Ryan W. Sowers, RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Certified Tuning Examiner (CTE)
Established 1994
Call or Text (360) 480-5693 pianovapianoservice@gmail.com
Piano Tuning Reviews & Testimonials
Jessica Williams (1948-2022),
pianist, composer, and
two-time grammy nominee
Just as there are piano players and then there are fine pianists, there are likewise piano tuners and then there are fine piano technicians. A piano tuner tunes the piano, often with a digital device. A great technician has the ear of a true musician.
A great technician makes the piano sing to its optimal level, opening artistic pathways for the musician. After Ryan works on my piano, I feel as if it almost plays itself. He opens the instrument up to all of its sonic capabilities. He gets it to SING!"
Ryan prepared the piano for the following albums: "Songs for a New Century" (2008), "The Art of the Piano" (2009) and "Touch" (2010) both recorded live at the Triple Door in Seattle.
Charlie Albright
International Award-wining Concert Artist
"Thank you so much for the magnificent work on the piano. I've never heard it sound/play that well. It was like a different piano...it was spectacular."
Visit CharlieAlbright.com to learn more
Jennifer Bowman
Pianist, Composer, Graduate of the Juilliard School
Ryan of Pianova has been my primary piano technician in Olympia for almost 20 years. He and his wife Jean are a fantastic team who work hard together to make sure that the pianos sound right and scheduling and business issues are easy. Ryan is a Steinway certified technician who has excellent ears.
Because he mastered his craft before the advent of so much technology, he is very adept at tuning by ear, and using this technique is still his primary focus. He does incorporate technology, but more as a supplement rather than only tuning to an app. As a result, the tuning sounds musical and is customized to my instrument.
He has prepared my Steinway for all of the albums I have recorded, and just finished prepping it for an upcoming project. Highly recommend!
Dr. Oksana Ezhokina, Piano Studies Chair Pacific Lutheran University
Dr. Ramona Allen
Lakeside Piano Studio
Hannah Cho, Award-winning performer and educator
Terry Shaw, Award-winning educator and director of music St. Mark's Lutheran
Dr. Merilyn Jacobson with Juilliard grad Elise Winkler
Alex Balsley, Piano teacher
Owner, Jammin Music Studios
John Guarente, Professor of Choral Ensembles and Music Theory at SPSCC
Crystal Zimmerman, Interim Director of Vocal Music St. Martin's University
Nickolas Carlson, Conductor, Olympia Chamber Orchestra.
Over 30 Years Experience
Over 15,000 Pianos Serviced
Over 100 Pianos Restored
Gratefully
Trusted by
TEACHERS
Pacific Lutheran University Piano Studies Chair: Oksana Ezhokina, Jennifer Bowman, Amy Yang, Dr. Ramona Allen, Hannah Cho, Terry Shaw, Wolfgang Wortberg, Alex Balsely, Pat Kilmer, Vicki Tobin, Maureen Johnson, April Kuhr, Dan Colgan, Lorna Eder, Karen Monroe, Jan Rowen-Music, Robert Jorgensen, Dr. Merilyn Jacobson, Chip Schooler, Dan Schwartz, Keith Holder, Dilyara Oliver, and others.
SCHOOLS
St Martins University, South Puget Sound Community College, The Evergreen State College, Grays Harbor College, North Thurston Public Schools, Tumwater Public Schools, Olympia High School, Yelm Public Schools, Jamin' Music Studios, and others.
CHURCHES
United Churches of Olympia, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Westminster Presbyterian, Lacey Presbyterian, Hope Community Church, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, St Martins Abbey, St. Marks Lutheran Church, Gospel Outreach, Littlerock Community Church, Olympia First Baptist and many others
PIANO STORES
Prosser Piano & Organ, Classic Pianos, Portland Piano Company, Michelle's Piano.
Dan Schwartz, Olympia High School Choir
2018 Regional Music Educator of the Year
Dawn Sonntag, Composer and Director of Music, Westminster Presbyterian
Melissa Fletcher, teacher, Music Director at St. Michael’s Catholic Church
Ben Klinger, General Manager
Keith Holder, Beloved Olympia schools music educator and all around wise guy!
Dan Colgan, Music Director, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Founder & Artistic Director of the Capital City Chorus
April Kuhr, Director of Music / Organist & Pianist at The United Churches of Olympia
Wolfgang Wortberg, Concert Artist, Teacher
Art Peterson, Pianist, Accompanist
In 2013 Ryan was honored to receive the PNW PTG Jim Burton Award.
Ryan’s tuning can be heard on several nationally released recordings:
“Vivace” by internationally acclaimed pianist Charlie Albright was recorded on the Steinway concert grand purchased by Centralia College in 2009. Ryan was hired to select and prepare this piano from the West Coast inventory.
Songs for a New Century by award winning pianist and two-time Grammy nominee Jessica Williams. Recorded at her home in 2008.
“Touch” by Jessica Williams recorded live at the Triple Door Theater in Seattle, Washington in 2010.
“Each year the Pacific Northwest Regional Conference of the Piano Technicians Guild honors a member of PTG by bestowing the James H. Burton Award. The award is given to honor Jim, for the service he so willingly gave to PTG over many years, and the recipient who likewise, has given of themselves unselfishly to further piano technology in both the local, regional and national level.”
“Piano Palettes” by Jennifer Bowman (2019), graduate of the Juilliard School, and former Assistant Manager of Washington’s largest Steinway piano dealer. Jennifer is one of Olympia’s most respected music educators, pianists, and composers.