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I fell in love with the piano at a very early age, inspired by my sister’s spirited rendition of “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” My parents enrolled me in lessons with the jolly Mr. Gibson, who also taught my brother trumpet. I was a rambunctious kid who struggled with traditional classroom learning, but piano was a bright light—a confidence builder that stayed with me throughout my youth. I suspect it also helped impress a beautiful redhead named Jean, who later became my wife and business partner.

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My parents were wonderfully supportive of my music-making, even when my practice habits were... lackadaisical. They believed the lessons were valuable whether I had worked on them during the week or not. When I started high school, they sold our old upright and invested in a professional-grade analog synthesizer—a Roland Juno 106—which became the centerpiece of my home workstation. I added a drum machine, sampling keyboard, and tone module, all connected to my dad’s Commodore computer.

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As lovers of music and education, Jean and I originally planned to become schoolteachers—me in music, her in early childhood education. But our idealism (and skepticism of traditional classroom structures) led us both to pursue Liberal Arts degrees. We also knew we wanted a family, and we welcomed our first son while still attending The Evergreen State College.

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With graduation looming and a baby in tow, I still wasn’t sure what direction to take. The answer came in the form of a  1925 Henry F. Miller 5'8" grand piano at an estate sale. Local legend John Grace, a blind piano technician and mover, transported and tuned it for us. I was completely enthralled by the tuning process and fascinated by the restoration bid. I’ve always loved mechanical things—spending hours tinkering with my 1967 VW Bug—and working on pianos felt too good to be true.

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The piano technology books at the local library led me to the Piano Technicians Guild in 1992, where I found my first teacher and a community of eclectic, passionate craftspeople dedicated to making pianos work better. Through PTG, I gained incredible mentors and educational opportunities. Within a couple of years, I passed both the tuning and technical exams. Having scored very high on the tuning exam—without using an electronic aid—I was encouraged to train as a Certified Tuning Examiner, which gave me a huge confidence boost early in my career.

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After several years, Jean took a sabbatical from her job at the Timberland Regional Library to help manage our growing piano business. When she took over day-to-day operations, it was like night and day. Her appreciation for great customer service and genuine care for people make our clients feel like part of the family.

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I’ve been fortunate to learn from some of the best in the field. Steve Brady and Darrell Fandrich emphasized the importance of voicing and touch. “Don’t just tune and run!” Darrell used to say. The goal is not just to be a tuner—but a technician. Through PTG, I’ve had the privilege of working with world-class experts like Kent Webb (former head of technical services for Steinway), Don Mannino (head technician for Kawai), and the late LaRoy Edwards (former head technician at Yamaha).

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My philosophy is simple: bring world-class service to everyday clients. I believe the world doesn’t necessarily need more concert pianists (as much as I admire them), but it does need more satisfied amateurs. People are drawn to the piano by the beauty of the music they’ve heard—but often don’t realize how much their own neglected instrument is holding them back.

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We love helping our clients on their piano journey and keeping them joyfully addicted to this amazing instrument. The piano is an escape, a place to explore, a time machine, and a close companion. But it also requires love and attention. And sometimes, it’s time to retire an old friend and give a newer piano a chance.

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We look forward to being  your partner as you pursue your musical aspirations.​​​