David Stanwood of West Tisbury was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Piano Technicians Guild in Tucson, Ariz. Stanwood earned a degree in photographic science and engineering, and has also been involved in artistic photography, piano performance and recording, and professional sailing and rigging, as well as machine tool making, and felt making.
Stanwood’s interest in pianos led him to study piano technology at the North Bennet Street School under Bill Garlick and David Betts, and he received his certificate from that school in 1978. He joined the Piano Technicians Guild that same year, and set up a tuning and restoration business soon thereafter.
According to a press release, his interest in how much the touch varied from piano to piano led him to study and document differences that he found in pianos. Using calculations for friction and balance weight, he applied his findings to analyze components that create touch, and this led to his formulation of the equation of balance. He called this system the new touchweight metrology.
Stanwood published his work in the Piano Technicians Journal, and taught this system at regional and annual conventions beginning in 1990. Precision touch design is his method for creating recipes for the feel of the piano’s touch, and consists of the optimized weights, leverages, and frictions for each key, using the new touchweight metrology, the release says.
His work continues to bring benefits to pianists, especially those who suffer from injury or who are in a weakened state due to health issues.
He was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award from the North Bennet Street School in 2007, and received the Crowl-Travis Member of Note Award in 2009.