I’ve been with Steinway & Sons all my life. I started nearly 37 years ago as an apprentice at the factory in Hamburg, manufacturing pianos. Now I’m a concert technician, working with artists and venues to ensure that they have the right instrument in the best possible condition. I know pretty much every concert grand in the UK and Ireland, and there are a number of A-list pianists who want me with them wherever they play. I do my job the same way as it was done a hundred years ago. There’s no computer involved. I tune the piano completely by ear, using a tuning fork to get the pitch. My tool kit is huge, but this particular tool, the toning needle holder, I’ve had for 35 years—it was given to me as an apprentice for getting good results in my exams. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Fifty Buy Now Related Stories Fashion Music Issue 26 The Pianist The sonatas and fantasies of a piano can stir our most grandiose and ghostly emotions. Music Issue 51 Zach Condon A check-in with the Beirut musician. Music Issue 50 Caroline Polachek “The thing that eats at me a little bit is how subjective my music is.... You can’t get away from ‘Caroline Polachek.’” Music Issue 50 Odd Jobs Molly Lewis, professional whistler. Music Issue 50 I Will Always Love You “It would be hard pitching karaoke today, if it didn’t already exist.” Music Issue 50 Behind the Scenes Film composer Emile Mosseri on the art of setting music to film.
Fashion Music Issue 26 The Pianist The sonatas and fantasies of a piano can stir our most grandiose and ghostly emotions.
Music Issue 50 Caroline Polachek “The thing that eats at me a little bit is how subjective my music is.... You can’t get away from ‘Caroline Polachek.’”
Music Issue 50 I Will Always Love You “It would be hard pitching karaoke today, if it didn’t already exist.”
