Services for Students & Faculty
We offer piano technical services to Harvard FAS and Harvard affiliates.
Piano Services for the Harvard Community
Our expert team is here to help you.
Tuning and Repairs
We offer expert piano tuning to members of the Harvard community. The Harvard Music Department receives unlimited tunings on any instrument located in a classroom, office or practice room. All other pianos located outside of the Music Department are tuned 4 times a year, and thereafter by request. Please provide your piano tuning request at least one week in advance to guarantee availability. Minor repairs are made free of charge to all FAS instruments. Major repairs are made at the cost of parts and supplies, and any accrued vendor costs.
Rebuilding/ Case Repair and Refinishing
Action rebuilding is performed at the Harvard Piano Shop for the cost of parts. Pin block and soundboard replacement is performed by an outside vendor at current market price. All major case refinishing is performed by an outside vendor at current market price. Minor case and veneer repairs, polishing, and touch ups are performed at the Harvard Piano Shop.
Rentals
We have a Steinway Model B grand piano available to rent for events. The piano was fully rebuilt in 2014 with a newly refinished ebony satin case, new pin block, complete action rebuild, and original ivory key tops. This piano is 6’ 10.5” in length and is suitable for performances.
Interested in renting this Steinway piano? Contact Piano Technical Services for more information.
Planning a Music Event?
We are fortunate at Harvard to have many noted musicians, both visiting and in residence. If you are planning a music event on campus that will involve the use of a piano, please let us know at least one week in advance so that we can make ready the instrument properly — helping to ensure a successful performance.
Extended Techniques/ Prepared Piano
‘Extended techniques’ refers to any non-traditional use of the instrument such as inserting foreign objects between the strings or plucking the strings with a guitar pick. Any member of the Harvard community or visiting artist wishing to prepare a piano for rehearsal or performance must first submit an Extended Techniques/Prepared Piano Request Form to PTS. You will then be contacted by a member of the department for further information and, in some cases an in-person meeting may be required. PTS reserves the right to deny permission for any non-traditional use of a piano if it is deemed to be detrimental to the wellbeing of the instrument. We recommend submitting the form as early as possible so that in the event that the requested techniques cannot be approved, there will be adequate time to find an alternative.
Please note we reserve the right to deny permission for any non-traditional use of a piano if deemed detrimental to the wellbeing of the instrument. Please submit the form as early as possible so we can find a suitable alternative in the event that the requested techniques cannot be approved.
Appraisals/ Evaluations/ Donations
Contact Piano Technical Services for information regarding cost and scope of piano rebuilding projects, evaluation of prospective donations to FAS and appraisals for tax purposes. We also advise and assist in the purchase of new instruments, though we do not provide funding.
Workshops/ Classes
We occasionally host workshops on piano technology for interested members of the Harvard community. If you are interested in a workshop or seminar, please contact pts@fas.harvard.edu or the Music Department’s Sound Lab.
