Larry Fine (pianos)
Encyclopedia
Larry Fine is an American piano technician, consultant, and author. He is best known as the author of The Piano Book.
The Piano Book, in its fourth edition, describes how piano
s work, discusses and reviews many brands of pianos, tracks changes in the piano industry worldwide, describes the retail piano industry in America with hints for the buyer on how best to deal with piano stores. It also documents innovations in piano building
. The book is written from the viewpoint of the piano technician, and thus often emphasizes aspects of piano quality that make it hard or easy for the technician to keep the instrument in tune and in good working order.
Over the years, the work has been increasingly a collaborative effort, as Fine has a recruited a large number of his fellow technicians to evaluate and report on the pianos that they see in the course of their work.
The book was accompanied by an annual Supplement, which offered updates to tide the book over between major revisions. As of the Fall of 2009 Mr. Fine replaced the annual supplements with a new, semi-annual publication Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer.
The Piano Book, in its fourth edition, describes how piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s work, discusses and reviews many brands of pianos, tracks changes in the piano industry worldwide, describes the retail piano industry in America with hints for the buyer on how best to deal with piano stores. It also documents innovations in piano building
Innovations in the piano
Piano construction is by now a rather conservative area; most of the technological advances were made by about 1900, and indeed it is possible that some contemporary piano buyers might actually be suspicious of pianos that are made differently from the older kind...
. The book is written from the viewpoint of the piano technician, and thus often emphasizes aspects of piano quality that make it hard or easy for the technician to keep the instrument in tune and in good working order.
Over the years, the work has been increasingly a collaborative effort, as Fine has a recruited a large number of his fellow technicians to evaluate and report on the pianos that they see in the course of their work.
The book was accompanied by an annual Supplement, which offered updates to tide the book over between major revisions. As of the Fall of 2009 Mr. Fine replaced the annual supplements with a new, semi-annual publication Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer.
Book
- The Piano Book (4th edition 2001; Jamaica Plain, MA: Brookside Press; ISBN 1-929145-01-2).
- 2007–2008 Annual Supplement to The Piano Book (2007; Jamaica Plain, MA: Brookside Press; ISBN 1-929145-21-7).
- Spring 2009 Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer (2009; Jamaica Plain, MA: Brookside Press; ISBN 978-1929145256).
External links
- http://www.pianobuyer.com/
- http://www.pianobook.com/