About Stewart Skouson
I have been involved in music for most of my life. I have many fond memories of standing around the piano with my family and friends singing and playing. Practicing was not my strongest suit, however. I started my piano tuning career in 1986 when our piano tuner Des Wilson from the San Francisco Bay Area told me that if I learned the basics, he would teach me how to do it well. I went to the Perkins School of Piano Tuning and Technology in January of 1986 for a 6 month course in piano tuning, grand piano rebuilding and player piano rebuilding.
I graduated in July and started working for Des in August 1986. I met my wife in August and we were married in December of 1986, and we have four beautiful children and two grandchildren. Des was a great instructor and I learned many different skills from him. He owns Burton and Wilson Pianos, and he is a Steinway rebuilding expert. I apprenticed with him until I passed the Piano Technicians Guild Exams in 1988, whereupon I became a full-time employee.
The Piano Technicians Guild exams are a comprehensive testing of Piano technical skills There are three exams: a written exam that evaluates a technician's knowledge of piano history, piano design, repair techniques, tuning theory and various other piano topics. The technical exam evaluates practical repairs, regulation techniques, and other hands-on piano work. The tuning exam evaluates aural tuning and is moderated by several master tuners. They do a master tuning on the test piano, the piano is detuned, then the examinee is required to tune the piano to match their results. It is a very comprehensive evaluation. Only then is the tuner allowed to use the title "Registered Piano Technician"
I have restored numerous grands including many Steinway grands to include refinishing, restringing, pinblock replacement, action rebuilding and regulation, and various major damages due to the 1989 California earthquake. I have extensive experience in the rebuilding part of piano work.
I worked for Des until I graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Business Management in 1990. We moved to Las Vegas that summer where I started up Skouson Piano Services. I did that full time untill 1992 when I was hired as a firefighter for Clark County Fire Department. I still tuned and rebuilt pianos during my 22 year employment as a firefighter but it was on a part time basis.
I retired in 2014 from the Fire Department, and have resumed full time piano tuning and minor repairs and action reconditioning and regulation. It has been great to be able to get back to work on pianos full time again. I continue to hone my skills by attending national Guild week-long conventions as well as regional and local conventions and Guild meetings.
I graduated in July and started working for Des in August 1986. I met my wife in August and we were married in December of 1986, and we have four beautiful children and two grandchildren. Des was a great instructor and I learned many different skills from him. He owns Burton and Wilson Pianos, and he is a Steinway rebuilding expert. I apprenticed with him until I passed the Piano Technicians Guild Exams in 1988, whereupon I became a full-time employee.
The Piano Technicians Guild exams are a comprehensive testing of Piano technical skills There are three exams: a written exam that evaluates a technician's knowledge of piano history, piano design, repair techniques, tuning theory and various other piano topics. The technical exam evaluates practical repairs, regulation techniques, and other hands-on piano work. The tuning exam evaluates aural tuning and is moderated by several master tuners. They do a master tuning on the test piano, the piano is detuned, then the examinee is required to tune the piano to match their results. It is a very comprehensive evaluation. Only then is the tuner allowed to use the title "Registered Piano Technician"
I have restored numerous grands including many Steinway grands to include refinishing, restringing, pinblock replacement, action rebuilding and regulation, and various major damages due to the 1989 California earthquake. I have extensive experience in the rebuilding part of piano work.
I worked for Des until I graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Business Management in 1990. We moved to Las Vegas that summer where I started up Skouson Piano Services. I did that full time untill 1992 when I was hired as a firefighter for Clark County Fire Department. I still tuned and rebuilt pianos during my 22 year employment as a firefighter but it was on a part time basis.
I retired in 2014 from the Fire Department, and have resumed full time piano tuning and minor repairs and action reconditioning and regulation. It has been great to be able to get back to work on pianos full time again. I continue to hone my skills by attending national Guild week-long conventions as well as regional and local conventions and Guild meetings.
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Skouson Piano Services (702) 290-1145 skousonpianoservices@gmail.com
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