David Renaud,  RPT, Piano Technicians Guild                                               25 years, fine tuning, voicing & rebuilding  where  quality  counts.  Trusted by concert halls & musicians throughout the capital  region.                 cell: 613-288-9046 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              613-288-9046      end_of_the_skype_highlighting                         email: drjazzca@gmail.com

 

A Registered Piano Technician (RPT) is a member of The Piano Technicians Guild who has demonstrated competence by passing a series of three rigorous examinations on the maintenance, repair and tuning of pianos.                            The mission of the Piano Technicians Guild is to promote the highest possible standards of piano service by providing members with opportunities for professional development, by recognizing technical competence through examinations and by advancing the interests of its members. We shall always strive to provide the best possible piano service to the piano community. Always aim to provide service in an ethical way, keeping the piano users needs and best interests uppermost.

BIO

DAVID RENAUD
RPT, BA CONC. MUSIC

       My first working gigs began at age 16 while still in high school as rehearsal pianist for a theater group, some conventions, freelance, & special events with a Dixieland band. Time was consumed with community & school bands on clarinet, saxophone, flute, & pursuing private clarinet and piano lessons. I frequented Jazz Ottawa's events sitting in regularly on Vernon Isaac's open jam sessions, egger to learn.  

   In 1981 I entered Ottawa University as a clarinet major.  Joining the Canadian Footguards band as a saxophonist I performed frequent public engagements with them at the Astrolabe theater. I worked regularly with Brian Downey's big band, and small ensemble. That summer I won a position in the CGCF  performing for the changing of the Guard on Parliament daily. Driven to study jazz  was admitted to Toronto's Humber College in the fall of 1982.

     In Toronto, Humber's performance oriented program had my horns on my face round the clock. I worked with a Polka band regularly at a German club, and various jazz and club events. Upon returning to Ottawa that spring I found myself in demand working that summer 5-10 gigs a week in jazz, swing, rock, blues, ethnic, and funk bands.  Organizing my own swing bands I secured regular Friday- Saturdays gigs at the Penguin Cafe where my two 7 piece bands "The Starlighters", and "The Savoy Swing Band", would rotate for the next 5 years.

   In 1983 I remained in Ottawa to marry Manon,  returned to Ottawa university to continue studying orchestral clarinet, and keep the ball rolling performing around Ottawa. Starting a family, going to school, and working urged me to seek more substantial  income supplements. I always liked models, fiddling with things, had learned to overhaul my own saxophone, and started a correspondence course in piano tuning and repair back while still in high school. It was enough to find work with Ottawa Pianos and Lauzons music as a piano technicians apprentice. Individuals in the Piano Technicians Guild became instrumental in mentoring me. I grew to love the trade. 

   It would take 10 years to finish a music degree part time while working as a musician and piano technician. I would play with the University Orchestra for 6 of those years.  Working towards learning orchestral clarinet technique and repertoire my appreciation of orchestral work grew, and desire to pursue the excellence of sound, pitch, and musicality exercised by orchestral musicians daily became a passion. While It takes longer when immersed in so many different disciplines competing for ones energy, with time and perseverance the journey moved forward. 

     My bands continued to get more work. Dr. Jazz band began hiring me, and upon Chris Portinary's retirement I took over booking that group. When the Penguin cafe came to an end we put our quartet in the Canadian Grill of the Chateau for 9 months. Over coming years Nepean Symphony hired me for numerous concerts, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra  had me perform the saxophone solos for Pictures at and Exhibition, Britain's requiem,  Bolero, and Lieutenant Kiji at the NAC series, and work for school concerts. The National Arts Center Orchestra has been hiring me as an extra doubler for there POPs series now for these last 12 years, playing saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet. Orpheus Theater has me performing nearly all their 39 gigs per year in the pit on all the clarinets, saxes, and flutes. The NAC has me conducting various master classes for schools on saxophone. My daughter has become a very fine violist, and we book wedding gigs together. Saul Gunner hires me regularly for has Classic Klez group for Jewish events, and Flora Love for "The Ottawa Klezmer Band." For two decades now my jazz groups have been featured in the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. 

       As a technician, over the years I became more and more serious about seeking out the best people to learn from. Attending PTG conventions around North America I had the privilege of learning from some of the greatest technicians in the industry. With time I began to teach, and tutor, hosting local seminars, teaching and testing at regional conventions in the Northeastern US and Canada. Achieving examiner certification was a major personnel achievement for me, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to pass it on to my apprentices.

       I thank the following people for sharing their love and dedication of their craft.

      The late James Morton  and Peter Smith of the NAC orchestra , and Kimball Sykes, current principle clarinetist of the NAC .             

      David Morgan for helping me get started in Piano Technology; for sharing so openly.

      Jack Stebbins of the North Bennet street school in Boston  for his passion as a CTE and mentor.

     John Liddle for sharing his passion for music, and musical ethic.

     David Currie of Ottawa U and  The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra for teaching the music in the music.       

     All my friends in the PTG that have been there to listen and help.

     My wife Manon for her support, through such a crazy schedule for so many years.

     To every musician I have worked with that has pushed me , every technician that has shared their love for the work; You all have made the journey rich. Life is an opportunity to explore, to grow, to discover, to pass it on. There remains so much more, so seize the day. My life has seen such musical diversity, born of a desire to enjoy it all.  Your vision has not been lost.                                                           

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