It was the fall of 1962. I had just turned 13 and along with the
excitement of becoming a teen, getting my hunting license and going out on my first date, my father decided it was time I
learned to tune pianos.
I remember that first old upright piano like it was just yesterday. Dad had several
pianos to tune in an upstate NY school system and he took me into one of the classrooms. There, beneath piles of books
and papers was a huge green upright piano that looked like it had seen better days. After removing all the junk and cabinet
pieces, the strings and tuning pins were exposed. I watched intently as he tuned the center octave.
He would turn to me and ask, "Can you hear the difference as I bring this string into tune?" At first I couldn't.
But then, like a light going off I began to hear what it was he wanted me to hear.
I could hear
him up the hall tuning one piano after another while I struggled with that old upright. I guess a few hours had passed
and I was still far from done when Dad came back into the room. "Let's see how it's coming," he said as
I gladly got up and let him take my place in front of that green monster. "You've got it!" he exclaimed
to my surprise.
That was about 45 years ago. Since that time I have tuned, repaired and rebuilt all types
of pianos for individuals, recording studios, concert halls, churches, school systems, music stores and every other conceivable setting
one might imagine.
My father has since passed, but his tools are in my kit and his work ethic and knowledge are
a big part of who I am.
James
