A note from Art Bailey—Proprietor, Tuner, & Technician at The Contented Piano

I’ve been in the music business for well over 35 years, primarily as a professional musician. In that time, I’ve worn many hats—performer on multiple instruments in many styles, arranger, composer, recording artist, teacher—and now as a professional piano tuner and technician.

I’ve always had a keen interest in the mechanics of the piano, and at various times when things were lean, took it upon myself to tune and maintain my own instrument, beginning at age 18 when I spilled an entire mug of hot coffee across half the keyboard of my ancient upright (don’t do this), and subsequently learned more than I wanted to know at the time about completely rebuilding a piano action.

As a performer, I’ve come in contact with every kind of piano—from the gorgeous, singing Steinway on the stage of Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, to any number of unnamed PSOs (piano shaped objects, as we like to say in the business) that hadn’t seen maintenance since who knows when. 

Over the years, I continued to undertake various necessary repairs on my own instrument, spot-tuned neglected instruments in clubs and function halls where I was hired to play, and studied tuning informally.

Why I love tuning pianos

In the last half-decade, I finally gave in to my fascination with tuning and regulation (the maintenance of the piano action), and began a formal study of piano tuning and regulation, ultimately founding my business, The Contented Piano. I’m thrilled to help maintain and keep my customers’ pianos in tune.

A well-maintained, tuned instrument can feel light and effortless to play (assuming it’s still within the prime of its lifespan), regardless of the piano’s pedigree. Whether you play professionally, or just for fun, you owe it to yourself (and your piano) to have your piano sound and feel as good as it possibly can. And, as a piano instructor for almost 35 years, when I’ve had to teach on instruments provided by a studio that were not well maintained, I’ve noticed that students will struggle unnecessarily on these instruments, when all that’s needed are some simple maintenance procedures.

My mission is to bring the most out of every instrument I come in contact with as a tuner and technician.