Saturday, October 3, 2020

My Final Update: Farewell & Goodbye

Hello Folks! 


Figured it was long past due since I sent out another update on the status of getting back to piano servicing in the area. Part of the delay has been that I was unsure of what exactly I needed to do and how I wanted to move forward. Especially in consideration with the upcoming winter season, current state of the pandemic, forecasts on the economy and my family. In the midst of this deep thought, I have had concern arise with my tuning arm and shoulder that I anticipated to be only temporary. However, I have come to the reluctant realization that this problem will be ongoing for quite awhile and even in the best of times, would have made tuning pianos not a viable option. As a result, starting this month of October, I have decided to close Attune Piano Services indefinitely. 


I am sure many of you have several questions, some of which I will try to answer below. But first, I want to thank all of you for your support, patience and understanding that you have granted me over the years. To say that I could not have done this without you would be a gross understatement. And I mean all of you. From the coffee shops, libraries, grocery store parking lots (so many parking lots…) and everywhere in between that offered me wifi access and allowed me to run a business from the road. And the friends, clients, teachers and event planners who provided a ride when I had no wheels; and a place for me to lay my head when returning home at the end of a long day simply was not an option. To the Washington State Ferry workers who knew my face well, offered a friendly ear on the days when I was stuck on one island or another into the late hours of the night, and on one occasion, announced over the intercom for all the world to hear, that the piano tuner had forgotten one of her belongings and to kindly ‘RUN!’ to fetch it before vehicles and passengers departed the vessel. No doubt there was a laugh or two as they watched me sprint up two flights of stairs, down the length of the boat, grab my item without a word and return in similar fashion. It has been an incredible journey for me. And so I say again - thank you! I truly could not have done this without you!


A few additional words before signing off…


May your life forever be filled with the joys of music, 

May your days always provide the good fortune you wish it to be, 

May your memories hold a fulness of a life well-lived, 

May your future be inspired by that of a beautiful new day. 


Most Sincerely,


Vada Dunford



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Questions & Answers


Q. What if I was on the waiting list? 

A. Like so many other aspects about this year, the predictable has become the unpredictable. I offer you my genuine apologies that I will not be able to fulfill your request. There are some very fine piano technicians in this region who may be able to provide the piano services in which you are seeking.



Q. Do you recommend anyone? Who should I call? 

A. I must point you in the direction of the Piano Technicians Guild. This organization is a certifying body of standards within the piano industry and has a directory of Registered Piano Technicians. Which you can find here https://www.ptg.org/home



Q. Will you ever be returning to piano tuning? 

A. Not sure at this time. To be determined. But if I do, I will let you know. 



Q. Are you going to move back to Alaska?

A. Oddly, I get asked this question frequently. Quite simply, it is not my plan at this time. Washington State has been my home for the past seven years. And it is a beautiful place on the planet that I feel lucky in which to reside. 



Q. What will you do now? 

A. Well first off, keep on living the good life as best I can. Believe it’s fair to say that one must live, in order to have lived. And for me, I love the additional insight on life that a higher education can provide. Though surprisingly, I have never finished my college degree despite it always being a dream. I think I’ll do that now. Because, I cannot think of a better time to stop, breathe and become a student all over again. 

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Summer Update


My great-grandfather Abram. Succumbed to 
the Spanish Flu in his early 40s while taking care
of local sick farmers in rural Pennsylvania. 
My Dear Clients & Friends, 

More requests and inquiries have drifted across my desk as to how I am doing and if I am tuning out in the public once again. Myself personally, I am doing alright and I thank you deeply for your concern as to my wellness. Regarding piano servicing, quite simply the answer is no. Not right now. And no, I have no more an idea of when I will reopen, than anyone does on when the fog of this pandemic will lift and we will all be able to see life as normal once again. 

Though perhaps with a new perspective on what it means to be human - within the global scale of humanity and our neighbors next door. May we ever be so kind to each other, as we desire as such for ourselves. May we do as such for this beautiful world in which we breath, live and love. 

I keep hearing various debates as to what is actual truth and reality, or not, during such times as these. Whatever the case may be, I will continue to do my best to make decisions in adherence to the guidelines of Washington State Department of Health. And my friends and those alike, the updates I am getting are not looking good these days. So I ask, that whatever decision you make, whichever decision you feel is right deep within you, that your actions are for you, for me and for all of us. 

