Co-Director, 91重口 Piano Technology Institute
Brian Fox is a piano technician, bass player, entrepreneur, and educator who brings a full-range view of the music industry to 91重口. As the founder and chief technician of Portola Pianoworks since 2017, Brian maintains a high-volume field practice out of San Mateo County and holds advanced factory certifications from premier piano manufacturers such as Steinway & Sons (New York) and C. Bechstein (Germany).
Brian鈥檚 deep connection to the craft of instrument care is anchored in decades of experience in performance and journalism. He holds a B.A. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA, where he completed graduate coursework on traditional Balkan bagpipe performance practices. While at UCLA, his rock band Pseudopod won Rolling Stone magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est College Band in America鈥� competition, leading to a major-label debut with Interscope Records and national tours alongside acts such as Sheryl Crow, Train, and the Dave Matthews Band.
Following his touring career, Brian pivoted to music journalism, spending a decade as an editor for Bass Player magazine, where he authored dozens of artist profiles, gear reviews, and instructional columns. He subsequently served the Recording Academy (The GRAMMYs) out of their San Francisco office, collaborating with major recording artists and studio personnel as a regional representative.
Driven by a desire for self-determination and fueled by fascination with the complexity of the piano as a machine, Brian then embarked on a rigorous, self-directed path into piano technology. He continually refines his skills through training across the United States via Steinway & Sons and the Piano Technicians鈥� Guild (PTG), and abroad through European manufacturers and suppliers like C. Bechstein, Jahn, and W.Hoffmann. Brian is a certified Steinway & Sons SPIRIO technician, a trusted concert tuner, and a busy residential service provider. He also maintains a small piano workshop in San Carlos, California.
Seeking to steer his creative and commercial activities sustainably, Brian earned an M.B.A. in Responsible Business from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2024. This business framework allows him to demystify the global piano industry value chain for his students鈥攂ridging the gaps between art, craft, and commerce. His primary focus at Las Positas is to help develop the next generation of piano technicians with the tools, literacy, and standards needed to create tomorrow鈥檚 top-tier service experiences.
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