Get To Know Our Technicians
Have You Seen Us Around Town?
Why Choose Vanguard Piano Service?
Our Registered Piano Technicians have Experience, Provide Excellent Service, and are Committed to Continued Education
Mark Allen | RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Mark is a lifelong musician originally from New Jersey where he was born into a talented family of musicians. His love of music led him to pursue a degree in music at Visible Music College, a small music school in Memphis. Since graduating in 2014, he has played piano and guitar professionally as a performing musician. He has also taught piano and music lessons privately for several educational institutions in Tennessee, Missouri, and Kansas. Mark’s love for piano technology was sparked while working for the Yamaha piano dealer in Memphis where he began learning about piano tuning and maintenance services from the shop technician. Being a pianist, he understood how a finely tuned and maintained instrument should sound and feel.
Piano Technology Education
In 2021, Mark successfully began his professional training, completing a formal piano tuning course. He has continued to develop his craft by attending the Midwest Regional Conference held in Kansas City offered by the Piano Technicians Guild. Mark is a member of the Piano Technicians Guild and will continue to participate in the professional development and training opportunities offer by the organization throughout the year including the National Conventions held each summer. In 2023, he began working with the team at Vanguard Piano Service where he will continues to develop his trade performing field tuning and repairs. Mark completed the rigorous Piano Technician Guild’s certification exams, earning the designation of Registered Piano Technician (RPT) in 2024.
“Mark tuned an old family piano that was desperately in need of attention. He took great care bringing it back to beautiful playing condition. He was very responsive when arranging the appointment, arrived on time, and was kind and professional. I highly recommend him to anyone needing a piano tuning!”
—Elizabeth B. via Thumbtack
Ty Uphoff | RPT
“While a passion for music and for sharing music is arguably not necessary for fine work on a piano, I couldn’t imagine doing this without it.”
Experienced Technician
When choosing a technician, experience matters. Ty Uphoff began his technical training at the age of 16. With over two decades of experience in multiple states he has serviced thousands of instruments. It takes years of training to learn the skills necessary to service a piano and more years afterwards to be able to do both quality work and do so in a timely manner. While experience is an important component of choosing your technician, arguably one could have decades of experience without advancing their knowledge.
In addition to over two decades experience as a technician, Ty plays the piano. His expertise in piano care and maintenance comes from a passion for achieving the best playing experience. While being capable at playing the piano may not be required to service one, playing well enough to speak the language of the most discerning players is critical when it comes to bringing the best out of their instruments.
Continued Education
Beginning with a one on one apprenticeship, Ty continues to further his education through monthly meetings of the local Piano Technicians Guild that include technical drills on many varying aspects of piano technology. He attends week long annual international conventions, continues to train with major manufacturers, and he attends regular webinars with industry leaders in various specific skills of the trade. Through extensive testing, he has passed all the requirements to become a Registered Piano Technician of the Guild, a credential achieved by fewer than a ten active technicians locally and fewer than 2,500 piano technicians worldwide.
“I have finally found THE person to entrust my piano too. Ty was completely professional and tremendously polite.... but his warm and professional way was outdone by his talent. My piano action is now precisely what I wanted and the sound is magnificent. I highly recommend what I chose which was Ty's "All Day Service". My piano was regulated, voiced, cleaned and tuned. It has never sounded so good or felt so pleasant to play since I first bought it many years ago! I recommend his service 100%.”
— Mary Lodes via Google+
Erik Martin | RPT
“It is incredibly rewarding to me when I get the opportunity to take a piano from being barely playable to being fully functioning and looking new again”
Professional Technician
Erik grew up in O’Fallon, Missouri. His passion for the piano led him to Boston where he studied piano technology at North Bennett Street School, the oldest trade school in North America and widely considered to be the premier school of piano technology. Upon graduation, he went on to pass the rigorous RPT certification with the Piano Technician Guild which requires technicians to pass a series of tests including matching a “Master Tuning” aurally (by ear) without the aid of an electronic device. Erik became an RPT at age 22, making him the youngest RPT in St. Louis, accomplishing all of this while overcoming the added challenge of a hearing impairment he has had since birth. After school, Erik worked as a technician rebuilding pianos for the largest piano rebuilder in Portland. During this time, he developed a love for restoring the sound quality and aesthetic beauty of the instruments.
Continued Education
Erik attends national events with the Piano Technicians Guild and continues to train with other RPTs locally. While he brings a wealth of knowledge from his studies in Boston, he knows the importance of continuing to develop his craft by embracing opportunities to learn from others in the piano industry.
“Erik did an exceptional job both tuning and correcting multiple issues with my upright Yamaha U3. He was able to solve an elusive pedal squeak, lubricate the key bushings, and also adjust the Let-off for a few problematic keys to ensure comfortable and smooth action. He also covered up a small ding on the high gloss finish that occurred prior to transit from the store to my humble abode. I was impressed with his friendly and attentive nature. I wholeheartedly recommend Vanguard to anyone who requires their piano to be serviced. Thank you for the great work!”
—Pawel Osmolski via Google+
Because, it matters.
Punctuality
We value your time and will make every effort to arrive for our scheduled appointment on time and efficiently complete the scheduled work.
Bonded and Insured
Often overlooked, when working on instruments whose value can exceed $100,000 it is vital the technician be bonded and insured.
What is it like to work with us?
“Ty came out to give my new (to me) 67 year old Steinway S her first in-home tuning. He went above and beyond! He spent a lot of his valuable time on me and Ella. He didn’t just tune her for me, he fixed a sticking F# key, which involved taking the whole action out and the close examination of all the itty bitty moving parts involved. Then, he fixed the wiggle in the lyre (learned that term from him today), and also, he fixed the squeak coming from my damper pedal’s spring. He was thorough, courteous, and very willing to teach me a little about everything he was doing. Which is awesome, because I am endlessly curious and pianos in particular fascinate me! I will definitely be having Ty take care of Ella’s future maintenance needs!”
“Mark was friendly and provided information about the process and what to expect from the service. Appreciated his work.”
“Gave my piano a thorough cleaning (not sure it had ever had one) and brought it into tune after 4+ years without tuning. Eric was professional, thorough and friendly, will definitely reuse their service.”