Piano Tuning Dayton and Nashville by Eric Michael Roberts

New Free Used Piano Guide Video Series

8chordsonline — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:33:31 +0000

Check out the new video series to help you learn about purchasing a great used piano. Be sure to watch these videos before you purchase that piano or take one for FREE out of your neighbors garage! This will save you time and money!

Just tuned Steinway Concert Grand! Improvisation on Piano

8chordsonline — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:32:31 +0000

Eric tuned for Wright State University Choir Recording Session

8chordsonline — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:07:19 +0000

I tuned and prepped the piano for Dr. Dahlman’s Wright State University Choir recording. They have a great video of the recording online. Dr. Dahlman was my Choir conductor and teacher during my studies at WSU.

Eric Whitacre: The Seal Lullaby

Springboro Piano Services Receives 2011 Best of Springboro Award

8chordsonline — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:47:24 +0000

Springboro Piano Services Receives 2011 Best of Springboro AwardU.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the AchievementNEW YORK, NY, October 20, 2011 — Springboro Piano Services has been selected for the 2011 Best of Springboro Award in the Music Stores category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

http://www.uscaaward.com

Welcome to the piano tuning blog!

8chordsonline — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:18:40 +0000

Welcome, I am a Certified Master Piano Technician and I lead a team of specialized technicians who can help you with anything from tuning to complete piano rebuilding. Let me know your needs and I will help you keep your piano sounding and playing great. If you need immediate assistance, complete the online tuning request form or call 937-416-5166

Online Tuning Request Form

Join Eric and Emily on Facebook!

Visit my main web sites for Springboro Piano Services and Music City Piano Technicians

Scroll down to read blog posts and news!

Eric Tuned for National Touring Atist Jack’s Mannequin

8chordsonline — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:14:58 +0000

Working for the University of Dayton. Tuned the Baldwin grand piano for the national touring artist, Jack’s Mannequin for the concert on April 2.

Action Brackets for Warped Young Change Weber Pianos

8chordsonline — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:37:42 +0000

I just replaced the action brackets on a weber grand from 1990′s. As mentioned before in MPT convention it was discovered that the action brackets were swelling due to a poor alloy mixture during the manufacturing process. and you can not regulate that out of it. By advice from MPT Pres. Jack Hamiliton, I called Young Chang and they confirmed the serial number and sent me brackets free. If you come to a grand piano from young chang or weber from the 90′s with out of wack weird regulation, before you regulate the heck out of the piano, check with mfg to see if the brackets are at fault. The alloy was mixed wrong and it causes swelling over time. This knowledge saved me hours of work and the job paid very well. I took video of my entire process which included relocating screws for the center brackets on the action frame (which took the longest of the steps in the process) I will try to post some video on our blog later.

This piano was checking so bad and the jacks were not lined up at all. In fact, it looked like someone messed up the entire regulation but the customer had no previous action work done and was the only owner. Warping of this kind is such a freak type that many techs can’t even believe it but it is true. This knowledge was discovered and shared at an MPT convention in past years. When you encounter a problem and can not see the solution, you can inquire with MPT members and network to find a quick and solid answer. This is one great reason to be affiliated with MPT, the things you learn and can accomplish are so much greater in a group of such skilled and accomplished technicians.

Once the new brackets were installed, I had to regulate the basics and the piano plays great now. I admit it was a bit scary to me as a young technician to undertake this project for my customer but I have the backing of the greatest techs in the country with the MPT.

Thanks to Jack Hamilton who had the knowledge right away and shared it with me so that I could accomplish this job.

Re-stringing a Steinway

8chordsonline — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:24:49 +0000

Today I worked with Tim on a Steinway at BHA. It was a hands on restring of a Steinway grand. Had a great time. We put on a new set of bass strings and then did the initial tunings. I did a restring with Jack in the beginning and that is when I started in on my piano tech learning. Today it was more hands on and I learned a ton doing this job. It helps in this field to get you experience next to techs who have high skill level and I was able to take the time to perfect winding and making very nice coils. I’ll post some picts later.

This Steinway got over-sized pins and new key tops.

