Piano Tuner or Pianist?

My experience as a piano tuner has allowed me to enjoy listening to not only the unique qualities of tone in various brands of piano, but also the very diverse talents associated with piano music. Many children learn at a very early age to play complex music. Many children as well as adults are not as advanced, but are still gifted with a passion for learning to play the piano.

As a piano technician, it is my duty to bring a piano to life so that whether a person is just beginning to play or has much experience in playing, the piano will respond with ease of musical expression. Therefore I must educate my customers to realize the regular maintenance a piano demands for consistent performance. Tuning and action regulation and voicing are the most common needs in the maintenance schedule.

To be the kind of piano technician that delivers great piano performance, a passion for pianos is of great importance. My passion has grown over the years as I've learned what a piano can do when properly tuned and regulated. The need for the various repairs has often been neglected for many years for several reasons: The main reason is the lack of the public's awareness of what the piano needs in general. Another main reason is the lack of technicians expressing the importance and the reasons for certain neglected repairs. Cost is an underlying hindrance both to the customer and to the technician because of the lack of perceived value that can be found in the piano after the repair is completed. Various factors determine whether or not a piano receiving major repairs will turn out greater in performance or little in improvement. Age and origianal quality of the design of the piano are the key determining factors.

In the next posts, I will address some of the differences with various brands so that a clearer understanding of what I have stated is explained more fully.