Rick Butler, RPT
Rick has served as chief piano technician for two large universities and as shop foreman for a major piano dealer. His service as concert technician includes many years with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, Washington Performing Arts Society, and the White House. He currently is serving as Concert Technician for Steinway & Sons in Washington D.C.
His piano rebuilding experience encompasses work on all components of the instrument, including re-stringing, bridge and soundboard repair/replacement, pin block replacement, keyframe and key manufacture, as well as complete action, underlever, and trap work repair, replacement, and regulation.
Within the the Piano Technicians Guild, he has served his Chapter (Washington D.C.), as President, Vice President and Secretary, as well as served on various committees locally and nationally.
He has also lectured at local, regional and national meetings on such subjects as Tuning, Voicing, Regulation and various aspects of Rebuilding. He is also certified by the Piano Technicians Guild to administer the written, tuning and technical examinations.
Click here to view a video about the School
Some of the Artist I have worked for:
Andre Watts - Peter Serkin - Marvin Hamlisch - Vardan Mamikonian - Christian Zacharias - Mikhail Pletnev - Gary Graffman - Laura Mikkola - Van Cliburn - John Tess - Oscar Peterson - Daniel Barenboim - John Eaton - Horacio Gutierrez - Andre Michel Shub - Ann Scheim - Jeffery Siegel - James Tocco - Emanuel Ax - Peter Nero - Alicia de Larrocha - Mischa Dichter - Cipa Dichter - Louis Lortie - Manacham Pressler - Evgeny Kissin - Richard Goode - Murray Perahia - Victor Borge - Alfred Brendel - Roger Williams - Jonathan Biss - Michele Camillo - Billy Taylor - Jon Nakamatsu - Yo Yo Ma - Benny Green - George Shearing - Tony Bennett - Jeffery Biegel - Yefim Bronfman - Frank Sinatra - Mavah Perlman - Ruth Laredo - Joseph Kalchstein - Isaac Stern - Lambert Orkis - John Browning - Harry Connick Jr. - Leon Fleisher - Lang Lang
Testimonial:
Rick Butler loves teaching, and it shows. I can’t say enough good things about his skill as a teacher. He is patient, pleasant and focused; perceptive; knowledgeable without arrogance, open-minded; methodical but flexible.
As his student I consistently feel valued, respected, encouraged, and challenged. Rick communicates the joy of learning, even when one is being guided through a topic or skill that is uncongenial. He knows how to inspire the student to do their best work as well as how to help them improve the level of that work.
I struggled with Aural Tuning for some years in the absence of a competent teacher. Rick has enabled me to greatly increase my skill. I feel quite fortunate to have the opportunity to study with him.
L. N.
College Park, Maryland