If you have a nice piano and it sounds dead in the bass, you may consider a re-string of the bass section. This will make the piano sound amazing compared to old tubby bass strings.

Beyond Tuning. What your piano needs.

8chordsonline — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:22:31 +0000

There is more to piano care than an occasional tuning. I am going to take you through a few of the important things that your piano need in order for it to play and sound wonderful.

I am going to describe some of the reasons that you are compelled to call a tuner and then explain what is going on inside your complex instrument…. all in simple terms.

My piano is out of tune!

First of all, a piano should be tuned at least 1 time per year and many manufactures suggest 2-4 times per year. You should have one technician that you trust and you should keep the tuning on a regular schedule. I offer a courtesty call at your request so that you don’t have to worry about keeping on track. I remind you when it is time to tune and keep detailed notes about your piano.

If it has been many years since your tuning or you can’t remember, you are most likely in need of a pitch raise to get the piano up to standard concert pitch and the more regular tunings your piano has, the better it will sound and more stable the piano will become!

My keys are sticking!

This can be for many reasons. High humidity causes everything to swell and makes your keys stick. Then in the winter, the dry air dries it all out and they may stop sticking. So, I can “ease” your keys so that they are moving properly and keep them from sticking.

Often sticking keys are just a symptom of a larger problem. Your piano may need regulating (adjustment of the moving parts inside) If things are out of adjustment which happens over years of playing, I can make the proper adjustments to get your keys playing again.

Sometimes a piano needs lubricated! It plays slowly or feels sluggish. In this case, the many moving parts need to be lubricated to free up all the moving parts to work properly.

Regulation should be done every 4 years and will keep your piano playing correctly. Many people never take this step and the piano will continue to play worse as time goes on. The felt inside the piano mechanism will get hard and squished! It makes the piano play poorly. It just needs some attention from a Master Piano Technician.

My Piano is Noisy!

Over time, the felt and leather pieces in the piano become brittle and compressed. I can help quiet your piano by working to lubricate and restore the felt and leather in your piano.

My Piano has a Heavy Touch!

Heavy sluggish touch on a piano can be fixed by regulation and lubrication of the action. The action is the inner working mechanism of the piano keys.

My Piano Sounds Bad!

The piano tone is highly affected by the hammers. The hammers are made from compressed felt. New pianos can sound dull and lifeless and older pianos can sound harsh! Voicing is the art of working on the hammers to optimize the tone of the piano. If you don’t like the tone of your piano, I can help you bring it up with more life or mellow it out if it is hurting your ears. The tone should be consistent from the top to the bottom. If it is not, you will not be in love with your piano. This is where the art of voicing comes to play.

Strings get old and can begin to sound tubby. When this happens, the only way to bring it back is to put on new bass strings! This can be expensive so I can talk you through the options. Many times it is better to purchase a newer piano.

My piano is OLD!

An old piano comes with many challenges. It is hard to know if a sticking key is a simple adjustment or the signs of the need for a complete overhaul of the piano’s insides. Old pianos have some value to beginning students but often hinder musical growth and never play and sound like a good piano. If you have an older piano that possesses sentimental value, it can be played, repaired and fully restored but will only ever be as good as it once was! A poor old piano restored will be nothing more that a poor piano in restored condition.

FREE Pianos!

Be cautious of picking up a FREE piano. A piano is never really free because you will have to move it, tune it and repair anything that is wrong. Often, a piano is offered for FREE because it has reached the end of its real musical life. It needs too many repairs to make it a good financial investment. Plus many old uprights have cracked bridges and old dead bass strings, old worn out hammers and more problems that I can list here.

Accepted into the Master Piano Technicians

8chordsonline — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:26:24 +0000

I was sponsored into the MPT by my personal mentor, Jack Hamilton, in 2009 and finalized my induction into the Master Piano Technicians at the 2010 Convention at Myrtle Beach. 3 other techs were accepted this year.

I was also elected Web Master for the MPT to help them with their national sites and to help use modern web media to strengthen the orginization.

MPT is dedicated to piano technicians helping them network, train and grow to be the best in the industry.

Pictures and details about MPT can be found at our new facebook page