Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata mvt. 3 played by Wilhelm Kempff.
Attention piano buyers
If you're looking for a deal or are in the market for one, please give me a call. I currently have two good customers with pianos they are selling, plus tips on a couple of others that would make excellent practice pianos. One is a good-as-new Wurlitzer, and the other is an equally fine quality Story and Clark console. I can do a basic service check prior to purchase and also offer technical assistance with moving. (May, 2010)
A small price to pay
Dear customer: Money can be scarce in today's economy. More than ever it's important that all of us stay within our budgets and spend responsibly. I myself am frugal to a fault, the benefits of which I have for years passed on to my customers. It has also indirectly helped me to build a customer list that numbers in the thousands. Needless to say, they do not all have their piano tuned each year, as there would simply not be enough time.
But having such a large pool of customers has, in turn, enabled me to keep my tuning and service fees low-to-moderate, and my travel fees negligible. For customers who are willing to work within my schedule, there are rarely any travel fees at all. The small amount you pay to have your piano tuned can bring hundreds of hours play and practice.
A piano in tune will entice you to play and enjoy the instrument you love. It will give you the chance to work on that song you've been wanting to learn, to entertain your family and friends, and to add some much-needed color to a world which is too often filled with just blacks and grays.
But having such a large pool of customers has, in turn, enabled me to keep my tuning and service fees low-to-moderate, and my travel fees negligible. For customers who are willing to work within my schedule, there are rarely any travel fees at all. The small amount you pay to have your piano tuned can bring hundreds of hours play and practice.
A piano in tune will entice you to play and enjoy the instrument you love. It will give you the chance to work on that song you've been wanting to learn, to entertain your family and friends, and to add some much-needed color to a world which is too often filled with just blacks and grays.
Quality service at a fair price
I've been told by some of my customers that I don't charge enough. In response, let me offer an explanation. At least once each year I take stock of my competition. Primarily this consists of trying to determine precisely what other piano tuner-technicians within reach of my service area are charging and what other kinds of promotions they may be offering. Some of my competitors I know on a first name basis.
In the broader sense a piano tuner's competition consists of anything and everything that can compete for a piano player's time and money, or which can distract you, a presumed piano owner - from having your instrument regularly serviced. That much takes a little more analysis, but in my best instinctive judgment I believe we're on the verge of a renaissance in music appreciation. We're not there yet, but it's coming. Times are changing and the magical act of making one's own music shows no signs of going away. Making music is an escape, a source of pleasure, a creative outlet and - for those with a dash of business sense and charisma - a surefire source of revenue. And it will be for years to come.
Honestly, I am astounded by the fees which some of those in my profession are charging. Some I know are charging twice, even three times as much as I do - plus mileage. I have intentionally held my price for years to what I consider a healthy profit margin. Twice in the past 10 years I have actually lowered my price to account for a reduction in expenses. For others it seems, price changes have gone in one direction only, and I don't need to tell you which way that is. I understand inflation, but prices should increase as demand increases, not simply to keep up with the rate of overall inflation.
With piano tuning, I know what the job entails and the time it takes to do it right. I know the average percentage of the overall fee which goes toward fuel and travel time. I know how quickly a piano belonging to a customer whose piano I have tuned for 10 or 15 years straight can be tuned and serviced, compared to one which I have never tuned before. And I know how negligible the overhead expenses are for an experienced, full-time piano tuner and technician. With the economy as it is, I intend to keep my fees right where they have been - reasonable, balanced and in line with what the average consumer can afford. You can count on it.
Honestly, I am astounded by the fees which some of those in my profession are charging. Some I know are charging twice, even three times as much as I do - plus mileage. I have intentionally held my price for years to what I consider a healthy profit margin. Twice in the past 10 years I have actually lowered my price to account for a reduction in expenses. For others it seems, price changes have gone in one direction only, and I don't need to tell you which way that is. I understand inflation, but prices should increase as demand increases, not simply to keep up with the rate of overall inflation.
With piano tuning, I know what the job entails and the time it takes to do it right. I know the average percentage of the overall fee which goes toward fuel and travel time. I know how quickly a piano belonging to a customer whose piano I have tuned for 10 or 15 years straight can be tuned and serviced, compared to one which I have never tuned before. And I know how negligible the overhead expenses are for an experienced, full-time piano tuner and technician. With the economy as it is, I intend to keep my fees right where they have been - reasonable, balanced and in line with what the average consumer can afford. You can count on it.
A well-serviced piano brings a lifetime of benefit
But I have also seen the benefits first hand. Dedicated musicians become business owners, municipal leaders, lawyers, scientists, teachers and physicians. Research has shown that learning to play the piano lends itself to success in other areas of life because one of its many consequences is that it exercises that part of our brain which is responsible for spatial reasoning and abstract conceptualization - vitally important for such things as mathematics. Making music provides the perfect harmony between creativity and logic, and between art and structure. And of all the instruments in use today, the piano is right up there at the top.
I consider myself a piano and guitar player of only modest talent, but technically and as an experienced tuner I would invite you to hold me up the very highest standard. If you are not completely satisfied, there simply will be no charge.
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