Choosing a Piano Technician
You have decided it is time to start piano lessons. You have carefully selected an instructor that fits your goals. You have purchased the music, metronome, notebooks, pencils, and other supplies and are ready to start. But is your piano ready? Who do you trust to give you the service you need to maintain your piano?
Here as some items you may wish to add to the list when selecting a piano technician. Each item is important but may also be misleading. Read through the article and see if any of these thoughts will help you in your search.
- Gather recommendations from institutions and people you trust. When I prepare an for an evening out, I ask others that have similar tastes in food for suggestions. It is not a foolproof method but will often lead to an enjoyable evening with my wife. If I am looking for fine dining, I probably will not ask my friend whose idea of fine dining is using the napkins at a pizza parlor. Be courteous with others but be discerning as well.
- Call the local orchestral hall or music organization and see who they are using. Our client base has grown by leaps and bounds in the fine arts arena. We are also blessed to have piano competitions and music festivals that rival international organizations right here in Colorado. A call to these organizations may reveal someone that is used by many of the professionals in your area.
- Check their credentials but be careful. Technicians may have industry credentials but still not produce the finest work. Some of the best technicians I know are not ‘credentialed’ but have made a career of learning from the best sources. We borrow skills and tools from a number of industries. A good technician will likely need to continually study our craft.
- Be prepared to pay for a “trial” tuning. Some technicians will be retired from a former carrier and are supplementing their retirement income by working on pianos. Others are full-time piano technicians that must run a business. Either one can be a great experience or a disaster. As with many other industries, those with the cheapest prices are rarely the most educated and well equipped to do the work. However, being the most expensive does not guarantee good work either. A businessman knows what it takes to thrive and charges accordingly. Support their work.
I wish there was a foolproof method to select a qualified technician. However, with a little care and discernment, you should be able to find a good technician that will have you loving your piano again.