About

I am passionate about supporting piano playing in the UK, as I believe it holds an irreplaceable cultural value that should not be overshadowed by the rise of electronic pianos. By enhancing my skills and sharing my knowledge, I aim to promote and support the ubiquity of piano music and ensure its' enduring presence in our communities.

I have come to this industry through a myriad of relevant disciplines, on top of 20 years playing piano I have a background in Physics and Astronomy (University of Glasgow) and Fine Art (Gerrit Rietveld Academie), which have profoundly influenced my work in piano technology. Whilst studying art I nourished an interest in the determination of sonic colour and how that applies to acoustics and the listening experience, I also developed a competence with specialist tools and materials incredibly useful for piano repair and restoration. My degree in physics provides an understanding of theory of vibrations and waves, solid state physics, and mechanics. When applied to piano technology this opens up a deeper appreciation of the art of aural tuning and harmonics, the material properties of the piano and how it reacts to its environment, and the construction and regulation of the piano and all the forces involved in creating the sound. This combination of skills can augment the traditional ones and positively contribute to the current climate of early keyboard instrument technology.

I am currently expanding my technical skills by studying (under the expert training of Roy O’Neil) the different temperaments and mechanisms of various early strung keyboard instruments such as the Square Piano, Harpsichord and Virginal. I attend the Piano Tuners Association conference every year where I partake in classes covering a wide range of topics, delivered by industry experts such as JP Williams (Trinity Guildhall), David Martin (Herrburger Brooks) and Steinway.

In 2023 I won the Heritage Craft Trainee of the Year Award, and then in 2024 I was fortunate to get the support and funding from two incredible organisations supporting craftsmanship in the UK; QEST and York Consortium for Conservation and Craft. The support of these 3 organisations has been pivotal in my journey, by facilitating years of intense training with various mentors, setting up work experience and attending masterclasses, as well as welcoming me to a community of fellow heritage craft people around the UK.

Photo credit Heritage Crafts, Stefan Jakubowski.