Hiring a Member of the Pianoforte Tuners’ Association (MPTA) to service a piano before and during concert preparation ensures the instrument is maintained by a certified, ethical, and highly skilled professional, giving performers a stable, responsive, and artistically reliable piano to practise on—so that rehearsal conditions match the demands of the stage.
Advantages of Hiring an MPTA Technician for Concert Preparation
1. Certified Professional Standards
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MPTA members have passed the PTA Membership Examination, which rigorously tests tuning accuracy, regulation, repair, and theoretical knowledge.
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This guarantees that the piano is serviced by someone with independently verified competence, not just self-claimed expertise.
2. Stable Practice Conditions
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Preparing for a concert requires consistency between practice and performance.
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An MPTA technician ensures the piano’s tuning, regulation, and voicing remain stable, so the pianist can practise under conditions that mirror the concert stage.
3. Enhanced Artistic Preparation
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Pianists refine interpretation, touch, and tone in rehearsal.
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A poorly maintained piano can distort dynamics, phrasing, or pedalling. An MPTA technician ensures the instrument responds accurately, allowing the artist to shape their performance with confidence.
4. Preventive Maintenance
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Concert preparation often involves intensive daily practice.
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MPTA members can identify and fix issues early—sticky keys, sluggish action, uneven voicing—before they escalate and disrupt rehearsals or the performance itself.
5. Psychological Confidence
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Knowing the piano is serviced by a recognized professional reduces anxiety for both performer and organizer.
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This assurance allows the pianist to focus fully on artistry, not on worrying whether the piano will hold up.
6. Ethics and Accountability
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MPTA members follow a code of conduct and carry public liability insurance (in the UK context up to £5 million).
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This provides organizers with both ethical assurance and practical protection.
7. Professional Image
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For concert organizers, hiring an MPTA technician signals commitment to quality and respect for the artist, enhancing the event’s reputation.
It is good habit to communicate with my clients and this is how I am able to discover unexpected talent around me. (I did meet up and provide servicing for quite a number of advance piano users recently…..)
This time I met Korean Concert Pianist Jinsang Lee as he was staying at his friend’s place during a short vocation in Hong Kong!
Preparing for his upcoming concert in Germany, he needed a properly serviced piano urgently.
Unfortunately the piano provided to him was seriously out of tune…….
Since he lives and centers his activities in Germany, it is not certain on when we will be able to meet each other again.
Being able to make him to feel satisfactory after I have serviced on the piano is my greatest pleasure.
Being able to meet him and converse on the pianos we both like is my greatest enjoyment.
Mr. Jinsang Lee’s website: http://jinsanglee.com/
Jinsang Lee (이진상, born 1981) is a South Korean concert pianist and professor at the Korea National University of Arts. He rose to international prominence after winning the 2009 Concours Géza Anda in Zurich, where he made history as the first pianist to win all the special prizes (Audience Prize, Mozart Prize, and Schumann Prize) alongside the First Prize.
Biography & Career Highlights
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Early Life & Education
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Born in Seoul, South Korea in 1981.
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Began piano at age 7, and by 12 was studying with Professor Daejin Kim at the Korea National University of Arts.
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Continued advanced studies in Europe:
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Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg (with Wolfgang Manz and Julia Goldstein).
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Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (Cologne).
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Competition Success
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2005 – First Prize, International Pianoforte Competition Cologne.
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2008 – First Prize, Hong Kong International Piano Competition (chaired by Vladimir Ashkenazy).
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2009 – Concours Géza Anda, Zurich: won First Prize and all special prizes (Audience, Mozart, Schumann) – a historic achievement.
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Performance Career
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Performed with major orchestras and conductors, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jonathan Nott, Muhai Tang, Christopher Warren-Green, and others.
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Repertoire spans Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and contemporary works, often praised for clarity, lyricism, and intellectual depth.
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Active in chamber music collaborations with leading instrumentalists and singers.
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Academic Role
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Currently a professor at the Korea National University of Arts, mentoring the next generation of pianists.
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Why He Stands Out
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Unique Achievement: Only pianist in Géza Anda competition history to sweep all prizes.
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Versatility: Excels in both solo and chamber repertoire.
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Pedagogue & Performer: Balances international concertizing with teaching, shaping Korea’s piano scene.
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