Pianos Inside Out by Mario Igrec: Book Review
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.
Pianos Inside Out by Mario Igrec
I have used this comprehensive guide as reference material for work I have done in the piano industry since 2013.
This book has received high praise for being an in-depth, up-to-date, and explores a wide range of topics. It's a resource for piano technicians of all ages and experience levels.
I cannot recommend this most comprehensive book more highly. It's a must-have for any technician of the trade!
Praise for the book
Franz Mohr
Stephen Brady
Paul Badura-Skoda
Laurence Libin
Fred Sturm
Jim Laleggio
Dave Carpenter
Dale Erwin
David Stanwood
Christian Bolduc
Allen Wright
Anthony Gilroy
Marioara Trifan
Edward Foote
Mike Morvan
Greg Frank
Poppy Miles
Alexander Abel
Pictures/Diagrams
This book includes well over 1,000 pictures, diagrams, and charts of valuable information.
A dedicated page containing a cross-sectional image of a grand piano with over 100+ names of parts.
Myth Busting
The book includes many "myth busting" facts presented by Mario to dispel common myths within the industry.
Learn why Piano teachers are incorrect when they insist to have a "heavier action" to make their students "work!"
Diagrams/Charts
The many visual diagrams and charts convey how to best approaches and describes common piano workplace scenarios.
This speeds up understanding of common piano issues and offers step-by-step instructions of how to best remedy any specific problem.
Pages
This 500+ Page textbook is best to be kept as a reference where technicians can search for answers to many of the most common (and uncommon) issues one may have while working with a piano.
Mario did a fantastic job of filling these pages without "fluff." It presents a much greater depth of the latest information than even the Arthur Reblitz book!
The Glossary
One of the most useful parts about textbooks are extensive glossaries. It's useful to familiarize yourself with new words commonly used in the trade to increase familiarity when undertaking any new task.
The glossary contains over 650 terms that are relevant to the trade of piano technology.
At the beginning of the book, a dedicated page lists specific trademarks and to whom the trademark is owned.
Table of Contents
History
Construction and Design
Maintenance
Tuning
Regulating
Voicing
Repairs
Moving a Grand Piano
Touch, Geometry, Playability
Rebuilding
Troubleshooting
Mario Igrec is now known as the Chief Piano Technician at The Juilliard School in New York.
Related:
Piano Books for Piano Technicians
Piano Buyer by Hannah Beckett Book Review
Piano Tuning by J. Cree Fischer: Book Review 2024
Piano Servicing Tuning and Rebuilding by Arthur A Reblitz
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.