Piano Tuner

Piano Tuner

Also called: Piano Technician, Piano Tech

Piano tuners make small adjustments to the tension of a piano's strings, aligning the intervals between their tones so that the instrument is in tune. Some piano tuners are also piano technicians, providing repair and restoration services.  

What Does a Piano Tuner Do?

Some estimates put the number of pianos in the United States at nearly 20 million, and thanks to factors such as temperature, humidity, age, and frequent or hard playing, every one of them needs regular tuning and upkeep. A single home piano might need to be tuned once or twice per year, while studio pianos might be tuned monthly and concert pianos before every single performance. Piano tuners, who are often professional pianists or instrument repair technicians, take full advantage of this demand as a steady side gig.

Piano tuning and repair is delicate, painstaking work, best suited to calm and focused individuals who don't mind working alone.

Piano tuners use a handful of simple tools to test and adjust the pitch of a piano's strings, including a tuning lever, a variety of mutes to silence strings that aren't being tuned, and a tuning fork or electronic tuning device to determine accurate tones. Their most important tools, however, are their ears and deep knowledge of pianos: their anatomy, mechanical operation, and sound. A straightforward tuning job takes about an hour to complete, but a more complex one can involve assessing components such as the keyboard, pedals, and action, and correcting problems such as loose pins or worn felt on hammers. The piano tuner's art is simple to learn, but takes a lifetime to master.

Work Life Balance

Piano tuners and technicians usually work during standard business hours—with the exception of an occasional emergency call from a concert hall or venue—and the many freelancers in the field are free to make their own schedules. 

Community

Piano tuning and repair is delicate, painstaking work, best suited to calm and focused individuals who don't mind working alone. Networking and relationship-building are valuable skills for self-employed piano tuners, whose success might be measured by how many consistent clients they have.

Finding Work

Piano tuners and technicians usually work for a mix of regular and one-time (or inconsistent) clients. Regular clients might include piano showrooms, colleges and universities, music conservatories, concert halls, and recording studios, while less consistent clients include churches, nightclubs, hotels, and homes. While piano tuners are almost always self-employed, they might find gigs through a piano repair company. They are benefitted by good networking—particularly, forming professional relationships with studio managers and venue managers.

Professional Skills

  • Excellent ears for pitch and nuance
  • Finger dexterity
  • Basic woodworking and instrument repair techniques
  • Strong knowledge of the anatomy and functions of pianos
  • Patience and calm
  • Networking

Interpersonal Skills

Piano tuning and repair is delicate, painstaking work, best suited to calm and focused individuals who don't mind working alone. Networking and relationship-building are valuable skills for self-employed piano tuners, whose success might be measured by how many consistent clients they have.

Industries

  • Film, Video, and Television
  • Technology
  • Video Games
  • Advertising
  • Artist Services
  • Music and Audio Tools
  • Radio and Streaming Music
  • Recording Industry
  • Health and Wellness
  • Theater
  • Live Music
  • Opera
  • Dance
  • Orchestra, Chorus, and Band
  • Education
  • Arts Administration
  • Journalism
  • Church and Worship

Top US Cities for This Role

  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • New York City
  • Boston
  • Nashville