About Rick Butler, RPT, CTE, TEC
Rick has been a member of the Piano Technicians Guild for over 50 years. 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, and 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 on various committees locally and nationally.
He has also lectured at local, regional, and national meetings on subjects such as Tuning, Voicing, Regulation, and various aspects of Rebuilding. He is also very involved in administering the Piano Technicians Guild's tuning and technical examinations.
Rick is also engaged in teaching. He manages an educational school known as The Butler School of Piano Technology, whose primary aim is to prepare students for the Piano Technicians Guild's certification examinations, enabling them to attain the designation of "Registered Piano Technician' (RPT). Furthermore, he has contributed articles to “The Piano Technicians Journal,” the monthly publication of the Piano Technicians Guild.
His sons, John and David, both members of the Piano Technicians Guild, assist with tunings, regulation, voicing, and restorations.
About 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, Kate has had the piano in her life from early on. While she was keen on playing, she was fascinated by 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, playing 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, genders, backgrounds, 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 levels. As a Certified Examiner, she administers Certification exams for those who wish to become Registered Piano Technicians.