I've been hearing pianos being tuned since before I was born.
In 1969, at the age of 13, I began as an apprentice to my father, in his piano shop. This was quite an honor because my father, Albert Evans, was one of the founding members and national examiners for the Piano Technicians Guild. I feel so blessed to have learned my craft from one of the finest technicians in the country. My entire working life has been devoted to piano tuning, repairing, rebuilding, restoring, selling, moving, polishing, dusting, etc. -- essentially breathing, eating, drinking, dreaming and living pianos.
At the age of 16, Dad decided it was time to begin teaching me the tuning aspect of the piano business. For many years he was the staff piano technician for Oklahoma City University - which had 65 pianos - and he was responsible for tuning them each, twice per year. Dad would teach me a little, then let me practice on that for a while, then return to see how I was doing. That went on for about a week. At the end of that week, I had finally worried that piano into tune. He made it look so easy...
After a year or so of sharpening my tuning skills on the student practice pianos, my master (Dad) decided that I was ready to begin tuning the two concert grands that were used on a very regular basis for touring concert artists, as well as professors and student recitals. I remember how nervous I was when my first concert tuning was put to the test by a touring Steinway artist who was to present a program which included a couple of pieces by Liszt, and also a Chopin etude. You see, concert artists playing music by such composers can pound a poorly tuned piano out of tune in about 15 minutes. The tuning held up nicely throughout the performance! What a relief for a 17-year old piano tech.
For the next ten years, I served as the Associate Piano Technician for O.C.U., tuning and regulating the Baldwin and Steinway concert grands for many professional artists and other amazingly talented pianists.
In 1977, Dad and I opened a piano store that in three years became the largest piano dealership in the state, with approximately 200 pianos on the floor at all times. Dad wanted to keep the business 'all in the family' which meant a lot of work being done by very few people. Three to be exact - Dad, Mom, and me. I spent about half my time in the shop rebuilding, restoring, and refinishing pianos, but also worked the sales floor, delivered and tuned sold pianos, made our TV ads, unloaded truckloads of pianos from the various piano manufacturers we represented, swept the parking lot, fixed the trucks……well, you get the picture. The retail piano business had simply become bigger than I could manage, and I decided a change was in the wind.
In 1969, at the age of 13, I began as an apprentice to my father, in his piano shop. This was quite an honor because my father, Albert Evans, was one of the founding members and national examiners for the Piano Technicians Guild. I feel so blessed to have learned my craft from one of the finest technicians in the country. My entire working life has been devoted to piano tuning, repairing, rebuilding, restoring, selling, moving, polishing, dusting, etc. -- essentially breathing, eating, drinking, dreaming and living pianos.
At the age of 16, Dad decided it was time to begin teaching me the tuning aspect of the piano business. For many years he was the staff piano technician for Oklahoma City University - which had 65 pianos - and he was responsible for tuning them each, twice per year. Dad would teach me a little, then let me practice on that for a while, then return to see how I was doing. That went on for about a week. At the end of that week, I had finally worried that piano into tune. He made it look so easy...
After a year or so of sharpening my tuning skills on the student practice pianos, my master (Dad) decided that I was ready to begin tuning the two concert grands that were used on a very regular basis for touring concert artists, as well as professors and student recitals. I remember how nervous I was when my first concert tuning was put to the test by a touring Steinway artist who was to present a program which included a couple of pieces by Liszt, and also a Chopin etude. You see, concert artists playing music by such composers can pound a poorly tuned piano out of tune in about 15 minutes. The tuning held up nicely throughout the performance! What a relief for a 17-year old piano tech.
For the next ten years, I served as the Associate Piano Technician for O.C.U., tuning and regulating the Baldwin and Steinway concert grands for many professional artists and other amazingly talented pianists.
In 1977, Dad and I opened a piano store that in three years became the largest piano dealership in the state, with approximately 200 pianos on the floor at all times. Dad wanted to keep the business 'all in the family' which meant a lot of work being done by very few people. Three to be exact - Dad, Mom, and me. I spent about half my time in the shop rebuilding, restoring, and refinishing pianos, but also worked the sales floor, delivered and tuned sold pianos, made our TV ads, unloaded truckloads of pianos from the various piano manufacturers we represented, swept the parking lot, fixed the trucks……well, you get the picture. The retail piano business had simply become bigger than I could manage, and I decided a change was in the wind.
So with Dad's blessing, I moved to Houston in 1987 to start my own business, tuning, and repairing pianos
on location and caring for pianos in peoples homes, churches, schools, colleges,and concert venues.
on location and caring for pianos in peoples homes, churches, schools, colleges,and concert venues.
Soon after, an amazing thing happened. I went to the H&H music store at Willowbrook Mall to see if they needed a piano tuner. I was surprised to see that the young man in the piano department was a regular customer in OKC who had moved to Houston only a few months before me. Within a month, five of their locations were recommending me as their preferred tuner. What a miracle! ( Thank You God!) Steps of faith are always rewarded.
Since then I have enjoyed a successful business mostly generated by word-of-mouth referrals from my customers who believed I had made their piano sound and play better than it had before!
Since then I have enjoyed a successful business mostly generated by word-of-mouth referrals from my customers who believed I had made their piano sound and play better than it had before!
Who believes in Ethics anymore? I do!
I was raised to believe in the "Old World Standards and Ethics" - treat others as you would have them treat you, do your best job, and conduct business honorably.
I was raised to believe in the "Old World Standards and Ethics" - treat others as you would have them treat you, do your best job, and conduct business honorably.
- I will arrive at your home on time and I will treat each piano that I tune as if it were my own.
- I carefully tune by ear, giving time and attention to the necessary details.
- I do not believe in charging customers for unnecessary repairs or piano action regulation.
>> It does not matter how much a craftsman knows -- what does matter is if he will do his best job with what he knows. <<
I honestly cannot count the number of times a customer has shared with me that the last piano tuner only spent about 30-40 minutes on their piano.
A truly thorough, quality job of tuning requires about 90 minutes. I will spend whatever time is needed to ensure a quality tuning because I absolutely love pianos and the joy they bring to those who play them, and to those who enjoy listening.
A truly thorough, quality job of tuning requires about 90 minutes. I will spend whatever time is needed to ensure a quality tuning because I absolutely love pianos and the joy they bring to those who play them, and to those who enjoy listening.