Hello from David Hayes, the founder of Artisan Piano Services! As you know, our goal at Artisan Piano Services is making sure that pianos are performing and bringing happiness to people long into the future. To help accomplish this and to help the piano industry continue moving forward, we’ve always been obsessed with training the next generation of amazing piano technicians. By offering our team a real hands-on education and apprenticeship, taught by incredible service men and women, we’ve created some of the most talented piano technicians s I’ve ever had the privilege to be around. We truly love pianos and the only way the piano will survive long into the future, is if the beauty of the piano is maintained by wonderful technicians for years to come.
With this in mind, I am so very excited to announce that we have partnered with one of the worlds premier piano technology training schools of today: piano technician academy.
Piano Technician Academy is an online school that helps educate and train the world’s next piano technicians. They have done an incredible job and the material that they have produced is fantastic. We’ve been invited to become a part of this incredible school and help bring our expertise and training into the course. Together, Artisan Piano Services and Piano Technician Academy have completely overhauled the course to become something that much more amazing. With our real-world training and knowledge matched with the already incredible course, we know the technicians we train today will be bringing beauty and happiness to the piano and their owners for generations to come.
The Piano Technician Academy is first and foremost an Online Piano Tuning and Repair School. Over the years we have been asked by our students to develop more courses in other piano-related areas. At this moment in time, we currently offer an online Piano Moving course in addition to our Piano Tuning and Repair Course. Take a moment to look at our course offerings.
We are getting five-star ratings! Check out our student’s reviews! If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at:
480-779-8782
support@pianotechnicianacademy.com
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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Back in 2005, David and Kathy Hayes founded Hayes Piano Restoration. Their beginnings were humble, yet exciting. Together, as a newly married couple, David and Kathy wanted to start a piano servicing business that was dedicated to quality customer service and excellence. Kathy scheduled appointments and ran the office from their dining room table while David performed service calls and piano restoration work.
Right from the beginning, customers recognized that something was unique and special about the way they conducted themselves in the treatment of not only their pianos but of the customers as well. After being blessed with significant growth, it became necessary to build a team of talented artisans who shared their vision for piano servicing and outstanding customer service; thus, Artisan Piano Services was born. As Doug Hayes, father to founder David and Artisan Piano Services’ Manager said it best, “Artisan’s philosophy is really the golden rule: Do unto others just as you’d have them do unto you.” The team at Artisan are one big happy family both figuratively and literally. In addition to David and Doug, other Hayes family members include Adam, Ben and Jon who are all involved in the business in different capacities. Adam is a Supervising Technician, Ben is a Restoration Technician and Jon is a field technician in Portland. As well as being family, they are a team in every sense of the word. They rely on each other for help and encouragement; this unites them and enables them to better serve each other as well as their customers.
With our whole twelve member team, Artisan Piano Services has become one of the top piano servicing companies in the Pacific Northwest, with multiple locations and a strong desire to bring quality and craftsmanship to the piano industry.
“Time remembers those master artisans whose commitment to tradition and quality gave us a legacy of beauty, art and music. Like piano builders of old, we take great pride in continuing this time-honored tradition of simplicity, elegance and integrity. Our technicians are not only skilled piano tuners but are also full-service rebuilders and consultants, doing whatever it takes to bring your piano back to its fullest life and potential.” David Hayes, Founder.
A video from The Piano Brothers!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d come up with some reasons why people love their pianos! There are so many reasons why both adults and children benefit from the study of a musical instrument. Here are just a few reasons to inspire you to learn the piano:
- Music is very central to our lives and brings us all so much happiness. It can give us an emotional and creative outlet.
- Playing an instrument is an excellent source of pleasure and fulfilment and it can also provide a deep sense of satisfaction.
- The piano provides both melody and harmony; therefore it can be played solo without any accompaniment. This is not the case with many other musical instruments (like the clarinet or violin which only produce one line, usually the melody line, so an accompaniment is always needed).
- Mastering the piano requires a tremendous amount of coordination so this can cultivate many useful mental skills. It really focuses your mind.
- The study of music is an extension of the learning process so children who excel at piano playing often do well at school too.
- Playing the piano provides a ready-made opportunity to perform. Performing is so important for everybody. If practiced regularly, it builds confidence – which is crucial for success in all walks of life.
- It can develop a passion and an interest in life.
- It’s fun!
We are proud of our amazing team members in both our Washington and Oregon locations. These people have been handpicked as the absolute experts in the piano-tuning field. Due to their knowledge and their customer service skills, we are very grateful that we have the best in the industry working at Artisan Piano Services!
Joshua MayfieldLEAD TECHNICIAN – BELLEVUE
Joshua, native of Bellevue, WA, came to Artisan with a wide array of skills and technical abilities, having been trained by some of the same Pacific Northwest’s industry leading technicians as David (Founder/Owner). Joshua has shown himself to be a true asset to our team with his love of pianos and working with people. He has always loved the piano because it blends music and mechanics in such a unique way. Joshua and his wife Amanda are true Pacific Northwest outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, and biking. They have a marvelous little boy named Owen.
