If you’ve been browsing Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, you may have come across enticing offers for “free pianos.” At first glance, this might seem like an incredible deal, but it’s important to take a closer look.
According to piano technician Hannah Beckett, “An expired piano is not a gift; it is a liability.” Beckett is on a mission to reshape how we approach the purchase and upkeep of our beloved 88-key instruments.
Pianos, like all organic materials, have a limited lifespan. Shockingly, around 95% of the pianos offered for free are outdated instruments that have long surpassed their healthy years. When you consider the expenses involved in moving, tuning, and maintaining these pianos, they often end up being costly decorations—or worse, they can introduce pests or mold into your home.
That’s why Ms. Beckett is diligently working to educate the public about the pitfalls of free pianos. Through her insightful articles, she aims to protect both technicians and musicians from the potential disasters posed by these aging instruments.
Her journey began 12 years ago while teaching music in Wilmington, North Carolina. When a student’s piano pedal started squeaking, she decided to take on the repair herself. “Even though I’d been playing piano my whole life, I had no idea of the complexity involved in making these instruments work,” Beckett shared. “It’s a common issue among pianists; while other musicians manage basic maintenance, pianists often have little understanding of how their instruments function.”
“I found out the hard way that when they’re not working correctly, it’s the musician who suffers,” she added. This experience sparked her passion for piano technology, and now, she can easily distinguish between a student’s mistakes and those of the piano itself. As the director and editor of Piano Buyer, an online resource dedicated to helping consumers navigate the world of pianos, she shares invaluable advice about steering clear of free pianos.
But Ms. Beckett is not just addressing the challenges of old uprights; she’s also breaking barriers as a woman in a predominantly male field. Her journey into piano technology was filled with obstacles, as educational resources were not always inclusive, and learning about this intricate craft often came with a hefty price tag. Thankfully, she found supportive mentors along the way, yet the learning process remained demanding. Aspiring technicians must refine their physical tuning skills, cultivate an acute sense of hearing, and invest significantly in specialized tools.
To add to the challenges, the tech boom of the ‘90s created a generational gap in the industry. The traditional father-son apprenticeship model began to falter as many seasoned technicians retired or passed away, leaving a void in valuable expertise. As a result, the current generation of piano technicians is working hard to gather and document the knowledge that is so vital to keeping these magnificent instruments in tune.
