Welcome to Classic PianoWorks! My hope is you will find the information on my profile page to help you in making the decision that is best for you and your piano.
First and foremost. I am a Registered Piano Technician. RPTs are professionals who have committed themselves to the continual pursuit of excellence, both in technical service and ethical conduct. The Piano Technicians Guild grants the Registered Piano Technician (RPT) credential after a series of rigorous examinations that test skill in piano tuning, regulation and repair. Those capable of performing these tasks up to a recognized worldwide standard receive the RPT credential.
Piano tuners (aka Piano Technicians) are easy to find on the internet. I strongly encourage you to carefully check the credentials of any professional before hiring them. A cheap rate will result in a cheap tuning. Your piano will sound great when finished, but that great sound won’t last long if the work is done quickly. I have been contacted by Thumbtack customers in the past who used another pro, and had their piano go out of tune in a short period of time due to a lack of proper training .The decision is totally yours. Do you want your piano tuned? Or do you want your piano tuned with careful precision and stability? That’s where credentials matter most. Anyone can go to a YouTube channel, buy a cheap tuning app, and learn how to tune a piano. Those professionals who invest in the proper coursework, not only learn how to tune a piano the right way, they will also learn how to tune your piano with stability.
I am a proud member of the leadership team, serving as Vice President for the Heart of Texas Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild.
Some Thumbtack professionals listed will travel 150 to 200 miles to come tune your piano. Be sure to ask the tuner what you ACTUALLY WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY for their services. Most of the piano tuners you will see listed in the Austin area are based in Houston and San Antonio. My service area covers a 70 mile radius. My rate of $160 includes a complete tuning and service of your piano. Please let me know if you live outside the Temple/Belton/Killeen area. Your rate will need to include a mileage fee. Be sure to inquire on what your rate will be. The service of your piano includes an overall checkup to be sure all parts are working properly. Any additional charges for pitch raise or repairs needed will always be discussed before any work is completed. No additional work is done without your approval.
While a majority of my work is residential, I have also worked with some outstanding universities and performing groups in the Central Texas area including:
Baylor University
Texas A&M University, Central Texas Campus
Central Texas College
Temple JazzFest
The Temple Symphony Orchestra
I am a certified graduate with High Honors from the Potter School of Piano Technology. I have also studied and apprenticed under James Geiger, who is widely known as one of the finest piano technicians in the United States, and has been inducted into the Piano Technicians Guild Hall of Fame. I also hold a Bachelors in Music Education degree from Baylor University and have completed graduate work from the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago. I am a retired music educator and conductor who proudly served in Texas schools for 37 years. I am a proud recipient of numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards and have won Best in Class awards with instrumental, vocal, and jazz ensembles. Finally, I have been blessed to perform on a professional level for over 40 years, both as a pianist and as a solo French horn player with various symphony orchestras throughout Central Texas.
Being a classically-trained musician, recording artist, and music educator, I make the most of making each piano produce the best sound possible! I have been blessed to perform in some of the greatest concert halls in the US, including Carnegie Hall (NYC), The Academy of Music (Philadelphia), and The Meyerson Center (Dallas). Those experiences have given me a deep understanding of the value in bringing any piano to the best quality sound in concert pitch.
I use state of the art technology to bring each piano to the best pitch and pureness of sound. That said, I do tune by ear and as stated above, and have proven that skill by passing the RPT tuning exam. I also finish each tuning by tuning each pitch by ear to give the best characteristic sound for the instrument.
The best part in tuning your piano comes when the work is complete. My clients will know their piano is ready for enjoyment once they hear me play Prelude in C, by Johann Sebastian Bach. I usually go beyond that and give a sample of some of my own personal compositions. I usually refer this special time as the “test run”. It gives you the opportunity to listen to the finished product, while it gives me the chance to listen to the entire range of your piano. Most of all, I want to be absolutely certain that every note sounds as it was meant to be.
Thanks for visiting and have a a wonderful day!
