Gift certificates February 5, 2017
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Did you ever consider giving a piano tuning as a gift? I can print a lovely certificate with your recipient’s name on it. To order yours, call me at 916-215-9921.
How to learn more about pianos June 1, 2015
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I always used to recommend The Piano Book by Larry Fine. It was first published in 1987 and already has had several editions. It is primarily written for people who are planning to buy a piano, but it’s also great just for learning how pianos work and what piano technicians do. But now you can just visit his website at http://www.pianobuyer.com, which has all the same information and is updated regularly.
A great place to find piano prices October 20, 2013
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I just discovered the website Piano Price Point. This has complete listings of current pianos MSRPs, a blog on industry news, and a very limited listing of piano technicians. You should also look at the Blue Book of Pianos, which lists new piano prices and will appraise your used piano for a fee. But best of all is Acoustic and Digital Piano Buyer, edited by Larry Fine, author of The Piano Book. This gives you a mountain of information for buying and maintaining a piano.
Angie’s List is the new Yellow Pages September 24, 2012
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Although I am still in the Yellow Pages, in recent years I have received far more referrals from Angie’s List. If you subscribe to Angie’s List, please go look at my reviews. If I have already tuned your piano, please leave a review! Angie’s List is a great network. My wife and I use it frequently to find contractors to do work on our house.
Donate a piano through the 88 Keys Foundation May 23, 2012
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If you want to donate a piano, the 88 Keys Foundation is a great resource.
The 88 Keys Piano Donation program facilitates the donation of privately-owned pianos in good working condition to K-12 public schools, and maintains a “Key by Key” donation program through which individuals and corporations can purchase a single piano key or 88 keys for an entire piano.
Don’t leave the window open! April 7, 2011
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Many piano owners know the old saw about not putting your piano on an outside wall. That applies to an old house where the walls are drafty — humidity changes could affect the piano and put it out of tune, or cause the wool bushings to swell and create sticking keys. In modern homes, the insulation is good enough that you can put the piano anywhere. But don’t leave a window open near the piano, or you’ll be creating the same problem.
Piano lessons January 5, 2009
Posted by mstivers1201 in Uncategorized.Tags: adult beginner, community college, piano, piano labs, piano lessons, piano tuning
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People often ask me to recommend a teacher. You can see my teacher list by clicking on the link to the right. If you an adult beginner, consider group lessons at a community college. All the colleges have excellent piano labs. It’s a great low-cost way to get your feet wet.
Here is the link to Los Rios Community College District:
http://www.losrios.edu/
Action reconditioning January 5, 2009
Posted by mstivers1201 in Uncategorized.Tags: piano action, piano tuning, recondition, Stivers
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If you have a grand piano, you expect the finest response and dynamics. I can help you recapture your piano’s original performance with an action reconditioning. This includes rebushing the keys, filing and voicing the hammers, tightening the action screws, and touching up the regulation. If you’re interested, call me at 916-215-9921.
The stage of the Woodland Opera House December 20, 2008
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In the dorm December 1, 2008
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I was working on this piano action in a student lounge at UC Davis.
Mark Stivers Piano Tuning and Repair 