Qualifying from three years study at the Royal National College for the Blind, during this time winning the Europiano prize in 1975. 
In July 1976 I went to work in Rye, East Sussex, as a newly qualified piano technician with a City and Guilds and CTB. Diploma.
During 1980 to 1981, sponsored by an Arts Council bursary I spent a year at Steinway Hall in London training in the preparation of pianos for concert work.
Moving to Manchester in 1981, I started my own business.
Building up my largest client base in Cheshire and Lancashire, I tune pianos five days a week. Travelling to North Wales and the Lake District by request.
To date working for 20 years as piano technician for Manchester University, many churches, North-West Arts, Stockport Symphony Orchestra, and a wide range of professional musicians and piano teachers.
Martin is also on the recommended list for The Piano Tuners Association and The Blind Piano Tuners Association, and has worked internationally to represent these organisations in addition to acting as an examiner of piano tuners.
By 1989 I opened my own shop 'Piano House' at Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury. Retailing a wide range of pianos.
Dedicating a total of 30 years to date studying and working with pianos.
Disclosure and Barring Service: yes
Music Festival for performers and guests Our 10th
18-06-2022 12:30PM
The Morecambe Bay Piano Group was set up to extend
11-12-2021 01:00PM
The Morecambe Bay Piano Group was set up to extend
08-01-2022 01:00PM
The Morecambe Bay Piano Group was set up to extend
12-02-2022 01:00PM
There are many reasons why older pianos go out of tune, and some of them are unavoidable due to the age of the piano, the most common in the UK is central heating drying the piano out.. The most difficult piano for piano tuners to bring back into tune is one that has been neglected for a long period of time. The strings tension drops also because of wear the termination points change this can increase the length of the string thus changing the pitch of individual string in the grope of tree, causing what we call ìfalse beatsî. The pitch of the piano will fall far below 440 Hz (concert pitch). This means that the piano tuner must adjust over 240 strings within an unstable internal environment. The tuner spends time tightening each string in order to raise its pitch. This process takes some time as the tuner must tune each string several times to achieve the required pitch and tension. This is because the adjacent strings will change in response to sudden changes in string tension. To get around this problem, the tuner must first raise all strings to an average degree of tension. After this average level is achieved, the tuner can make minute adjustments to the piano string. It takes time to do this properly, which can be expensive. To avoid a long expensive tuning sessions on an old piano, the piano should be tuned every six months as regular tuning will pay off in the long run.
"We usually recommend our customers at least 2 or 3 tunings per year for a piano getting average use in the home. Ideally 4 tunings spaced through the year to cover the seasonal changes would be best. A new piano settling into a new environment may need more regular tuning for the first year or two. These suggestions only apply to pianos in the average home. Pianos in music schools and teacherís pianos should be tuned more frequently as they receive heavy use. Studio and concert pianos are tuned before every concert or recording."
YamahaAdopt a schedule of regular service:
Tuning and adjustment should always be done by an expert. When your piano requires either one, ask your Yamaha dealer or call a specialist piano tuner. Your dealer can also advise you about the interval between adjustments for your piano under the circumstances in which it is used.
