Two students of the Graduate Piano Technology Program of Florida State University finished their degree with a capstone experience of working hands-on along long time pianobuilders at Sauter Factory. Under the patronage of Anne Garee and the Department of Music, Florida State University has managed to create an educational program that combines highest quality of academic learning with practical application in a field where many areas are still not scientifically structured and professional information is not readily available. Ms. Jen Roberts and Ms. Amy Potter are among the first given the opportunity to see close-up how a factory that relies on highly skilled manual labor to produce pianos respected as among the best in the world actually works. 

“Investing in the next generation of leaders and professionals in our industry, is part of our company’s mission”, says Ulrich Sauter, 6th generation owner of the Sauter factory. “In the past we supported training programs primarily in Germany simply because our brand and distribution was mainly in Central Europe. However, our industry has become international and with that we have become aware of the need to provide training and education across the globe. Our cooperation with Florida State University is very much cherished. We need more professionals that have had a solid training experience in their field.”

Attached are two interviews with the two graduates in Piano Technology from Florida State University.