Do you want to tune your own piano at home? Are you looking for a second career? Maybe you play the piano and would like to understand your instrument better? If you are interested in learning how the piano works and how you can make it work better, then private lessons in piano technology can help. Learning to be a piano technician is just like learning to play an instrument, combining technical skill with artistic intuition. Private instruction topics include tuning both by ear and with an app, regulation, voicing, troubleshooting, and repairs and will be tailored to help each student meet their goals. Students will work on grand and upright pianos.
Jacobs Piano Technology Academy
Faculty
Kimberly Speiran is the Director of Piano Technology at the Jacobs School of Music. Prior to her appointment at IU, she was the head piano technician at the Cleveland Institute of Music and for the Cleveland Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to regularly work with and learn from world-class pianists. Kim has also previously served as a piano technician for the Cleveland International Piano Competition and for ChamberFest Cleveland. She earned a Doctor of Arts in Music degree from Ball State University in Flute Performance and Music Theory.
Matthew Boyles is a full-time piano technician at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and provides professional tuning and maintenance services to private clients in southern Indiana. As a clarinetist, he was previously an active performer in the San Francisco Bay Area, appearing with ensembles including the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras and other regional groups. He has also performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Louisville Orchestra. A published arranger and dedicated educator, he enjoys working with students of all levels and has taught at Saint Mary’s College, Napa Valley College, and Enriching Lives through Music.
Elizabeth Rochow started her collegiate journey at Hollins University where she studied music and piano. At that time, Liz had the chance to shadow her school's piano technician, who introduced her to the North Bennett Street School in Boston, MA. After graduating from Hollins with her BA, she attended NBSS for two years where she studied piano tuning, repair, and rebuilding. From there, she came directly to Indiana University where she has worked as a full-time piano technician for the Jacobs School of Music since 2020. Liz is a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) and vice president of the Indianapolis chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild.
Schedule
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 24 | Lessons begin |
| November 22-29 | No lessons, Thanksgiving Break |
| December 12 | Lessons end |
Fees and Deadlines
Fees:
- Tuition:
- 8 private lessons
- 30-minutes: $200
- 60-minutes: $320
- 12 private lessons
- 30-minutes: $300
- 60-minutes: $480
- A $50 non-refundable registration fee is due at registration (credited towards the overall cost of tuition). If you do not wish to pay tuition in full at the time of initial registration, please do not select the tuition option prior to completing registration, and select only the registration fee. Please be aware that tuition must be paid in full by the payment deadline in order to participate in the program.
- 8 private lessons
Deadlines:
- Registration and Payment: October 9
There is rolling admission for this program given that you can sign up for 8 or 12-lesson packages. The final enrollment deadline for the fall semester will be October 9 to accommodate this different options.
How to Apply
- Eligibility: Accepting all interested applicants ages 16+. No prior piano technician experience required.
- Registration: Complete the online registration form and pay the Non-Refundable Registration Fee ($50) and tuition.
- If you do not wish to pay tuition in full at the time of initial registration, please do not select the tuition option prior to completing registration, and select only the registration fee. Please be aware that tuition must be paid in full by the payment deadline in order to participate in the program.
- Save your login information so you can easily go back to edit your registration/tuition payment.
Once you have completed the previous steps, please submit the Participant Agreement Form
Enrollment Limit: 12 participants
Cancellation Policy: Please click here for our most up to date cancellation policy.