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5-day course Theory & Practice - Confirmed

Dates: April 28 to May 2, 2026
Sign up: via Contact page

Please note: subscription ends 1 March, 2026

The course is definitely going ahead!
There are enough participants, but there are still two places available, so be quick.

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Theory & Practice

5-day

During the five-day course, the theory is covered and all applicable techniques are practiced. Each individual action is analyzed following a geometry check, a PTD is designed, and work is done on it. By the end of the week, a new transmission ratio is applied (if necessary), and all sample keys are equipped with calibrated hammer weight and calibrated key lead weights. The action should be completed in your own workshop after the course.

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Course location

All courses are held in Germany at the Jahn company in Grub am Forst, Germany. The PTD Academy Europe has a fully equipped training room there. It is centrally located in Europe, and Jahn is a proven favorite destination among many piano technicians.

Five-day course “Theory and Practice”

During the five-day course the theory is discussed and and all the techniques to be used are trained. All students bring along a grand piano action to the course. Each action is to be analysed, a PTD is to be designed and worked on. At the end of the week a new action ratio has been applied (if necessary) and all test keys have been provided with calibrated hammer weight and a calibrated leadweighting of the keys. The action is to be finished in one's own workshop.
This course is the 'classic' training to become a PTD-Installer. Especially in America and in the Netherlands already a great many colleagues have followed this route. The success of this format is the combination of learning, training and productive working.
Participants who join the PTDAE may call themselves PTD-Technician. A PTD-Technician can become a PTD-Installer by installing at least 2 PTD's and have one of them assessed by the PTDAE.

 

A new date will be scheduled with enough applications.

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  • Participants: 5 Minimum
  • Costs: € 2.250,= p.p. Including lunches and a PTDesign for the action brought along.
  • A workbook.
  • Temporary access to in-the-cloud PTD software for analysis and design
  • Location: Grub am Forst, Jahn Pianoparts (Germany)
  • Other locations in Europe may be possible in agreement. For Example Oude Tonge, Pietjouw Piano Atelier (Netherlands).

Additional costs

These costs are optional - you can make your own choice.

Materials and tools:

A Purchase is optional; for the courses everything is available!

Costs of accommodation shall be borne by the participant.

 

Special arrangements

The possibility of organizing courses at other locations in Europe applies to all courses. Prices on request and in agreement!

 

Preparation

In preparation for the course, we offer two ZOOM meetings of approximately one hour each, in which we explain and clarify the basics.

More information at: about PTD

 

About the course

The course offered by PTDAE is based on the classical principles of Precision Touch Design, developed in the 1990s by David Stanwood. This methodology has set an international benchmark for an analytical and fully reproducible approach to touch optimization.

Over the past ten years, we have further refined and expanded the depth of our course content. In addition to the fundamental principles, we now devote extensive attention to geometry, measurement methodology, and the practical application of PTD specifically for pianos. Participants gain not only theoretical understanding, but above all concrete, directly applicable expertise for daily professional practice.

We are proud to continue actively promoting and transmitting this valuable knowledge and methodology to a new generation of piano technicians striving for maximum control, consistency, and musical performance.

All prices mentioned are exclusive of VAT!                                                                                                                                                                                          Prices changed July 2023