Piano Tuning in Baltimore, Md
and Surrounding Counties
& Piano Repairs, Refinishing, etc.
[click here for complete list of counties and towns served]

Chuck Cohen
Baltimore Piano Tuner
Registered Piano Technician (RPT)
Over 30 years of piano services
410-998-1131

PIANO SERVICES
(call for a no obligation quote)
Piano tuning Piano refinishing
Piano repairs Piano touch-up
Piano voicing Piano rebuilding
[click here for complete list of counties and towns served]

 
I am a Registered Piano Technician and Piano Tuner in the Baltimore, Maryland area with more than 30 years of experience. I do everything from piano tuning, piano repair, piano rebuilding, piano restoration, piano refinishing as well as piano touch-up, all mostly within the customer's home. I have been recommended by manufacturers like Yamaha piano, Kawai piano, Young Chang piano, Baldwin piano and others to do their warranty work, and of course I service the Steinway piano, grand piano and baby grand piano. Here are testimonials I am very proud of.

Piano Tuner Baltimore

Chuck Cohen
Registered Piano Technician
and Piano Tuner
Owings Mills, MD
410-998-1131
ccohenrpt@gmail.com
 

As a piano tuner technician, I feel it is very important to be professional at all times while still maintaining the feeling that you are with a friend that really cares about you and your piano. I have had some of the same customers for 30 years. I love what I do and make every effort to make certain that my clients are more than satisfied with my work.

I do residential, school, church, concert and special occasion piano tunings, and I have had the privilege of working on the pianos for performances by Ben Vereen, Roger Williams, Mandy Pitinkin, Dudley Moore and Joel Grey as well as at The Lyric Opera House, Mechanic Theatre, Center Stage, Civic Center and Maryland Public Television. I have been the official Baltimore piano tuner for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines since 2006 and have been tuning pianos for Celebrity Cruises since 2009.

If you have questions about your piano, please check out my frequently asked questions section, FAQs. And if you are looking for other piano services such as moving, where to buy or sell, or just general information, I have a list of piano links which I update from time to time.

Click here for more about me. Please contact me to discuss your piano.
 
 
Testimonials
 
“Chuck Cohen has been reliably tuning and servicing our Kawai for more than 7 years now. Like clockwork, he calls to schedule our tunings every six months, and I will be shocked the day he doesn’t show up at least a few minutes early for his appointment. Chuck maintains our grand piano’s beautiful sound year-round, and he installed a humidity control system a few years ago to further ensure the stable, long lasting performance of our instrument. We highly recommend Chuck to all of our friends with pianos in the Baltimore area.”
Dennis (May 2013)
Baltimore, Md

"Our piano was the first possession my grandmother bought for herself with money from her first job in 1926. My daughter learned to play on her great grandmother's piano, and one day, this piano will find a place in my daughter's home. I truly appreciate the care Chuck Cohen has given to our piano for the past 12 years. Not only has he tuned the piano, but he has touched-up the case and maintained the damp chaser. I can always depend on Chuck's reminders and punctuality, and I have enjoyed his friendship these past 12 years."
Sally (Apr. 2013)
Baltimore, Md

"Although I know I am lacking in the talent necessary to give a recital, I love that for the past 29 years Chuck has kept our piano concert ready at all times. He is very skilled, completely professional, and cares for our piano as though it belonged to Barry Manilow. We are honored to have become his friends."
Jan (Aug. 2009)
Falston, Md

"I've used Chuck Cohen for years as my piano tuner with great satisfaction. Not only does he do an excellent tuning, but he is extremely reliable when it comes to keeping appointments. He's also very good about providing reminder calls every six months -- a welcome service for people like me who otherwise might never get around to having the recommended semiannual tunings. One can hire Chuck with confidence that he'll take great care of your piano."
Michael (Aug. 2009)
Baltimore, Md

"Chuck Cohen has been servicing our piano twice a year for about 15 years. We have found him to be very reliable, knowledgeable and extremely competent. Chuck makes repairs, when necessary, and does an excellent tuning job. We have the utmost confidence in Chuck's ability and highly recommend his services to anyone who wants quality and dependability."
Barbara Lee and William (Sept.2009)
Edgemere, Md

"Chuck has been tuning my piano for 16 years. He has never missed an appointment and always works around my schedule. He does an excellent job. He's friendly, professional and honest which means a lot these days."
Tami (Sept. 2009)
Middle River, Md

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Why is a Registered Piano Technician Important?

The Piano Technicians Guild is a non-profit association of piano tuners and technicians with members throughout the United States and Canada. The PTG is the only organization providing standardized testing of piano tuners. The Piano Technicians Guild has two member classifications: Registered Piano Technician (RPT) and Associate. RPT's have passed a series of examinations in the areas of tuning, regulating and repair.

