance, you can send an email to piano@klangmanufaktur.de.

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In this episode, we sit down with Ravenscroft mastermind, Renner Academy instructor, manufacturing guru, and piano design innovator Michael Spreeman to talk about the process of designing a piano from scratch; conducting experiments in sound; creating a luxury-piano brand; and the details of piano construction which average technicians will constantly overlook.

-Ravenscroft Pianos

-The Ravenscroft Pianos Concert Hall

-⁠Nick Gravange legacy page and obituary⁠ (where you may also pay to plant a tree or send flowers in his honor)

-"Setting Up Shop: Commercial Edition" article featuring Michael Spreeman

-Ravenscroft 275 Virtual Instrument

-Ravenscroft 220 Virtual Instrument

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