Tuning Pianos In The Digital Age

Does anyone tune pianos any more? And how?

Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson went to the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Mass., which offers nine-month courses in piano technology.

He met Debbie Cyr, who tunes instruments and also instructs students at the school. It turns out that there is still a demand for piano tuning as many of those who practice the profession decide to retire.

But piano tuners nowadays use more than tuning forks and hammers: there’s an app for that.

Cyr says both the app and the ear have their advantages and disadvantages, but both are valuable tools for the modern day piano tuner.

Guest

• Debbie Cyr, instructor at the North Bennet Street School.

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