Professional Piano Tuning, Repair & Regulation

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Be sure you hire a piano technician, not just a tuner. (They don't have to use the word "technician", necessarily, but they really need to know how to make repairs and adjustments on your piano as well as tuning. Many times there are small but significant repairs and adjustments that need to be made before tuning should be done. If a string breaks during tuning, and they can, your technician will be able to repair it. I can do that for you, some who only tune cannot, or won't. It is also important that they understand how to inspect the whole piano. By that I mean, if you never see them remove the bottom board to inspect the bridge or adjust the pedals, then likely, they are only interested in tuning.

Also, I would say be sure your technician has experience and is attempting to stay current in the field of piano technology by being a member of the Piano Technician's Guild, for example.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. The importance of regular service. It's not about keeping the tuner's busy, it's about the health of your instrument. I've known for a long time about the effects of humidity on wood, however, until becoming a piano technician I didn't realize how much humidity really affects the piano's tuning AND function from day to day. Sticky keys, loose parts, tuning changes can all be attributed, many times, to humidity changes. I've learned not to blame the tuner for what nature has done!

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. 1) Do you do repairs and regulation in addition to tuning? (I do.)

2) Do you have any formal education in piano technology? (I do. American School of Piano Tuning, and Randy Potter's School of Piano Technology)

3) Are you a member of the Piano Technician's Guild? (I am currently an Associate Member and have completed the first exam of 3 to become an Registered Piano Technician.)

4) Are you insured if you cause accidental damage to my instrument? (Yes, I have liability insurance for my business.)

5) Do you tune by ear or do you use only an ETD (Electronic Tuning Device)? (I use a Sanderson Accutuner III ETD, however, I use aural tuning checks with it, and what I hear "trumps" what I see. I always turn the ETD off when tuning unisons. If your piano tuner is tuning every string to an ETD and is not playing chords (4ths, 5ths, 3rds, etc) as checks as they go, then I'd be looking for a better tuner. They MUST know how to tune by ear to understand how to use an ETD properly.)

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I take personal pride and care in how I treat my customers and their instruments. Reputations take years to build and moments to destroy, so I treat everyone as fairly and as respectable as I would want to be treated. You can trust me to be fair, honest, hard working, and trustworthy in all I do. I am human, and if and when mistakes are made, I will make it right. If I say I will do it, I will do it. Guaranteed!

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love meeting new people, especially when we share a common interest such as music and pianos. I love the feeling of a job well done and seeing it all come together to make beautiful music at the end of a tuning session. There's nothing quite like playing a freshly tuned piano. The joy on the owner's faces and knowing that I've helped bring joyful music back into the house is well worth it for me. I love working with my hands, and this job has many opportunities for that, for sure!