At Artisan Piano Services, we seek out artisans who share our company’s vision and have the skills and ability to make that vision come to life. Being a team in every sense of the word means that we rely on each other for help and encouragement; this unites us and enables us to better serve each other as well as our customers. Our technicians are constantly honing their skills and teaching each other new techniques and practices. Our staff continually discusses and implements new ideas about how to better serve you, our valued customer. We are here to serve you not as individuals, but as a team of people who work together to give you the very best piano servicing experience possible.
We at Artisan Piano Services are so excited to announce our partnership with Seattle Piano Moving in the Washington area for your entire piano moving needs! We recommend Seattle Piano Moving due to their friendly and professional staff, who are also highly qualified and helpful! Artisan’s Founder David Hayes says of the partnership “I’ve known Aaron for years and am beyond excited to be partnering with him and Seattle Piano Moving. 
We both share an affinity for quality and providing our customers with the very best service. We love how friendly, professional, and honest the Seattle Piano Moving Company is and know that our customers will receive the very best care for their piano!”
What makes a piano mover qualified and why should you use one? According to Aaron Firpo, the owner and founder, first and foremost, piano movers know their pianos. It’s their job, and they work with these instruments day in and day out for their entire career. All of the oddball challenges of the job that come along like tricky stair moves, pianos that need to go over uneven terrain to reach a back door of a house, or an obscure assembly designs on a rare pianos are all things that a good piano mover is very well suited to handle.
Professional piano movers have all of the equipment and knowledge necessary to get your piano moved from point a to point b safely while protecting your flooring and drywall in the process. This offers the piano owner peace of mind that their piano is being moved by the best.
Many piano movers also offer climate-controlled storage. Customers often find themselves in need of a safe climate controlled storage solution for their piano while they are in transition from one home to the next. This sort of humidity and temperature-controlled environment is critical for a pianos soundboard, pin block, and even finish to stay in tiptop shape. Improper storage (non-climate and humidity controlled) can lead to cracked soundboards, pin blocks, and shattered lacquer finishes. Piano movers are knowledgeable in the best temperature and humidity level to keep their storage facilities in to best protect your piano for the short or long term.
“After we move a piano for a client, the next step is to have the piano tuned. A good piano tuner can bring a piano to life with color and tone that the instrument may not have shown before. We have found Artisan Piano Service to be part of the best piano technicians in the area. We are proud to partner with Artisan for our client’s continued piano service.” – Aaron Firp.
For more information on Seattle Piano Moving, please contact them at:
Seattle Piano Moving
3035 W Commodore Way,
Unit 309
Seattle, WA 98199
206-719-1309
HOURS
Truck: Tuesday – Saturday 8am-5pm
(Our moving team is off Sundays and Mondays)
Office: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm
We have some exciting news! Last month Artisan Piano Services began servicing Michael Allen Harrison’s Snowman Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing instruments, instruction and inspiration to deserving children. The Snowman Foundation was formed in 1999 to fill the gap in music left by a lack of funds in schools. The foundation’s primary source of funding comes from their annual Ten Grands concert and since 2000, they have raised nearly three million dollars! This wonderful organization allows people to donate in a few different ways. First you can donate your instrument, you can sponsor a child or you can volunteer your time.
We are so very proud to work with such an amazing organization and are blessed to be given the opportunity to discount our services to them so that they can get pianos ready for delivery to homes this holiday season! The folks over at The Snowman Foundation are very happy with the way things are working, as they are now able to get pianos into young people’s homes quickly and with reliability!
Music has the power to change the life of one child, that we all know. But the power to create goes far beyond the development of one individual student. It ripples out into the community spreading itself without limitation, for music is a respecter of no person. And that may be its greatest power, that its boundaries are indeed limitless.
Ten Grands 2019
April 20th – 2:00pm
BUY TICKETS
We thought our Artisan Piano Services customers might be interested in learning a little more about the instrument that they hold so dear! We built this business based on our passion for the piano and it’s unparalleled sound. With our staff of highly trained technicians, we carry on the time-honored tradition of music, art and craftsmanship.
The piano has been around for quite some time. It all began in Padua, Italy in 1709, in the shop of a harpsichord maker named Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori (1655-1731). Many other stringed and keyboard instruments preceded the piano and led to the development of the instrument, as we know it today.
Mankind’s knowledge that a taut, vibrating string can produce sound goes back to prehistoric times. In the ancient world, strings were attached and stretched over bows, gourds, and boxes to amplify the sound; they were fastened by ties, pegs and pins; and they were plucked, bowed or struck to produce sounds.