When you hire a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) to service your piano, you can rest assured that the person who shows up at your door has demonstrated their skills to their peers and has met or exceeded the competency standards established by the Guild.

Registered Piano Technician

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Piano Tuning

Piano Tuning is the adjusting of each strings' tension so that the particular string is vibrating at exactly the correct frequency. There are approximately 220 strings on the average piano with a cumulative tension in excess of 20 tons. All pianos are tuned to the world standard pitch of A440 unless I am instructed differently. I take pride in being a very reliable piano tuner in the Baltimore area. Piano tuning can be a delicate job, and I treat all of my clients' pianos as if they were my own. Please contact me to discuss a quote.
 

Piano Repairs

Piano repairs can include anything from replacing a broken string to fixing sticky or sluggish keys. Piano repair can also entail fixing broken or replacing missing parts and repairing minor regulation problems. Please contact me to discuss a visit.
 

Piano Rebuilding & Restoration

Piano rebuilding and restoration is the complete replacement of all piano parts, including pin block, tuning pins, strings, action parts such as hammers, shanks flanges, whippens, dampers, key tops, bushings, lyre parts, etc. For more information click here to learn about rebuilding. Please contact me to discuss a visit.

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Piano Refinishing

Piano refinishing is the complete stripping of the piano's old finish, repairing the piano's case parts as needed and recoloring and respraying the entire piano to its original like-new condition and color. For more information click here to learn about finish care. Please contact me to discuss a visit.
 

Piano Touch-Up

I am one of the only piano technicians who will do piano touch-up in the home which includes fixing dents, chips, gouges, missing veneer and scratches in the piano and/or furniture finish. Please contact me for a quote.

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Piano Voicing

Piano voicing is primarily, in simple terms, the changing of the tone of the piano by either hardening or softening the hammer to give the piano a mellower or brighter sound. For more information click here to learn about voicing. Please contact me to discuss a visit.
 

Piano Action Regulation

Piano action regulation is putting all of the factory specifications back to their original condition. Each note has approximately 32 steps to properly accomplish this. For more information click here to learn about action regulation. Please contact me to discuss a visit.

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Piano Estimates and Appraisals

For piano appraisals I go over the entire piano to check age, mfg, type, size, case condition, action condition, strings, tuning pins, plate, bridges dampers, keys, etc. And then I give a value based on the current market. This is done for both insurance and resale values. Please contact me to discuss a visit.
 

Piano Humidity Control System Installation

Piano humidity control systems help control the expansion and contraction of the sound board. The constant moving of the sound board is the main reason the piano goes out of tune. The system also helps control the humidity around the piano to avoid rust, corrosion, sticking / sluggish keys and cracked sound boards. For more information click here to learn about humidity control. Please contact me to discuss a visit.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. How much does it cost to tune a piano?
A. That varies depending on the tuner. Most Registered Piano Technicians are currently charging between $195 and $275 for a standard tuning in the Baltimore and surrounding areas.
Q. What if my piano has not been tuned in years?
A. If the piano has been neglected for many years it may need a "pitch raise". That means the piano is so far out of tune the piano technician will need to tune the piano a minimum of two times to get the piano to the proper pitch. There could be areas that need to be tuned 3 or sometimes even four times before the strings have stabilized. These extra tunings should be done at the same time, not over an extended number of days. There is an extra charge for this work. That charge varies depending on the piano technician.
Q. How often should my piano be tuned?
A. All manufacturers recommend a minimum of twice a year. Even a small spinet piano has an overall tension in excess of 18+ tons that is being exerted on the piano 24/7.
Q. Do I need to have my piano tuned if it is not used very often?
A. Yes. The piano will go out of tune whether it is being played or not. Going from a summer humidity of say 70% to a winter humidity of 30% and back up again to 70% or more the following summer will make the piano go out of tune. That, coupled with the high tension pressure, it is a miracle that the piano stays in tune between 6 month tunings. The amount of use the piano gets under normal conditions has little effect on the tuning.
Q. How can I tell how old my piano is?
A. A piano technician can tell how old a piano is by the serial number and the manufacturer name of the piano.
Q. How much is my piano worth?
A. That varies depending on many factors. Age, manufacturer, size, style, condition, current market for new pianos, etc. all affect value. It is best to have an appraisal done of the piano by your piano technician.
Q. Does it cost more to have a grand piano tuned than a vertical piano?
A. No. I charge the same price for all models and styles.
Q. How do I clean my piano?
A. Most pianos are nothing more than fine pieces of furniture and should be cleaned the same way you would clean your furniture. There are a few precautions that you should take however. When cleaning the keys, use a mild liquid detergent and little water on a soft cloth or paper towel. This will get most of the dirt and grime off the keys and not leave a residue. NEVER use any abrasive material of any kind on the piano or keys, i.e., cleanser, soft scrub , steel wool, etc.
Q. I have a high gloss finish on my piano. What is best to clean it with?
A. These are very high-tech finishes called Polyester. NEVER use a standard furniture polish on this type of finish. The finish is already a high gloss so there is no need to use a polish on them. The best and easiest way to clean them is with a Windex type cleaner. This will remove all of the finger prints and dirt and still leave the original high gloss finish free of residue. Spray a small amount of Windex or similar liquid on the case and wipe off with soft cloth or paper towel. Be careful not to get the liquid on the strings, tuning pins, or internal parts of the piano. If you are cleaning close to these areas, spray the cloth or paper towel first then clean and wipe dry.
Q. What other services do I need to have done to my piano other than tuning?
A. Most technicians will recommend minor regulation every 5 years or so depending on the piano and its use and condition. This would include tightening all the action screws, as well as adjusting various other parts of the piano to put them back to the proper specifications. The price of this work varies greatly depending on the amount of work required and the technician.
Q. I am getting or buying a used piano from a private party. Can I move the piano myself?
A. I recommend that you DO NOT try to move the piano yourself. They are very heavy. Even a small spinet piano weighs over 350 lbs. And if there are steps involved that makes it even more difficult. It is best to call a PROFESSIONAL PIANO MOVER. They have the knowledge and equipment to take care of almost any type of delivery, like steps, tight turns, upending the piano, door removal, etc. They are insured against damage to the piano and personal injury that your friends, relatives or family are not.
Q. My piano case is damaged. Can it be repaired?
A. Most damages can be repaired. In the Baltimore area, I am probably the only piano technician that does this type of work. I can fix most water spots, chips, scratches, gouges, etc. Call me to discuss your problem.
Please contact me to discuss your piano:

