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Rick Butler, RPT, CTE, TEC

Rick served as one of the Concert Artist Technicians for Steinway & Sons in Washington, D.C., for many years. His service as a concert technician includes many years with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, Washington Performing Arts Society, and the White House. 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 Piano Technicians Guild, he has served his chapter (Washington D.C.), as President, Vice President, and Secretary, as well as serving 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. Rick is a Certified Tuning (CTE) and Technical (TEC) Examiner for the Piano Technicians Guild. As such, he participates in the administration of the Piano Technicians Guild written, tuning, and technical examinations.

Kate Therrien, RPT, CTE, TEC

Kate is a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) with the Piano Technicians Guild. She is also a Certified Tuning and Technical Examiner for the Piano Technicians Guild.

We were extremely excited and fortunate when she agreed to join our staff. Her background working with students at the college and university level brings a fresh perspective to our faculty.

She completed her studies at the Butler School of Piano Technology with an emphasis on aural tuning. With her background in mathematics, Kate applies her problem-solving skills to improve the condition of pianos by tuning, regulation, and repairs.

Having an aunt who graduated from a conservatory in piano performance and education, the piano has been in Kate’s life from early on. While she was keen on playing, what fascinated her was the process of piano tuning. As was the custom in Japan in the 80s, a piano technician would come to her home and tune the family piano aurally as he played various chords that sounded nothing like any musical piece. She has carried her interest throughout the years, and when the opportunity arose, she decided to pursue piano technology as a career.

Prior to it, Kate studied Applied Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science with Honors. Her exposure to the subject that combines conceptual theories and practical applications has translated well into piano technology. She has years of experience as a tutor at a college where she supports students of various ages, races, gender, background, and learning disabilities.

In 2023, Kate joined the Butler School of Piano Technology as an instructor. She is actively involved with the Piano Technicians Guild at the local and national level. As a Certified Examiner, she administers Certification exams for those who wish to become Registered Piano Technicians.