Hidden Treasures | James Grebe Piano Tuner


Many pianos in the area were, at one point, used as official instruments in the St. Louis Municipal Opera. This one was also dedicated in memory of Betty Clinton.

 One of the most shocking, and unbelievable, critters I have found in a piano. We hear about mice all the time, but how about birds?

This was a first (and probably a last).

The owner and I deduced it to be a chimney swift that had somehow made it into the backside of the piano, and was never able to get out.

Three of my favorite things in regards to piano work : the music, learning how things work, and restoring old and neglected things to their former glory.”

— Christine

Piano Technician and Chamber Vocalist

Christine grew up in Ellisville where she began playing piano at the age of seven years old. She developed her musicianship studying piano from several well-respected piano instructors in the Saint Louis area. 

Christine studied at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance. She went on to earn her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Webster University. 

She is currently performing as a 2nd Soprano with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus under the direction of Philip Barnes. 

Christine’s music career has allowed her to perform in over a dozen countries in North America and Europe including several performances at Carnegie Hall. 

As an accomplished musician, Christine knows that a well-cared for piano is a powerful tool for musicians at all levels. 

Her passion for helping each piano along to its fullest potential brought her study to the piano technology. She brought seven years of experience in the field working as a local piano technician before joining the team at Vanguard Piano Service in 2023. 

Christine completed the Piano Technician Guild’s certification exams, earning the designation of Registered Piano Technician (RPT) in 2024.

More Info :  Hidden Treasures | James Grebe Piano Tuner

 


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ty Uphoff Piano Tuning is now Vanguard Piano Service

Ty Uphoff Piano Tuning has transitioned from Ty’s solo career to include his talented team of piano technicians serving the Greater Saint Louis and Kansas City Areas. In July 2019, Ty launched Vanguard Piano Service to better meet the needs of our expanding community of piano musicians. The Vanguard Piano Service team embodies professionalism, passion for continued education in piano technology, and a love for making pianos sound and play beautifully. If you were working with Ty prior to 2019, he is happy to continue servicing your piano. However, you will now have the option to work with our other professional piano technicians as well.  More Info : Trained Piano Tuner 
Read more

Piano Tuning in Edwardsville, IL: Why It Matters and How to Choose the Right Service

If you own a piano in Edwardsville, IL, regular tuning is essential to maintain its sound quality and longevity. Whether you’re a professional musician, a student, or someone who enjoys playing for leisure, keeping your piano in tune ensures an enjoyable playing experience and protects your investment. This blog will guide you through the importance of piano tuning, what to expect during a service, and how to find the best piano tuner in Edwardsville, IL. Why Piano Tuning is Important Pianos are intricate instruments with over 200 strings stretched across a wooden frame. Over time, factors like humidity, temperature changes, and regular use can cause the strings to lose tension, leading to a less harmonious sound. Regular tuning ensures: Optimal Sound Quality : A well-tuned piano produces rich and balanced tones, enhancing your playing experience. Instrument Longevity : Proper tuning helps prevent long-term damage to the piano’s internal components, such as the soundboard and strings. ...
Read more

Understanding Humidity Changes and Your Piano | Vanguard Piano Service

Image
  As a piano technician, one of the frequent questions I get from piano owners is about how to take care of the piano better.  There are several ways to do so and today I would like to specifically talk about how humidity affects the piano.  Materials we can find in the piano consist of metal, felt, wool and wood.  Changes in the humidity can affect all of these things that is why it is important to keep the piano in a controlled environment. With the changes in humidity, there are several ways the piano might be impacted. The most immediate change people notice is in the pitch of the piano.  Sometimes you may notice the keys feel weird when they feel heavy to the touch or sometimes stick down in high humidity, other times you may notice there are rattles or clicks when the keys are played with low humidity. Permanent damage may be caused when the piano goes through extreme humidity changes where parts swell and shrink rapidly, this may cause wooden parts to hav...
Read more