Piano tuning is an exciting job. That is undeniable. One gets to work with amazing instruments, solve complex problems, and restore people’s passion for music. But by far the most amazing part about piano tuning is the all the wonderful people I get to meet.
I can’t think of any other job where one can encounter so many people and get to know them on such a deep level. On an average day I might see three new customers, and with each of those customers have an in depth conversation lasting up to three hours. There are many service professionals who get to work in people’s homes, but when was the last time you had a three hour conversation with your plumber? There is something about piano tuning, perhaps the connection with music, that seems to build immediate trust and invite people to open up.
It’s not only the number of people that always amazes me but the variety. My job allows me to connect with people from all walks of life, every income level, and every part of Los Angeles. Nowadays, especially with advances in technology, one on one contact seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. People are becoming more isolated and also more clumped together in social bubbles with others who are likeminded. The result is mass polarization. People on the ends of the spectrum get pushed farther towards the extremes. Piano tuning is like a bridge. It allows me to spend time getting to know people who I wouldn’t encounter otherwise. Yes, I too have my social bubble.
The conversations I have with my customers are anything but superficial. People will share their life’s story, their conflicts, their successes and their struggles. Many of my customers become lifelong friends or even business partners.
Another aspect about my job that I love is improvisation. I’ve spent my life honing the ability to create music in real time at the piano. After tuning, I will commonly invite my customers to pick three random notes on the piano, then compose a piano sonata on the spot. Here is an example I did for some of kids recently:
While piano tuning has many perks, at the end of the day it is people which really make it rewarding. In short, YOU are the best part about piano tuning!