Piano Maintenance versus Piano Tooning

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

I've taken a different approach to this.  I charge a flat fee for a 
period of time with the piano.  I am the most expensive technician 
servicing my area.  During that time period I do as much as I can for 
the piano.  With a piano I am seeing for the first time, I may end up 
only pitch-correcting.  The second time around I may do a little 
hammer shaping and voicing where it is most desperately needed.  The 
third time around... etc.  On my service record I record everything 
that I've done and everything the piano needs that I notice.  When I 
call the second time they sometimes want more of it done and we 
schedule a longer appointment.  Basically the piano just keeps 
getting better the longer I service it.  I encourage clients to 
consider a separate appointment to get a totally un-prepped piano in 
good regulation etc.  Some will, some wait.  Don't try to be 
cheap.  Make sure you charge as much for your time doing everything 
else a piano needs as you charge for tuning.  It is no fun just 
tuning or horrible piano that is begging to be better.
  I worked on a Wurly the other day that I thought should be headed 
to the landfill.  I was surprised with what I got out of it.  Next 
time it will be even better.
If you give your clients the choice of doing less or nothing, most 
will.  Set maintenance intervals, closer together where needed.  I 
call it maintenance and say that tuning is just one fraction of what 
makes a piano great.

My take on it.
Andrew Anderson