Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I make as a piano technician?
A fully trained, fully established piano technician typically tunes between two and four pianos a day. With rates averaging between $125 and $250 nationwide, one can work five days a week, take two weeks off every year, and make between $62,500 and $250,000 a year. This does not include any repairs, pitch adjustments, additional maintenance, or restorations -- that's just tuning pianos. Those who pass the Registered Piano Technician certification offered by the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) can make even more.
Depending on your area and situation, it could take up to five years to become full-time. However, many students start earning income from working on pianos after just two months!
Is there still a market for piano technicians?
Yes! The piano service industry is in desperate need of new technicians. Many piano technicians are over 60 years old, and many are planning to retire in the next five years. Older technicians are often willing to help a newbie with the hopes that they will have someone to leave their business to when they retire.
In the meantime, there are an estimated 75 million pianos in the world, with about 20 million in the United States alone. If each piano were to be tuned only once a year and never receive any other maintenance, we would need approximately 14,000 piano technicians. There are only about 7,000 piano technicians in the USA today, with that number dropping very quickly.
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What are the prerequisites for being a piano technician?
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There is no age limit for learning. We know people who started learning when they were in their teens, all the way up to people in their eighties! You will need to be able to carry your tool bag, which could be as light as five pounds. An action can weigh up to fifty pounds, but you may use an action cart to transport it if that's too heavy to carry.
There are piano technicians who have physical handicaps who still work on pianos. Being in a wheelchair is not a problem, nor is blindness -- though there are better ways to learn than watching an online course if you're blind.
Other requirements include knowing how to read and write, communicate clearly, do basic high school level math, and drive to or otherwise get to appointments. Oh, and you have to know how to smile at people!
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Who do piano technicians work for?
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The vast majority of piano technicians are self-employed, mostly sole-proprietors or single member LLCs. However, there are quite a few staff positions available for piano technicians as well, mostly with other established technicians or universities and music schools.
If you've always had the dream of being your own boss and making a lot of money by running your own successful business, we take you through every step of the process in the Business course!
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Does the course include the necessary tools?
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No. However, we provide you with a list of exactly what you need, as well as industry wholesale suppliers! This will allow you to buy what you need for 50% off -- or more!
How much do the basic tools cost? Anywhere from $400 to $3,000, depending on what you buy and what you already have. Don't worry, it is possible to break up this cost some, as you don't need everything at once. We'll go over that more in the Tools and Suppliers course.
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How long does the course take to complete?
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Piano Craft Technical School is a subscription-based course. The reason for this is because different people learn at different speeds, and some already have some knowledge of piano technology. You shouldn't have to pay the same price as someone else if your situation allows you to learn a lot faster than them, or if you only need access to part of the school.
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Most students who start from scratch take between six and twelve months to fully complete every course. This includes watching every lesson, reading any additional material that goes with it, and practicing what you've learned for one to two hours a day. Lesson plans to help you stay on track are provided in the Introduction to Piano Technology course.
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Do you provide hands-on training opportunities?
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Yes! Several times a year, current students will be given the opportunity to come and train in-person, either in group settings or one-on-one. More details will be given to students as the yearly schedule is established.
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Will the VA pay for me to go through the school?
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Most likely. You'll need to contact the VA and make sure that they will reimburse you for the cost of the course. Once you receive confirmation, sign up for the year-long subscription. This will give you plenty of time to learn while avoiding recurring headaches by having to turn in only one receipt to the VA.