"Finding a good piano tuner-technician is impossible!" Or is it?

If you think that finding the right tuner or technician to service your piano (or to help you locate a good piano to buy) is no easy task, then take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. The search will often lead many to various Internet discussion forums,  as well as visits with relatives, friends and neighbors. Some will call a piano store, an independent piano tuner, and the list goes on. The results are usually many and varied.

Some will suggest -- as have I -- to call the local Piano Technicians Guild chapter and proceed from there. Others may suggest avoiding a particular local PTG person for either this reason or that. No doubt, some of the criticism is wholly justified; but competitive verbiage and claptrap is always present as well. The same holds true of criticisms directed toward non-PTG techs.

Whether or not a tech is a member of a professional guild or organization is no guarantee of quality work. Is one more likely to find a good tech in the PTG than throwing the dice in the Yellow Pages? Yes. At least the guild has mandatory multi-level testing to become an RPT. But it is only required one time.

I have always been a supporter of the recommendation. However, there are good recommendations as well as bad. For example, we have witnessed:

A piano dealer recommends a novice  to prep a S&S D for a major symphony orchestra. At the time, the best the person could do was terribly out-of-tune and not a clean unison anywhere.  Worse than a first time effort. Fortunately, that disaster-in-waiting was averted at the last minute.

A piano tech, due to over-scheduling, chose not to renew the tuning contract with a college. To avoid leaving the school in a lurch, he proposed another tech to do the work. Having never checked the person's tuning abilities, the recommendation rested wholly upon the proposed tech's longstanding RPT status.  After the first semester's tunings, the recommending tech received a call from a rather upset dean. Needless to say, the reputations of both techs were damaged in that little exercise.

A family recommends their tuner of 40 years.  The tuner spends 20 minutes tuning the piano and leaves. Not a unison is in tune.

Where does this leave a person who requires qualified service for the piano? Confused? You bet. But there is a solution.

I have consistently maintained that one of the best recommendations for piano service will come from concert or classical pianists who teach on a college or university level. This includes private piano teachers who have the appropriate degrees and classical background as well. 

But proceed with caution.

It may come as a surprise that a college music department may not always use the best piano technician. This is due to certain States requiring schools to go through a bidding process. Though there are exceptions, most of these colleges get stuck with cheap price and poor work to match. Notwithstanding,  teachers usually know the good from the mediocre. Accordingly, when seeking a recommendation, don't visit with the music department secretary. Seek out the teacher.

Final Analysis
   
Avoid any professional looking for a finders-fee. For good counsel locate and secure the services of  full-time, qualified,  professionals with absolutely no remunerative interest in your decision - whose sole desire is in extending to you the benefit of a sterling reputation for honesty, quality and acumen earned over many years of faithful service to the music community.

It won't be easy. Some may say it's impossible. It isn't. Just remember: "Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success."- Napoleon Hill



BOB WIDDING
PIANO TECHNICIAN
2014.

For more information:
What is an independent piano technician?