Eventually, a family of stringed instruments with a keyboard evolved in Europe in the 14th century. The earliest of these was a dulcimer, a closed, shallow box over which stretched wires were struck with two wooden hammers. The dulcimer led to the development of the clavichord, which also appeared in the 14th century. These were followed by the spinet, virginal, clavecin, gravicembalo, and finally, the harpsichord in the 15th century.
The harpsichord, however, was limited to one, unvarying volume. Its softness and loudness could not be varied while playing. Therefore, performing artists could not convey the same degree of musical expression as that of most other instruments. The artistic desire for more controlled expression led directly to the invention of the piano, on which the artist could alter the loudness and tone with the force of one’s fingers.
The harpsichord was a particularly important development leading to the invention of the piano. Its ability to project sound more loudly than its predecessors, and refinements in the action (or touch) inspired many more musicians to compose for the keyboard and thus, to perform keyboard works. First exhibited in Florence in 1709, Cristofori’s new instrument was named gravicembalo col piano e forte (roughly “soft and loud keyboard instrument”). Eventually, it was shortened to fortepiano or pianoforte, and finally just piano. His earliest surviving instrument dates from 1720 and is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Our customers are very passionate about their pianos as is our team here at Artisan Piano Services! Angela, our office manager, has been playing the piano for over 25 years and is our resident piano guru. Joshua, the lead technician in Bellevue has always loved the piano because it blends music and mechanics in such a unique way. He has been trained by some of the Pacific Northwest’s industry leading technicians such as David (Founder/Owner.) David and Artisan Piano Services’ philosophy has always been the same: to bring old world craftsmanship and care to the modern world of piano service.
Today, Artisan Piano Services has become one of the top piano servicing companies in the Pacific Northwest, with locations in Oregon and Washington and a strong desire to bring quality and craftsmanship to the piano industry, just like the piano builders of the past.
“Time remembers those master artisans whose commitment to tradition and quality gave us a legacy of beauty, art and music. Like piano builders of old, we take great pride in continuing this time-honored tradition of simplicity, elegance and integrity. Our technicians are not only skilled piano tuners, but are also full-service rebuilders and consultants, doing whatever it takes to bring your piano back to its fullest life and potential.”
David Hayes, Founder Artisan Piano Services
Servicing Oregon and Washington
Sources include: History of the Piano. Ontario Pianos Inc.
As we head into the Holiday season with Thanksgiving upon us, our time will soon be spent with family and friends, places to be, shopping to be completed, and a full social calendar. For many, this can cause a large amount of stress and in some cases; sadness for those who have lost loved ones or who feel lonely. Studies have shown people who are taking piano lessons, or who play the piano consistently can weather the ups and downs of this time of year much better than those who don’t!
The positive benefits of playing an instrument such as the piano include relieving stress, and enhancing mental well-being. Depression, loneliness, anxiety and other emotional and mental issues can be directly affected by playing the piano. Studies have even shown that ongoing playing of the piano and other instruments can help to prevent future depression!
With that being said, make sure your piano is in tiptop shape with a tuning from Artisan Piano Services. Depending on how often they are used, pianos generally need to be tuned 1-3 times each year to sound their best. Whether it has been a couple of months or 20 years since your piano was last tuned, give us a call to schedule an appointment with our expert piano tuners in the Seattle/Bellevue areas. We offer a variety of piano tuning packages to suit your needs. http://artisanpianos.com/piano-services/piano-tuning-services/tuning-packages/
This wonderful instrument can help you get through the stress that comes with the Holiday season. The piano is also the perfect place to visit with friends and family and share your love of music with those you love.
The holidays are just around the corner. Friends and family will be visiting and your piano is sure to be a part of the holiday merriment in your household. Is your piano living up to its full potential and ready for the holidays? Over the years, piano parts and mechanisms can become worn and misaligned, creating an unevenness and lack of control for the player. The sound and tone of the piano suffers as well. Artisan Piano Services will work with you to maximize your piano’s sound and performance.
We are excited to now offer three new In Home service packages to the Seattle Washington area. Historically, this level of work was split over multiple service calls and was quite expensive. We are now able to; utilizing our incredibly talented technicians, offer these packages in one service call. This allows you to save money and get an incredible service.
Our three different full-service Seattle piano maintenance packages are designed to address the most common needs we have found in pianos after years of playing. These packages are for those whose pianos are in need of more than our standard tuning package.
All our packages include:
- Piano Tuning
- Preliminary Cleaning
- Minor Repairs
- Regulation of the Pedals
- Assessment of the Piano’s Condition
- Touch Up Regulation & Voicing
Depending on the needs of your piano, we can include additional services to make your piano ready for the holiday festivities. Contact us at our Seattle office, call us at 425.974.4100 or email: bellevue@artisanpianos.com to schedule your Seattle piano tuning appointment with Artisan Piano Services, the #1 Seattle piano tuners!
