Snow, Slush, and 14,000+ Strings: Tuning over 60 Pianos in New York

The Mission: A Marathon of Piano Tuning in New York

Last month, I flew into New York for one purpose: to tune and service pianos. The goal was ambitious; over 60 instruments scheduled across three intensive weeks of work.

I mapped out my route, hopped a plane, rented a car, and hit the ground running. I knew the schedule would be tight, but I hadn’t fully accounted for my biggest competitor: the elements.

Navigating a True New York Winter

Then winter arrived. It wasn’t just a single blizzard; it was a grueling stretch of true winter weather. Icy roads, bitter winds, and a couple of heavy snowfalls made every drive an exercise in patience.

My rental car and I logged a lot of miles through slush and salt, moving from neighborhood to neighborhood. The rhythm was steady: three or four pianos a day, every single workday. I’d step in from the freezing cold, spend time with an instrument in a quiet home, and then head back out into the gray.

The Petrof grand in Manhasset after a full pitch raise and Precision Tuning to A440.

Restoring a Petrof Grand in Manhasset

One appointment stood out. It was my first visit to a home in Manhasset, and the piano was a Petrof grand; a beautiful, robust instrument from the Czech Republic known for its rich, singing tone. This particular piano hadn’t been tuned in over a decade. After years of settling, it was significantly flat. The work that day was about more than a quick adjustment; it was a slow, careful Pitch Raise and Precision Tuning to Concert Pitch, restoring it to A440.

Hearing that grand fill the room with clear, balanced sound again, especially after navigating snowy streets to get there, was a highlight of the trip. It’s the piano in the photo above.

Braving the Elements

More than a few clients met me with, “You’re braving the weather!” We’d talk about the snow coming down or the roads getting slick before I settled into the work.

It was three focused weeks of tuning, with a pause for Christmas and Kwanzaa in the middle. Then, it was back to the schedule until every piano was done.

The Quiet Satisfaction of the Finish Line

When the last appointment was finished, I packed my tools into their Pelican Case. The winter sky hadn’t changed much as I drove to the airport.

I left behind three weeks’ worth of tuned pianos and the quiet satisfaction of work completed on time and in season. Sometimes the job is straightforward: you show up, you work through the weather, and you finish the list. This New York winter, that’s exactly what happened.

Sometimes the job is straightforward: you show up, you work through the weather, and you finish the list. This New York winter, that’s exactly what happened.

— Michael Sherman

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