I had the pleasure of attending Stefan's tone building course, held for the technicians at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2025. When you excel as a young piano technician it is important to choose your mentors wisely, and learning from Stefan definitely was a good choice for me. His extreme skills combined with great educational qualities is a very effective combination for deep and fast learning. The course was very hands-on and I learnt so much during a short period of time. Not to mention that he is very kind and funny, and he really cares about every student – when the course has ended as well. I look forward to attending his action revision course in fall 2026! Torkil Rødvand: Head piano technician at Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music

Dear Stefan, I am writing to convey my heartfelt thanks for giving me the opportunity to participate in your Tone Building classes offered in Berlin in June, 2025. I found the seminars challenging, insightful, and inspirational, and I look forward to applying what I learned to our Steinway pianos here at the university. It is encouraging to work with an individual that is both skilled at the highest levels of service and passionate about teaching. I have no doubt that the level of investment and preparation on your end was substantial, and I’m genuinely appreciative of being able to not only work on pianos that represent tangible, realistic problems, but to be able to bring home the parts that I worked with as well. You remarked to me that your intent was to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience with this class, and I can say with great certainty that you achieved that. I have spent nearly twenty years working with some of the finest concert instruments in Toronto, and I feel that I was challenged in ways that I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered on my own. The level of service that I will deliver at the concert level has been augmented because of your class. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity, and I sincerely hope that I can work with you again in the future! Warmest regards, Andrew Novosky: Senior Piano Technician, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto

My first course with Stefan took place at the Steinway Academy in Hamburg. Five years later, I attended the Tone-building and then the damper master class in Berlin. All three courses were absolutely mind-blowing. Stefan not just steals the magic of a Steinway but also breaks it down to the bones and makes it easy to understand, giving you a comprehensive picture of what this instrument is all about. He does this with a joy and finesse that only very experienced teachers possess. I highly recommend Piano Academy Fritz to all colleagues working frequently on grand pianos, these classes bringing the knowledge into your body and make it remember . I am deeply grateful for what you shared with me, Stefan. Thank you.   Jens Schumann: Concert piano technicians at the Grieghallen Bergen /Norwegen

“Without a doubt, the best investment I’ve ever made in my damper education. Thank you, Stefan.” Leonel Rocha - Professional, and high-quality concert grand piano rentals

To participate in Stefans` class is like a journey of knowledge being presented in such advanced but simplified version - like he puts the tools in his hands to show us and out comes my own work at the end of each day! What an experience to have this “Master Technician Treasure” on two legs of pure love for the Steinway instruments and function - and one of the consequences reveals in the urge he has for us to succeed! Stefan always digs in deeper and cannot stop before there is nothing left to tell – he is a performance of skills! The set-up of this impressive workshop brings us into a professional level site o fthree charming and totally tidy, pleasantly equipped rooms with tools - a small library, even - where the set up allows “hands on work” with the luxury of one grand piano for each participant. We were fully able to work at a Master Class Level – very structured and well prepared. This is a serious study with a light atmosphere. I felt I could expand my knowledge and balance my experience in this environment of “Receiving and Sharing”. This week at Stefans`Academy taught me how to slim down to fewer but more precise steps in my procedure of work – not because of speed, necessarily – that comes automatically – but for precision of result. Thank you, Stefan! Forgot to mention how devoted Stefan cared for us and our wellbeing during the stay – best restaurant Guided for max taste! Tone Tone Røimål: Concert Piano Technician at the Norwegian Music Academy, Oslo

I am a technician with 40 plus years of experience working on Steinway concert pianos. The approach to damper replacement and regulation taught by Stefan Fritz provides a thorough methodology allowing one to achieve ultimate perfection in concert damper replacement and subsequent regulation. I considered myself a decently-skilled damper installer and regulator before attending; however Stefan's methods and comprehensive understanding of the obvious and underlying issues surrounding this ever-so-important aspect of concert piano maintenance have transformed my reticence to eagerness in addressing damper work. No more guess work damper work! Stefan has created a wonderful atmosphere in which to learn and improve on one's skills making the entire experience of attending the seminar a memorable pleasure. Thank-you Stefan,--I cannot say enough good things about the Fritz Academy! Barbara Pease Renner: Chief Concert Technician to the Mechanics Hall, Worcester Massachusetts, Houston and St. Louis symphonies and Boston Sympony's Tanglewood Music Center

Dear Stefan, I found it inspiring and refreshing to attend The Fritz Academy. It is a one-of-a-kind experience for piano technicians. That someone of Stefan’s caliber of experience in the factory and on stage would have the willingness to share his technical and practical knowledge is quite rare. Fritz has curated his courses, so they are thorough, concise and fast-paced. We practiced the fine points of regulation, voicing and tuning techniques in depth. The classes focus primarily on Steinway procedures, and the pros and cons of each technique presented are discussed. The way I listen to the piano, my sensitivity to (key) touch, and my approach to voicing have all been significantly elevated by working with Stefan. - Erik Diehl, Chief Piano Technician and Curator, Yale University

I had the privilege of attending Stefan Fritz’s two-week tone-building class at his shop in Berlin. After nearly 20 years in the field, I can honestly say I’ve never learned so much from a single individual. Stefan is not only a highly skilled and experienced technician, but also a truly gifted teacher. It is uncommon to meet someone in our profession whose not only incredibly talented, but also truly eager and able to share that knowledge with others. Thanks to this course, I now have a deeper understanding and greater confidence in grand piano regulation, tuning, and voicing. I would highly recommend it to any technician looking to advance their skills. Damon Groves: Head Piano Technician, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto Chief Concert Technician, Tanglewood Festival