Unofficial

A regular meeting of the Long Island Nassau Chapter, PTG was held at Frank and Camille's Keyboard Center in Carle Place, NY, on November 13, 2007. President Michael Slavin called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM. Present were: Michael Slavin, Leonard Genovese, Paul Keogler, Allan Schumacker, MaryAnn Maccone. Guests were: Paul Van Ness, Esther Van Ness, Lee Dobrins.

Due to the absence of Secretary Dinerstein to recite the minutes from the October meeting, the minutes, as written in the November 2007 newsletter, were accepted by general consent.

By general consent, the treasurer's report was accepted as read by Paul Keogler.

Announcements: Paul Eccardt's wife was ill and in the hospital. Marty Dinerstein was absent due to being injured in an automobile accident. Next month's meeting will be our annual holiday dinner to be held on December 4, at 7:00 PM, at Sole's Restaurant on Oceanside Road, Oceanside, NY. Directions will appear in the December newsletter.

Unfinished business: Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the timing of the assignment of new member Emily Economone to our chapter, she was reassigned by the Home Office to the New York City Chapter, PTG. The check from the Home Office reflecting the L. I. Nassau Chapter's share of Emily Economone's membership application fee will be returned to the Home Office.

Michael Slavin reminded us of the e-mail he received from Wally Brooks that pertained to the creation of a new "Allied Tradesman" membership category in PTG. To clarify the matter, Michael reported that the intent of the e-mail was to solicit support for a PTG Bylaws proposal being considered by the Connecticut Chapter, PTG, for submission to Council next year.

The business meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Guest speaker Paul Van Ness was introduced by Michael Slavin. Mr. Van Ness introduced his wife, Esther, and gave a synopsis of his resume, which included 20 years of teaching piano at California State University in Los Angeles. During his tenure there, he developed some skills as a piano technician by establishing a friendship with a professional piano technician. Mr. Van Ness played some piano works by Chopin on a new Yamaha grand piano and proceeded to comment on the piano from a performer's point of view. Topics that were discussed included:

• The plastic used for key coverings and how different types of plastic or ivory can affect how slippery the keys feel to the accomplished pianist.
• Felt front-rail punchings and how they affected the feel of the piano key under the fingers of the pianist as the key reaches the limit of its travel.
• The importance of the smoothness of the tops of capstan screws.
• Knuckles, and how the amount of friction present between the top of the jack and the knuckle affects the ability of the artist to play pianissimo.
• The importance of proper regulation of the sustain pedal and how its application in the context of the performance of a major piano composition.

The meeting adjourned at 8:38 PM. Mr. Van Ness was thanked for his presentation.