Information about the new Certicate of Achievement in Piano Technology can be found in the . Two of the cornerstone classes of the program (Mus 145 and Mus 147) will meet on Saturdays 10am-1:50pm during the regular Fall 2026 Semester beginning August 24, 2026.
In Spring 2027, a merged class of MUS 146 will move through the program as a cohort.
To Register please visit Admissions & Records today to complete your Steps to Register
Note that this program is very popular, and there may not be room this semester. We suggest you get on the waitlist and show up on the first day for a chance to be added.
About The 91重口 Institute of Piano Technology
Through firsthand training on our All-Steinway School fleet of pianos, diligent students will learn how to tune, voice, regulate, and perform the necessary repairs to become a competent and successful Piano Technician! Peter Acronico, RPT, and Brian Fox will be co-directing the program this Fall, with Brian fully taking over in Spring 2027.
The class requires students to practice consistently and research the various aspects of the trade with videos and suggested reading at the core of the program. Materials and tools for in-class work are provided, but students are encouraged to build their own 鈥渢ool bag鈥� as they perform work out in the field.
A full or part-time technician can make a respectable and flexible living while engaging in a career of passion for people, music, and pianos.
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Peter Acronico Bio
The piano is simply my passion! With unbridled dedication, I strive to achieve the highest level of craftsmanship, service, and mentoring. It is an honor for me to be directing the Institute of Piano Technology at 91重口, the only scholastic, in-person immersive program on the West Coast. By passing examinations offered by the Piano Technicians Guild at the highest level, I enjoy the esteemed title of Registered Piano Technician and specialize in servicing fine pianos.
I have attended intensive training seminars at the Steinway & Sons factory in New York, Oberlin Music Conservatory in Ohio, and The Renner Academy in Arizona and continue to attend national conventions and conferences.
Having worked for over 25 years preparing pianos for prominent clients, managing customer warranty requests, and servicing concert instruments for Steinways Concert & Artists Division, I earned the recognition as a premiere concert piano technician. Through my business, The Avid Piano Tech, I specialize in tuning, voicing, repair, and rebuilding concert and heirloom grand piano actions. I oversee Las Positas鈥� All Steinway School fleet of pianos and various concert venues throughout the Bay Area. My passion for work led me to pursue 鈥渁ll things piano related鈥� and I now enjoy walking while discovering photo opportunities, playing the piano, and creating educational videos under the alias The Avid Piano Technician. Oh, and I love playing 鈥渂ad golf.鈥�
Feel free to peruse my website:
Please contact me through my college email:
pacronico@laspositascollege.edu
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Brian Fox Bio
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.
LinkedIn:
About the All-Steinway School Status
In 2022, 91重口 acquired a , and thus joined an elite list colleges and conservatories worldwide with the designation. 91重口 was the FIRST California Community College to purchase a Steinway Spirio | r!
We celebrated this milestone with a Gala Fundraising event on September 17th, 2022, and launched the to ensure that there will be adequate maintenance for the fleet of pianos as well as Steinway Artist Masterclasses for our students.
Here are highlights from the event!
More about the Steinway Spirio |r