Services

I charge a flat fee of $170 for a tuning appointment, which includes minor fixes or adjustments that can be done quickly. There is a $40 additional fee if a pitch raise is needed. Other work is priced on a per-job basis.

Tuning

All pianos need regular tuning to sound their best. To keep up with seasonal humidity change, pianos in our area generally need to be tuned every six months, or once a year at a minimum. If a piano is far off pitch, a pitch adjustment may be needed. You don’t need to tell me in advance whether the piano needs a pitch raise, as that can quickly be determined on-site.

Regulation

The action of the piano is the playing mechanism—the system of parts from the keys to the hammers that allow the player to strike the strings. The action needs regulation from time to time to keep it working correctly, so that all notes feel even, repeat quickly, and have a wide dynamic range from soft to loud. Regulation procedures can range from quick adjustments that can be done at a tuning appointment to full regulations that may take a day of work or more, depending on the condition of the action and the player’s needs.

Voicing

Voicing brings out the best tone qualities of the instrument. It involves manipulating the strings and hammers so that the piano’s tone is even, pleasing, and possesses a range of timbres, from mellow to brilliant.

Repair

Pianos can require a wide range of repair procedures. These vary from a sticky key or broken string through key rebushing and hammer filing up to the replacement of major components such as the pinblock or soundboard. I am equipped to do most repairs short of major rebuilding and refinishing; if these are needed I may be able to handle the job in cooperation with subcontractors.

Evaluations

Knowledge of a piano’s value is useful for many reasons. It helps in buying or selling an instrument, in deciding what to do with one, and in dealing with insurance companies. I charge $150 to evaluate a grand piano and $100 to evaluate an upright.

Estimates

If am I already on site to provide a service (such as tuning), estimates for further work are free. Otherwise, the charge is the same as an evaluation.