Regulation
I adjust the action when touch feels uneven, sluggish, or difficult to control, restoring repetition and consistency across the keyboard.
$90/hr + parts2.5 hours
Denver and Boulder piano tuning.
I allow about 2.5 hours to set pitch, inspect the action, and listen across the instrument. Pitch correction is included when needed.
Enough time to hear the whole instrument.
A tuning and inspection takes me approximately 2.5 hours. I use trained ears, technician experience, and modern tuning technology to leave the piano clear, balanced, and stable.
- ListenI hear where pitch, tone, and touch begin.
- InspectI check the piano before settling into the tuning.
- Set tensionIf pitch has drifted, I correct it before the fine tuning.
- TuneI bring the instrument to concert pitch and balance the intervals.
- Check the actionSmall adjustments may be handled during the visit. Larger work is discussed first.
Years of drift can pull the pitch down.
If a piano is new or has gone many years without tuning, the string tension may have shifted. I bring that tension back before the final tuning. Pitch correction is included in the $180 tuning rate when needed.
One appointment is not always the end of the story. A piano far below pitch may benefit from a follow-up after the strings settle, and I will tell you when that is the sensible next step.
- Target pitch
- A440
- Typical visit
- About 2.5 hours
- Regular care
- At least yearly
★★★★★
Patient work changed more than the pitch.
“Our piano never sounded so good! It has always been very bright and tinny with other piano tuners. Dustin made it sound warmer and more musical. I highly recommend him.”
“Not only did he fix a piano that others told us was beyond repair, but he did it in a kind and professional way. Our family heirloom is now as good as new.”
“Dustin did an excellent job tuning an older piano at my parents' home that had not been tuned in many years. He was personable, took time to answer my questions, and did not rush to finish the job. I appreciate the time he took to bring it back to being an enjoyable instrument to play.”
Touch, tone, and mechanics need care too.
Wear, Colorado's dry climate, compressed felt, dust, and small mechanical problems all change what you feel and hear. I evaluate the instrument in front of me and explain added work before I begin it.
Repair
Sticking keys, pedal trouble, buzzing, broken strings, worn hammers, key repairs, and other action problems can often be put right.
$90/hr + partsCleaning
I remove dust, dirt, pet hair, and debris from inside and out. A full cleaning typically takes about 2.5 hours.
$180Evaluation + appraisal
I inspect the piano and provide a written report on its condition, potential issues, and approximate value.
$90I work on the instrument as a technician and hear it as a musician.
I apprenticed at Move and Tune Pianos in Denver in 2012 and have worked full-time tuning and repairing pianos since then. I am a member of the Piano Technicians Guild.
I have also taught music for more than 20 years and performed professionally for nearly 30. That work at the piano, drum set, and tabla keeps the final musical result at the center of every service visit.
I tune for homes, live venues, recording studios, schools, churches, professional musicians, teachers, and students.
Colorado weather moves pitch. Regular care brings it back.
Humidity and temperature change the wood and string tension inside a piano. I generally recommend tuning at least once a year, and more often for teaching, performance, recording, or frequent playing.
DenverLittletonLakewoodGoldenEvergreenArvadaWestminsterBroomfieldBoulderParkerCastle RockBrighton
Book a $180 tuning. Pitch correction is included when needed.
Choose an appointment online, call with a question, or email me with the age of the piano and when it was last tuned.