Taking good care of a piano involves much more than getting it tuned once every couple of years. I approach each new piano as though I will be seeing it regularly for years to come. The following services are what I would recommend for new and continuing customers.

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First Appointment: Allow 3-3.5 hours

​In a first appointment my aim is to assess the condition of the instrument, get it playing and sounding the best I can within the time limits of the appointment, and plan for how it can be maintained and even improved over the coming years. This may involve:

• A thorough inspection of the piano’s condition, including the outer case, the action (playing mechanism), strings, and tuning stability (how likely it will be to stay in tune)

• Cleaning of dust, spiderwebs and rodent detritus

• Any minor maintenance necessary to get the piano playing smoothly

• Action regulation, that is, fine adjustments of the playing mechanism to improve the feel and sound of the piano, and to ensure all the parts are moving the way they’re supposed to

• Pitch raise, a rough tune in order to get the strings to the correct tension if they are a long way out of tune

• Fine tune to concert pitch

I will also make recommendations for follow-up work based on what I find during a first appointment.
Note: Some pianos, usually due to age-related factors, will no longer reliably hold their pitch. If I find this is the case with your piano, I will discuss the various options available with you before going ahead with any work.

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Pitch raise follow-up

If a piano has had a large pitch adjustment during the first appointment, it may need an extra tune soon after to ensure it remains stable at concert pitch. This follow-up service is a cheaper tuning for pianos within six months of a pitch raise.

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Regular service: Allow 2-3 hours

A piano should be serviced once a year, at a minimum, to ensure the pitch remains stable. In addition to tuning the piano as part of a regular service, I carry out small amounts of regulation to ensure that the playing mechanism is functioning smoothly and efficiently, and feels good under your fingers.

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Complete piano regulation

Sometimes the playing mechanism of a piano needs some more dedicated attention. In a complete regulation service, I adjust all the parts of the playing mechanism to factory standard so the piano plays as it was intended. This service finishes off with a fine tune to concert pitch. Allow one day for upright, or two days for grands.

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Repairs

Sticky keys, squeaky pedals, annoying buzzes and hums, broken or missing parts. We can help troubleshoot the cause of these problems and conduct minor repairs to help eliminate these sources of frustration. I address these issues as part of regular servicing, however they may incur an extra charge if the scope is too far beyond the allocated time.

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String replacement

Sometimes piano strings will break as part of the tuning process. This will incur an extra fee. Treble strings can be replaced on the day, however bass strings need to be made especially for the piano and so will require a call-back appointment. The charge for string replacement also includes a follow-up visit to re-tune the strings, as new strings tend to go out of tune more quickly. (Extra travel fees will still be required for customers outside Wagga Wagga).