Piano, Organ, and Keyboard/Expert Profile


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Expertise

I am a piano technician formerly with Steinway and Sons and now the staff technician at the City College of New York. I am also self-employed in New York. I apprenticed (Manhattan School of Music)in 1982 and was factory (Steinway) trained in 1983. I have experience tuning, repairing, reconditioning, and appraisals. Please note that appraising an instrument involves a visual inspection. I am not an expert in player mechanisms, refinishing, electronic keyboards, nor midi. I love the work of making an instrument sound concert quality.

Experience in the area

I successfully apprenticed at the Manhattan School of Music under Alan Buchman in 1982 (also received B.A. in music from same school) and employed by Steinway and Sons in 1983 as a tuner-technician. I also served as service manager for Steinway. Presently, I am the staff technician at City College of New York, CUNY and I handle warranty issues and tunings for Suzuki Pianos.

What do you like about this subject?

Pianos are amazing instruments; thousands of men and women have contributed to today's modern piano. It's probably the only high-tech machine that doesn't need electricity! Just imagine music without the piano. Unthinkable!

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

After 26 years, there is still so much to learn. Improving tonal and damper regulation and learning bellywork are among some of my interests.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Pianos have about 12,000 parts. A car has about 14,000.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

It's nice for a technician to play piano well (which I do), but you don't have to. A shoemaker makes a helluva ballet slipper but you wouldn't want to see him dance.

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Recent Reviews from Users

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    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Meredith11/21/0910101010Concise timely answer to my question. Thanks!
Ruth11/19/0910101010That was very helpful and on point .....
Julia11/16/0910101010Very prompt and helpful answer. Thanks!
robert11/13/0910101010 
John11/07/0910101010hank you for your responce, it was .....

Recent Answers from Samuel Noel

2009-11-22 Keys not striking:

Hi Laura, Rosener is a German piano that I have not seen any here in the United States. It may be that something is out of adjustment (regulation) or it could be broken parts. If the parts are broken

2009-11-21 Acrosonic by Baldwin:

Hi Charlie, Your Baldwin Acrosonic was manufactured in 1961. As for its value, you are correct; I would have to visually evaluate your instrument to appraise its value. In my area (New York), similar

2009-11-21 Price of Kimball Piano:

Hi Bill, The serial number indicates the year of production for a piano and in your case it's 1910. However, to appraise a piano, a technician must visually inspect it and assess the condition of the

2009-11-20 Steinway Spinet Piano:

Hi Russell, Your piano might be worth something, afterall it's a Steinway. However, the only way you are going to really know its value is to have it professionally evaluated. Your tuner can give you

2009-11-18 Baby Grand Piano:

Hi Bill, Buying a piano is very much like buying a car; a piano has 12,000 parts as compared with a car's 14,000. The key is the condition of the instrument and for that you need a technician as you

 

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