Tuning, Repairs and Restoration

Introducing Specialist Piano Tuner; Vincent Tarin

Vincent Tarin was born in Blois, France. With a close friend as a piano
technician, he developed a fond interest in pianos.

After school, Vincent studied a four-year apprenticeship at the Institute of Technology for European Music Trades (ITEMM) in Le Mans, France. He was employed as a piano technician for five years in Ireland and, during this time, visited and toured piano factories extensively throughout Europe.

In 2011 / 12 Vincent studied and worked in the Schimmel piano factory in Braunschweig, Germany. He has been awarded the prestigious title of "Schimmel Concert Technician" reflecting a deep knowledge of Schimmel instruments and technology.

Vincent migrated to Australia in September 2012 and Musico / Bernies Music Land is proud to offer his specialty services.

Services:

Home service includes a written report on the condition of your piano, along with expert advice for the care and maintenance of the playability of your piano.  Book here or phone 9872 5122.

Piano Tuning: Upright Piano $185*

Piano Tuning: Grand Piano $255*

*Rates applies to within 30km radius of Bernies Music Land in Ringwood

Servicing and Maintenance:  $140 per hour

Including pitch raise, regulation, voicing and hammer work, adjustments, minor repairs and regular maintenance. Available on same visit as tuning. Charged per 15 minutes. 

Piano Tuning

When you purchase a lovely instrument it must be taken care of to ensure enduring value. This includes tuning and other long-term servicing like action regulation.

Most tuners will recommend that you tune your piano once or twice a year, and a piano can be affected by temperature and can go slightly 'out of tune' as the seasons change from summer to winter. In schools, or where an instrument is frequently used, it is common to undertake more regular tuning as required. Your tuner can recommend a service plan to take best care of your instrument.

Bernies Music Land has a team of qualified Tuners and Technicians to support your purchase. Each of the tuners on our listing has been chosen for their qualifications and experience and they are an ideal source of advice for taking care of your instrument.

Whether you are in the city, or in a small town in north Victoria, Bernies can connect you with a reliable Tuner to service your valuable instrument. To find the closest recommended tuner to you, please fill out this form or phone us at Bernies Music Land on (03) 9872 5122 and we will promptly arrange a booking for your next tuning service.

Alternatively, please visit the website of the Australian Piano Tuners and Technicians Association: www.aptta.org.au

Your piano tuner is invaluable for advice, so ensure a recommended tuner is contacted for all enquiries.
In its first year, your piano will be tuned twice; once at the showroom before delivery, and once in your home. To look after your piano and to ensure your warranty is effective, it is recommended that it be tuned twice yearly or at least once yearly, in your home by our recommended tuner. Please ensure that your tuner completes the Service Record in your Caring For Your Piano booklet. Your tuner will be happy to advise you on servicing and multiple tunings for pianos used for teaching, stringent practice or highly frequent use. Advising your tuner thoroughly of any concerns means that they can attend to items and be sure to attain your satisfaction and keep your piano playing beautifully. In addition to tuning, thorough maintenance includes;

Regulation

The inner playing mechanism, or "piano action", is an amazingly complex and sensitive machine. Like any other machine, it needs to be kept in adjustment so that it works the way it was meant to work when it was built. Each key on your piano has over 25 points of adjustment that need to work together to produce the sound you hear when you play just one note.
In order to compensate for wear, compacting of cloth and felt, and changes in wooden parts due to humidity, periodic adjustments must be made. Keeping the correct relationship between every part will prevent unnecessary wear, and will make the action "feel right" - that is, each key will function smoothly and evenly throughout the whole keyboard. Bernies Music Land recommends that regulation be conducted as part of your piano’s service plan at least every three to five years.

Voicing

Each piano has its own distinct sound or "voice". That is how it was built and that is its personality. Over many years, whilst the piano is played, the hammer felt strikes the strings thus compacting and wearing down the felt. This hardening can cause the tone to become too harsh or bright, and it's difficult to produce a wide or even range of tone, no matter how much you try to play using dynamics.
Either way, a technician can treat the hammers in various ways: by aligning, shaping, careful needling or hardening the hammers, in order to change the tone production. Voicing is a personal choice. Your tuner can discuss voicing with you, taking into consideration the age and potential of your instrument.

Adjustments

Maintenance including adjustments to fixing sticky or sluggish keys, adjusting or lubricating pedal mechanism and replacement of broken strings, are part of your maintenance and can be attended to by your tuner. 

Piano Repairs & Restoration

Restoring an older piano or purchasing a new one can be a tough choice. If you have a special family heirloom or a unique instrument, it can be worthwhile restoring it to close to its former beauty.

If you have an instrument that requires some TLC, the team at Bernies Music Land can arrange for a Tuner to visit you to tune your piano and to provide you with a report of your piano's condition (charges apply). Then the Tuner can recommend appropriate repairs or restoration to you and provide you with a quote for your consideration. To arrange a tuning and restoration report, please phone Bernies Music Land on (03) 9872 5122.

Should you like to consider trading in your piano for a newer or more reliable instrument, Bernies Music Land would be pleased to offer you a good trade-in price so you can enjoy making music for many years to come. Please phone the team at Bernies today on (03) 9872 5122 for a balanced view of your options.