Back to School, Back to Piano Lessons

Back to School, Back to Piano Lessons

Believe it or not (and the kid in my life would prefer not to believe it), Back to School is just around the corner. For many families in the Tri-City area, this also means back to piano lessons. Whether they are just getting started or further along in their studies,...
Can the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Make a Comeback?

Can the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Make a Comeback?

When the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony — a beloved institution for Tri-City music lovers and visitors alike — suddenly closed its doors this fall, it was a huge blow to the community. The closure was a stark reminder of just how fragile our connection to the arts can...
The Perfectly Imperfect Nature of the Piano

The Perfectly Imperfect Nature of the Piano

When I sat down for my first lecture at the University of Western Ontario’s Piano Technology program, I was shocked at the complexity of what went into tuning a piano. One reason is that each and every piano is different — and, like people, each is...
What’s an A440 Pitch Raise?

What’s an A440 Pitch Raise?

When I think of the importance of tuning a piano to A440 (also known as Stuttgart pitch) two things come to mind: First, is the history — A440 is the musical pitch that corresponds to the frequency of 440Hz as a tuning standard for notes of A above middle C. It was...
Happy Retirement, Paul!

Happy Retirement, Paul!

After a 40 year career, a fellow piano tuner from Kitchener has retired. I first met Paul in 2013. I had purchased a piano and when he came to tune it, he also inadvertently inspired my decision to pursue piano technology as a career. Paul was a talented piano tuner...