Personal tools

Navigation

You are here: Home › Careers › Australian Careers › Careers Descriptions › Specialised Craft and Equipment Manufacturing and Repair Careers › Piano Tuner/Technician

Piano Tuner/Technician

Piano tuners/technicians adjust the strings of pianos so that they sound in harmony, and repair, service and restore pianos.

Tasks & duties

Piano tuners/technicians may do some or all of the following:

advise clients on the level of restoration that is required
adjust (tune) the piano's string tension to the correct pitches
adjust the tonal character of pianos for evenness, power and quality (that is, voice or tone pianos)
repair or replace broken, defective or aged piano parts such as hammers, flange pins, leather, felt, dampers, springs and strings
prepare (tune, regulate and voice) pianos for concerts, recording sessions or other important occasions
use woodworking skills to repair or replace piano parts, such as tuning planks, or repair piano cabinets/cases
refinish or re-polish piano cabinets or cases
inspect, assess and value clients' pianos for purchase or insurance purposes
prepare pianos for sale
sell pianos and assist with their delivery

Skills & knowledge

Piano tuners/technicians need to have:

knowledge of sound, pitch and tone
knowledge of different pianos, so they can assess, diagnose and solve problems
knowledge of the construction of pianos, including the different kinds of wood used to make them
knowledge of how maths and physics relate to the theory of sound and acoustics
technical and mechanical skills
the ability to use their fingers to do intricate work
communication skills
the ability to play the piano
business skills if they are self-employed

Entry requirements

There are no specific educational requirements to become a piano tuner/technician, as most training is completed on the job. However, it is recommended that you are a member of the New Zealand Piano Tuner and Technician Guild. Memberships can be gained by passing an examination. An interest in music, good hearing and a current driver's licence are also important.

Secondary education

There are no specific educational requirements; however, beginner's level music or higher and Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA equivalent English, maths and science are helpful.

Training on the job

Skills are learned on the job by training with a practising piano tuner or through supervised training with the New Zealand Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild.