Piano Services

In Tune With Your Passion for Music

We’ve all heard out-of-tune pianos. Discordant notes and cringey chords. It’s unpleasant to hear and discouraging to play. 

What’s worse, a neglected piano runs the risk of broken strings, structural issues, diminished value, expensive repairs, and lots of frustration for musicians. 

Maintaining the quality of your piano with regular tuning every six months is critical. This is especially true for pianos in Minnesota. Because of our cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers, we recommend tuning after each big seasonal shift. 

Additionally, we advise those who are avid piano players or who use their piano frequently to have their piano tuned even more often.

Professional piano tuning offers so many benefits, including:

• Beautiful musical tones
• Uniform pitch
• Improved playability
• Extended piano lifespan
• Increased resale value
• Improved training and pitch recognition for students
• Reduced string breakage
• Fewer expensive repairs
• Enriched artistic expression
• Enhanced audience appreciation

Call on Andy with A Kopp Music for Piano Services:

• Piano tuning. A standard 88-key piano has over 220 strings, with each note playing two or three strings simultaneously. Piano tuning first brings the piano into pitch, then matches the octaves, and finally the unisons. 

Time Required: 1–2 hours

• Pitch raises. When a piano is more than 10 cents off (this can be sharp or flat, but is most often flat), pitch raises bring all the strings within range so a professional tuner can perform fine-tuning. This is most often necessary on pianos that have not been tuned regularly or are exceptionally old and starting to diminish in quality.

Time Required: 1 hour

• Repairs. Broken strings, sticky or stuck keys, keys that don’t respond when pressed, keys that make a clicking sound, notes that ring out excessively, a stuck or broken pedal, and dead-sounding keys all require repairs performed by a skilled piano technician. Even a new piano may need adjustments if it has undergone a bad move.
• Humidity control system installations & servicing. Fluctuations in humidity can crack soundboards and weaken the glue joints that hold a piano together. Repairing this damage can be very expensive which is why it’s critical to carefully consider the placement of your piano and to monitor the humidity levels around it. System installation and servicing can be performed at the same time as tuning. (We recommend servicing once every six months.)

Time Required: 1-hour installation 

• Evaluations. A free piano is never free. Before hiring a piano mover, be sure that a free or inexpensive piano is in quality condition and can be tuned and maintained. Fifty percent of the Evaluation Fee applies to your tuning services when you schedule your first tuning within 90 days.

Time Required: < 1 Hour

• Maintenance. This is recommended for pianos once every 10 years. Piano maintenance includes:
  • Thorough cleaning of the piano
  • Polishing of strings (removing any corrosion, dust, or debris)
  • Lubrication of string termination points, key pins, and action center pins
  • Easing of keys 
  • Reshaping hammers
  • Tightening of all binding screws
  • Lubrication of pedals
  • Cleaning of the soundboard (Grand Pianos)

Time Required: 3-5 Hour

• Regulations. We recommend regulations service once every 20-25 years. Regulations refer to the adjustment of the touch (how the keys feel and respond to playing.)

Time Required: 6+ hours

• Voicing. After a number of years of playing, the hammers that hit the piano’s strings can change the way a piano plays, making it sound either tinny or much too mellow. Voicing corrects the texture of the hammers to improve the piano’s sound.
• Piano string/pedal lubrication. If corrosion is present in an old piano, it will require piano string lubrication. This service takes place prior to tuning to ensure piano strings “let go” and don’t break. Additionally, if piano pedals are stiff or squeaking, lubrication will address the problem.

Time Required: 10-15 minutes

A Skilled Conductor of His Craft

“I have always found piano tuning interesting,” says Andrew Kopp. “It was something I always wanted to do, but didn’t have the time for the training between performing, teaching, and owning/operating A Kopp Music. But in 2022, after we’d made the decision to remodel A Kopp Music back to just Alicia and myself, I was able to take the time to go to school and pursue this dream.” 

Andrew attended the Minnesota School of Piano Technology in the spring of 2023. He earned his Certificate of Completion of the program in July 2023. Additionally, in June 2023, Andrew completed coursework and an exam to become a Certified Dampp Chaser Piano Lifesaver System installer and service technician.

Upon completion of his courses and certification, Andrew joined the Piano Technicians Guild where he is currently an Associate Member of the Region 5 Chapter. As a member, Andrew has access to continuing education, connections with other piano tuners, as well as assistance with preparation for the Registered Piano Technician (RPT) exams.

Says Andrew, “Being a piano technician has taught my ear how to hear differently. 

“In addition, I like that I know the inner workings of the piano, so if something needs repair I can fix it. It’s nice to be able to help people keep these old fashioned machines in tune and operational. “I am also proud to be able to offer my knowledge of pianos to my students and their families when they begin the process of upgrading from a keyboard to finding a piano to purchase.”

Piano Tuning and Servicing Fees

Your piano, music lessons, hours of practice–it’s all an investment. Protect that investment with regular piano tuning and servicing from Andy at AKopp Music. 

Every piano is different as are the unique issues that can and will arise. Our piano technician will be happy to give you a fee estimate for services on your instrument to ensure your piano continues bringing you joy for many years to come. Schedule your Piano Service Call* with A Kopp today. 

*Every service call is subject to a non-refundable $85 service call fee. This fee applies to any services initiated at the time of the estimate. Payment of the fee is required at the time of service call completion whether services are accepted or declined.