410-998-1131

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LOCATIONS SERVED
IN ADDITION TO BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND

Baltimore City and County
(zip codes 21201-21298)
Arbutus, Baltimore, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Elkridge, Glen Arm, Glyndon, Hunt Valley, Linthicum, Lutherville, Nottingham, Owings Mills, Parkville, Perry Hall, Phoenix, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Sparks, Timonium, Towson

Howard County
(zip codes 21041-21045)
Columbia, Ellicott City, Woodstock

Anne Arundel County
(zip codes 21012, 21108, 21146, 21060, 21061, 21401-21403, 21409)
Arnold, Annapolis, Cape St. Claire, Glen Burnie, Millersville, Pasadena, Severna Park

Carrroll County
(zip code 21784)
Eldersburg and Sykesville
Please contact me to discuss your piano:

410-998-1131

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ABOUT CHUCK COHEN

Chuck Cohen - Piano Tuner

  • I was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved to Baltimore in 1960.
  • I was on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1963. I was on board the USS Randolph CVS15 aircraft carrier when we picked up Virgil "Gus" Grissom on his return from space. I was also in the blockade off Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis. Since the USS Randolph was converted to an anti-submarine warfare carrier sometime after World War II, the ship was sent to Cuba to try and prevent Russian submarines from reaching Cuba. There was an incident where we actually tracked a Russian submarine long enough that it was forced to surface.
  • I attended Univ. of Maryland and received my B.S. degree from the University of Baltimore.
  • I was an apprentice for 2 years with a local concert level piano technician and piano restorer from 1975-1977.
  • I received my piano RPT classification in 1977.
  • My family was in the retail piano business. I have always been mechanically inclined so my dad suggested I try my hand at piano tuning and related work. I was working for General Electric at the time but was not really happy or satisfied with what I was doing. So I decided to give piano technology a try. It was an instant love affair. And after being a piano tuner and technician for more than 30 years, I have never looked back or regretted it for an instant.
  • I have literally had thousands of customers over the years. Some of which I still have after 30 years of tuning and working on their pianos.
  • Since I love working with wood so much, I have over the years developed a large clientele that I do furniture repairs and touch-up for. I also make jewelry boxes, tables, boxes, wood turned pens and bowls and lidded boxes all out of exotic and beautiful varieties of woods that make wonderful gifts.

Please contact me to discuss your piano:

410-998-1131

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BALTIMORE PIANO LINKS:

Piano Moving
Professional piano movers in Baltimore
DH Moving and Storage
Jasons Music Center
A full-line music company in Baltimore
www.jasonsmusic.com

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Chuck Cohen, RPT
Piano Tuning Baltimore | 13 Holly Ct. Owings Mills, MD 21117






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