Tic Tac Toe or Key Leveling?

Written By Christine Guthrie, RPT
This is not a weird version of tic tac toe, I’m actually getting ready to level the keys.

The black and white keys are specified to measure a particular height all the way up and down the keyboard. Often, from years and decades of use, the height can become skewed, resulting in an uneven appearance. In severe cases,  it can drastically alter the playability of the instrument.

The little colored round things, called punchings, are placed under each key. Each color is a different thickness, to accommodate various heights.

Way back under the key, this punching needs to go underneath the red felt. It’s a very tedious process, and, depending on how much leveling needs to be done, can take quite a long time.
Christine Guthrie, RPT

“Three of my favorite things in regards to piano work : the music, learning how things work, and restoring old and neglected things to their former glory.”

— Christine

Piano Technician and Chamber Vocalist

Christine grew up in Ellisville where she began playing piano at the age of seven years old. She developed her musicianship studying piano from several well-respected piano instructors in the Saint Louis area. Christine studied at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance. She went on to earn her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Webster University. She is currently performing as a 2nd Soprano with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus under the direction of Philip Barnes. Christine’s music career has allowed her to perform in over a dozen countries in North America and Europe including several performances at Carnegie Hall. As an accomplished musician, Christine knows that a well-cared for piano is a powerful tool for musicians at all levels. Her passion for helping each piano along to its fullest potential brought her study to the piano technology. She brought seven years of experience in the field working as a local piano technician before joining the team at Vanguard Piano Service in 2023. Christine completed the Piano Technician Guild’s certification exams, earning the designation of Registered Piano Technician (RPT) in 2024.

Continued Education

Christine has been active with the local Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) for several years growing her piano knowledge and helping organize trainings and meetings for other professional technicians in the Saint Louis area for the organization. She attends National and Regional Training Conventions and actively engages other industry professionals through educational and social media forums. Christine will continue to elevate her service working alongside the team at Vanguard Piano Service.

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