My Mentors

Early Mentors

I’ve been very lucky to have had some wonderful teachers and people who helped me, whether intentionally or not, along my career path. I’d like to credit and thank them here for the important role they’ve played in my life.

My father, Saul Goldberg (1921-2004) had the wisdom to realize that being a piano technician might be a good fit for my personality and interests, found a teacher for me, paid for my training, and provided me with a car to use during my first year as a technician.

My mother & father, circa 1967

Robert Fairchild (1894-1978) was my first teacher in piano technology. He was one of the most highly respected piano technicians during his lifetime. I studied with him at his studio in Northport, Long Island, New York in 1971-72.

Robert Fairchild

Stephen Fairchild, Sr. (1936-2007), son of Robert, helped me polish my tuning skills and gain confidence in my ability. Like is father, he was a very eminent technician, an inventor, and teacher of many of the present generation of technicians. I took tuning lessons from him in 1972.

My cousin Arthur Wachs gave me my first piano tuning job at the Aeolian Corporation on 57th Street in New York City, where he was vice-president. I worked there 1972-73.

Arthur Wachs

William Santaella (b. 1938) hired me as assistant piano technician at the International Piano Library in New York City (now IPAM - International Piano Archives at Maryland) in 1973, where he was vice-president. He is one of the most knowledgeable living piano technicians. He worked closely with John & Theodore Steinway when they were still running the company, and with John Challis, the renowned harpsichord maker. In later years he was consultant to Yamaha piano company and played a major role in designing their wonderful CFIIIS concert grand.

Larry Lobel & William Santaella, 1972

Stewart S. Sherwood

Stewart Sherwood (1933-2006) employed me as piano technician at his Yamaha Music Centre in Hamilton, Ontario Canada from 1973-1976. He was a prince of a man, and played an important part in Yamaha's success in North America.

Robert Fenton (b. 1956) was a wunderkind who established a major piano rebuilding shop in San Francisco while still in his teens. He hired me to work there from 1977-78, where I gained much experience working on fine pianos.

Mark Robertson, manager at JB Piano Company in San Rafael, California, is a fine piano technician I had the pleasure of working with from 1998-2000. I learned a lot working at JB, and am grateful to owner Glenn Woodruff for employing me there.

Aerial Gilbert, my wonderful and extraordinary wife, has spurred me to be the best I can and continually provided strong support and wise counsel.

Aerial Gilbert

The Piano Technicians Guild has been an invaluable source of inspiration, information, and association with many generous colleagues and friends in the piano maintenance business. I joined the Long Island Nassau chapter of the PTG in 1972, but dropped out and didn't rejoin until 2000, and have been a proud member of the San Francisco chapter since then.

More Recent Teachers, Friends & Colleagues

I've had the great fortune to develop personal relationships with many legendary piano technicians, and benefited tremendously from those associations. I hope they've gotten something worthwhile from the time they spent with me! Among them are:

John Callahan, RPT

Laroy Edwards, RPT

Fern Henry

Michael Kimbell, RPT

Bill Spurlock

David Stanwood, RPT

Israel Stein, RPT

Vladan Temer

Margie Williams, RPT

John Callahan, RPT