Minnesota School of Piano Technology | Brochure
What is a Career in Piano Technology All About?
Piano technicians tune, repair and regulate pianos. In other words, they learn to adjust the piano strings to different frequencies, repair or replace broken parts, and adjust the mechanics of each key. As a piano technician, you set your own hours, call on prospective clients, make your own piano tuning appointments, meet new people and work in their homes. You’ll work with your hands, and use tools to tune and repair pianos.
Do I Need to Know How to Play the Piano?
A background in piano or music is helpful, but not necessary. Patience is a must for learning how to tune and repair pianos. During the course, you will learn the music theory necessary for piano tuning. The Sudnow Method of piano playing is highly recommended for non-piano players and will be covered briefly in class.
What Kind of Person Makes a Good Piano Technician?
Since most piano tuners are self-employed, chances are you’ll be your own boss. Therefore, you’ll need self-motivation to sell and market yourself. In addition, patience and practice are necessary; the trade is not easily learned overnight. Age is not a factor; people from age 17 to 75 have completed the course.
Is There a Demand for Piano Tuners?
Yes, not only from those who own pianos in their homes, but also from businesses, hotels, restaurants, churches, various organizations, etc. This means there’s plenty of work out there for a large number of piano technicians, hence, a large market for new piano technicians. Remember, most piano tuners are self-employed, so your success will depend on how fast you learn the trade and how well you run your business. Unfortunately, since a large percentage of piano owners are not aware that a piano should be tuned twice a year, the average piano is tuned about once every five years. Read more on this subject here!
Do Piano Tuners Make a Lot of Money?
For full-time, established, certified piano tuners with a large client base, annual incomes can range from approximately $35,000 to $75,000.00 and more. Of course, the more time you spend selling yourself and setting up appointments, the more money you make. For people who want to keep their full-time job or make a career transition, piano tuning and repair provides an excellent part-time opportunity; average annual incomes can range from approximately $20,000 and up.
Tell Me About the Course Offered at the Minnesota School of Piano Technology.
The State of Minnesota licenses the Minnesota School of Piano Technology. The class is designed for beginning students, and classroom size is limited to 12 students. The course teaches:
- Tuning – how to hear beats per second and tuning hammer techniques
- Regulating – learning the mechanics of the keys and correcting the 37 adjustments per key
- Piano Repair – how to replace broken or damaged parts
- How to Re-string a piano
- Piano Tuning Theory
- How to Install a Piano Humidity Control System
- How to Work With Suppliers
- Helpful Hints and Practical Business Skills
- Other Basic Skills
What Happens When I’ve Finished the Course?
You’re ready to start your piano tuning business. A word of caution: it takes time – from two to five years to get your business off the ground. During the first year, you’ll learn the fine art of piano tuning, print your business cards, tell people who you are and what you do, tune pianos at a discount rate, and build your client base. Although it’s not required, you may also wish to begin a formal apprenticeship with an experienced technician.
Do Piano Tuners Need Certification?
No. Not every piano technician is a certified professional; however, craftsman-level technicians belong to the Piano Technicians Guild. The certificate you earn from the Minnesota School of Piano Technology prepares you for the tests offered by the Piano Technicians Guild. The Guild’s tests are very difficult. It may take up to five years of experience to pass these exams.
Tools
The tools for the course include: textbook, tuning kit, regulating kit, stringing kit, hammer replacement kit, and technical handouts during the class. These tools will be enough to get you started. You can then slowly purchase other tools as you increase your skills.
About the Instructor
Mr. Gregory Gavin, a native of Saint Paul, attended Cretin High School and holds degrees in music and philosophy from the University of St. Thomas. He studied music with a member of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and a member of the Minnesota Orchestra for six years.
He is a registered piano technician and holds a craftsman-level membership in the Piano Technicians Guild. He holds a certificate from the University of Minnesota’s McPhail Center for the Arts in piano tuning and repair, has been a piano technician since 1981, and has offered piano technician training since 1987. Mr. Gavin has worked with the Twin Cities’ finest piano technicians. In addition, he’s tuned pianos for Interlochen National Music Camp in Michigan, members of both the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra & the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera Company, and many celebrity performers at the Target Center in Downtown Minneapolis, as well as various recording studios and local schools.
He owned and operated Gavin Piano, Inc., a new and used piano retail store, piano supply shop and piano instruction studio. He currently operates a new and used retail store downtown White Bear Lake, Minnesota and tunes and repairs pianos. Gavin is an excellent educator, and he creates a friendly, open atmosphere in his classrooms.
For Further Information, Please Contact the
Minnesota School of Piano Technology at (651) 644-3111.