Hi all. My name is Ernie Miller and I'm a harpsichord maker and new member of NC Woodworker. Many thanks to Alan in Little Washington for introducing me to this wonderful site and for the kind words from various members pertaining to the harpsichord photos that Alan posted on the site.
In case you're wondering how someone decides to build something weird like harpsichords (most people do) let me briefly give a little background. My education was in Music and I taught Choral Music and Music Theory on the high school level in New York for 34 years. As a kid, I got interested in pianos (not playing them, but tuning and fixing them). Don't ask me why... I just did. That led to a second, parallel career as a Piano Tech, which led to the rebuilding and restoration of grand pianos. In 1980 I was asked to tune a harpsichord at a music conservatory in NY. It was love at first sight. As luck would have it, the builder of that instrument, Paul Kennedy, was one of America's finest builders and he lived in my town. We became close friends and, over the course of 6 years, he taught me the craft. I am forever in his debt.
Four years ago, my wife and I "retired" from teaching, tuning etc. and moved to Chocowinity, NC where I "retire" ten hours a day in my workshop building these wonderful instruments. Life just doesn't get any better than this.
And that's how someone gets to build something weird!
I'll upload a few photos as soon as I figure out how to do it. In the meantime, I am enjoying viewing the photo galleries and amazed at the quality of work I see there. Congrats to all for the wonderful works of art being built here in NC. I'm looking forward to learning new skills from the many talented craftsmen and women on this site. Thank you all for accepting me as a member.
Ernie
In case you're wondering how someone decides to build something weird like harpsichords (most people do) let me briefly give a little background. My education was in Music and I taught Choral Music and Music Theory on the high school level in New York for 34 years. As a kid, I got interested in pianos (not playing them, but tuning and fixing them). Don't ask me why... I just did. That led to a second, parallel career as a Piano Tech, which led to the rebuilding and restoration of grand pianos. In 1980 I was asked to tune a harpsichord at a music conservatory in NY. It was love at first sight. As luck would have it, the builder of that instrument, Paul Kennedy, was one of America's finest builders and he lived in my town. We became close friends and, over the course of 6 years, he taught me the craft. I am forever in his debt.
Four years ago, my wife and I "retired" from teaching, tuning etc. and moved to Chocowinity, NC where I "retire" ten hours a day in my workshop building these wonderful instruments. Life just doesn't get any better than this.
And that's how someone gets to build something weird!
I'll upload a few photos as soon as I figure out how to do it. In the meantime, I am enjoying viewing the photo galleries and amazed at the quality of work I see there. Congrats to all for the wonderful works of art being built here in NC. I'm looking forward to learning new skills from the many talented craftsmen and women on this site. Thank you all for accepting me as a member.
Ernie