Note regarding the seminars: The seminars are primarily held in German, but a selection is also offered in English. Translation services are available for associations. Please provide us with the contact information of a person who would like to translate for your association in advance. We will then clarify the further details with them.
Seminars & Lectures
Workshop - Manufactory
Workshop - Manufactory
Duo Clave – an extraordinary double grand piano and its technical innovations
Friday, April 24, 2026, 9 a.m. - Paul Corbin Paul Corbin is a French piano maker who worked as a designer at C. Bechstein in Seifhennersdorf, Germany. In his spare time, he took on the challenge of building his own grand piano: the DuoClave. After seven years of work, its construction is complete. Here, he presents the features of this extraordinary double grand piano and all the innovations it incorporates.
The Steinway Sostenuto System
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
August Förster Room (Budapest)
- Simon Rempe
Simon Rempe will give a presentation on the patent, history, and development of the Steinway & Sons sostenuto system. Both systems will be compared in terms of their settings and function.
Laser-assisted measuring device Piano Measure Pro
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Alfred Jahn Room (Krakow)
- Tobias Schmidt
Tobias J. Schmidt's seminar focuses on the laser-based measuring device Piano Measure Pro and its use in practical everyday workshop use.
stretto in the new AUGUST FÖRSTER concert grand piano
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
August Förster Room (Budapest)
- Piano maker Benjamin Schwarz, Prof. Ulrike Wohlwender, pianist Silvia Molan, pianist Sophia Weidemann
Voluminous bass, ideal balance, singing treble: The piano manufacturer AUGUST FÖRSTER has fundamentally redesigned its concert grand piano – and is reaping much acclaim for the new model 275 Sovereign.
* Public event, accessible to all trade fair visitors
Optimizing the soundboard – Refining the heart of the sound
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
August Förster Room (Budapest)
- Heinz Letuha, Josias Sigrist
What distinguishes an average instrument from an outstanding one? As part of Akustika 2026, Josias Sigrist (owner of Piano Sigrist and second-generation piano maker) invites you to an exclusive 90-minute workshop.
Harpsichord and Viennese Fortepiano Action Regulation and Maintenance
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Alfred Jahn Room (Krakow)
- Sergei Kramer
The harpsichord and the fortepiano used in this seminar come from the workshop of Paul McNulty, one of the most respected fortepiano makers of our time.
Touch
Touch
Dynamic weighing with CKM
Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
August Förster Room (Budapest)
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Room Piano Life Saver System (Prague)
- Jakob Jaffke, Christoph Kerschgens
Christoph Kerschgens and Jakob Jaffke present the development history and its practical application as well as the dynamic balancing according to lines and positions.
AdSilent installation and essential know-how
Friday, April 24, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
August Förster Room (Budapest)
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Helsinki area
- Andreas Dütz
Topics:
- Piano/grand piano with 85 keys
- Bluetooth Audio vs Bluetooth MIDI
- Connection problems on Android (or iOS)
- Check space for wing stop strip
- Check space for piano aluminum stop strip
- Save time during installation
- Pedals
Toning - Voicing - Tuning
Toning - Voicing - Tuning
String scaling
Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Room Piano Life Saver System (Prague)
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Room Piano Life Saver System (Prague)
- Peter Tholey
Main topics:
- Consistent volume gradient within the scale
- Adjustment of the 1-, 2- and 3-course strings
- Consistent sound quality across the scale
- Matching the bare strings to the wound strings
- Adapting single-wound to double-wound strings
- Sonic breaks around spreads
- Adjusting the stringing to the soundboard
- Adjusting the hammerheads to the stringing
- Strategies for optimizing duels
Tuning Using Beat Frequency
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
August Förster Room (Budapest)
- Hanns Pommerien
Beat comparisons allow our ears to make astonishingly accurate relative frequency measurements. Without intermediate steps involving calculations of inharmonicities and theoretical frequencies, they always utilize the real frequencies of the most audible common partials of two piano notes.
14 Steps to Perfect Intonation [Almost] Without a Needle
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Helsinki area
- Wolfgang Schäffler, Udo Steingraeber
This presentation with a small slide series is aimed primarily at younger colleagues, and perhaps also at trainers with – perhaps – new ideas for training their junior staff.
Know-how - Innovation
Know-how - Innovation
Does the piano need AI? Opportunities and challenges in the digital age
Friday, April 24, 2026, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Room Piano Life Saver System (Prague)
- Oliver Hutz
Digitalization is transforming industries worldwide – and the market for acoustic pianos is no exception. How can centuries-old craftsmanship and tradition harmoniously blend with the possibilities of modern technologies?
Ear and hearing health in piano making
Friday, April 24, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Room Piano Life Saver System (Prague)
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
August Förster Room (Budapest)
- David Bächinger
Piano makers face particular challenges regarding their ear and hearing health: On the one hand, they are exposed to high, potentially damaging sound levels while working with wood and metal. On the other hand, they rely on above-average hearing abilities when tuning and voicing – activities that can also be hazardous to hearing.
Business Administration - Corporate Management
Business Administration - Corporate Management
Developing Young Talent in Your Company: Courage to Train - From a One-Person Business to a Two-Plus Company
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Alfred Jahn Room (Krakow)
- Carlos Mora
Panel discussion with trainees, journeymen and self-employed persons (with or without a master craftsman title).
Seminar: The path to becoming a sworn expert in the instrument making trade
Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Helsinki area
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The seminar is aimed at all independent instrument makers, both exhibitors and trade visitors.
Speakers:
Chief Legal Officer of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Middle Franconia
Federal Guild Master Christoph Endres
In the field of piano making: Master piano maker and expert Wolfgang Trobisch
* Public event, accessible to all trade fair visitors
General Program
General
program
Opportunity to play in the Piano Salon
Piano Salon
Friday, April 24, 2026, time to be announced.
Saturday, April 25, 2026, time to be announced.
Sunday, April 26, 2026, time to be announced.
Visitors can reserve a 15-minute time slot to try out the exhibited instruments, including a short presentation by the manufacturers.
* Public event, accessible to all trade fair visitors
Piano Pitch
Piano Salon
Date and time to be announced.
Experts from the manufacturers will present the instruments of the Piano Salon in a direct comparison.
* Public event, accessible to all trade fair visitors
Piano Pitch
Piano Salon
Date and time to be announced.
During this "culinary" tour pianist will present the instruments and their diverse sounds.
* Public event, accessible to all trade fair visitors