Piano technician

Finding somewhere to train as an apprentice piano tuner can be difficult, says Gary Beadell. Picture / Graeme Sedal

Name: Gary Beadell
Age: 43
Role: Piano technician at Jenkin Piano Services
Working hours: 40-hour week, plus overtime when doing concert work
Average pay: Self-employed technicians charge approximately $120 for domestic tuning visit, and do maximum of four a day. Salaries range from $37,000 to $48,000, with opportunities for extra through concert work.
Qualifications and institution: Higher National Diploma in Piano Technology from London College of Furniture (polytechnic); and Bachelor of Music (Piano Performance) from Adelaide University.

Describe what you do.

Two-thirds of our job is tuning, which includes domestic visits and tuning in concert halls, recording studios and show rooms.

Concert work involves visiting locations such as the Town Hall and tuning or voicing (adjusting the tonal sound) the piano.

We also do comprehensive repairs in the workshop, such as repairing the piano action (mechanism). Sometimes a whole piano comes in to have rusty wires restrung or worn-out hammers replaced, or old ivory keys glued back down.

At Jenkin Piano Services there are four tuners on the road and two in the workshop, plus a half-timer.

I like working here because I like the collegiality and sharing of knowledge and experience. Usually piano technicians/tuners are self-employed.

What sort of training or experience is needed for the job?

Within the workshop there is a real mix of background and training, including someone with a five-year Yamaha factory apprenticeship and someone with a music education degree.

One tuner plays drums and our apprentice plays the violin.

What is your history?

I did a music performance degree at Adelaide University. I was interested in the mechanical side of the piano and decided to learn to tune my own piano. Then I realised to get good at it I needed to do it fulltime, so my playing took a back seat.

I wanted an apprenticeship with my piano tuner but he didn't have the facility. Then my wife, also a pianist, got a scholarship to Germany so I went with the hope of getting an apprenticeship there. That didn't happen but I got into a three-year course in England instead.

Then I worked at Steinway in London for five years, learning how to apply my knowledge. I also learned how to deal with sticky situations. You need to appear reasonably confident when all the eyes of the orchestra are on you as you repair a pedal during a concert.

We returned to Australia where I worked as a self-employed tuner for four years before coming to work here at David Jenkin's two years ago.

I was attracted by the workshop environment and opportunity to live in New Zealand.

What skills or qualities do you need?

It is crucial you have musical interest, but not necessarily in pianos. You need mechanical aptitude or an interest in learning how things are put together and curiosity. You need to want to work out what is wrong if keys are sticking.

You need patience, as the work can be repetitive and tedious, yet must be produced to a high standard. You develop knowledge of the theory of sound and acoustics and knowledge of different pianos so you can assess, diagnose and solve problems.

Most satisfying part of the job?

Spending the afternoon working on a concert piano, then sitting back and enjoying the concert as it goes well and knowing you played a part in creating the event. Because I'm classically trained, I particularly enjoy the classical concert work.

Most challenging part?

The sound aspect is the most challenging for me. Others might say the mechanical side or how the action is set up. Sound is a never-ending journey, and one piano will sound different depending on the person playing. Venues also affect the sound, whether shop, home, workshop or concert hall or tent. So ensuring a piano sounds and plays really well is a good challenge.

What's your advice to someone wanting to do the same thing?

Training is an issue. Apprenticeships are difficult to get. There is an international shortage of piano technicians, yet most New Zealand piano tuners don't have the facilities necessary to take on an apprentice.

I think Jenkin is the only place offering apprenticeships in New Zealand. There are a few in Australia and factory apprenticeships overseas with companies such as Yamaha.

And the career prospects?

I could take a map of the world and stick a pin into any country to go and set up as a piano technician and I'd be busy all the time.