As always, with the greatest sincerity of my heart, I wish you safety, health and wellness. That no matter how grim or gray the days might seem, that you get up every morning, put on your shoes of resiliency and you make it to the next day. Because eventually, that next day won’t be the same surreal reality that we are currently living in. One of greatest lessons I have learned in walking many hard roads during my life thus far, is to hang in there. Because it’s going to be ok.

With much gratitude…

Vada

Monday, June 1, 2020

Update: "Are you tuning pianos now?"

Dear Clients, Prospective Clients & Friends, 

Several of you have been asking about when I might be returning to piano tuning. I understand that being at home with an out of tune piano can be….well, a bit annoying. I have be hesitating to send out an update because the state’s conditions for in-home service providers has been fairly vague. Businesses have been given a long checklist to prepare for reopening. Some of which includes proper PPE equipment, sanitation, hygiene, tracking and reporting; just to name a few. All of which I have been appropriately working on. Not meeting these standards could otherwise risk closure.

Now that Washington State’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive has expired, a new reopening plan has been put in place. “Safe Start - Washington’s Phased Reopening” was issued on May 29th. Within this plan, regardless of whether your county is in Phase I or II, indoor professional services are limited to no more then 30 minutes. This is not enough time for a regular piano tuning appointment. To do any other way would leave the work incomplete and thus, compromise the quality of service. *This means Attune Piano Services will remain closed until further notice, dependent on updates from Washington State Department of Health. 

I know that many of you are ‘over’ this Covid-19 thing. You want life to go back to normal. I get it. Perhaps you didn’t know anyone that was directly affected. Not amongst your friends, your family or your community. However, I have. A family member sick and recovered, a friend stuck in the hospital for nearly three months, several clients ill and even one that I know of has passed away. Needless to say, this has hit very close to home for me. Because the nature of a piano tuner’s work brings them into multiple environments for long periods on a regular basis, I want to do my very best to make sure that I stay healthy, that you stay safe and that I am protecting my community of the Pacific Northwest. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding - stay well everyone! 

Vada


P.S. For more information on the Safe Start Plan, County Variances and Washington Department of Health, please see links listed below: 


Safe Start - Washington’s Phased Reopening

County Variance Chart

Washington State Department of Health

Monday, April 6, 2020

*Revision Notice*

Folks, with all the “updates” consistently bombarding our email inbox, I’ve decided to send out a message that is a little less well…. let’s say distressing. We know, we get it. The world is a bit upside down right now and notices of change are inevitable. However, if you’re anything like me, a lighter verbiage might be desired to lift the spirits. So with this in mind, perhaps a more favorable replacement may be that my notice is nothing more than a “revision.”

Seems quite possible that the end of the quarantine is leaning on the side of undetermined rather than definite. Despite what some of you lovely people might think, piano tuning and repair services definitely does not fall under the category of “essential personnel.” So what to do? Well, I’m going to be honest with all of you, coming up with a plan for overall business health and retention has been a struggle of the mind and heart. I have decided that the best direction forward is to take a 3-month sabbatical with the possibility of an extension, circumstances depending. 

**So what happens in the interim? Keep emailing me with your requests and I’ll get you on a waiting list. Once it is safe for all of us to be out and about again, I’ll start scheduling you in the order your requests were received. Since it is likely that I’ll need to find temporary work between now and then, please expect check-ins on the business to be no more than once or twice a month. Your patience and understanding is appreciated beyond words.

For those of you who are interested, I have set up an account with GoFundMe’s Small Business Relief Fund under the name - ‘She’s My Piano Tuner.’ Of course, nothing is expected but any gift is not accepted without gratitude. Here is the link to my campaign:


Please know I am so grateful to all of my clients for your years of support of my pursuit into the profession of piano technology. I could not have made it to this point in my life without you. This work is one that is uniquely challenging, highly misunderstood and at times during this modern era, almost feels as though it is becoming a thing of the past. Thanks to all of you, this will not happen. My hope is that whether your piano is perfectly tuned or not, that you will keep on playing. Remember, I’m not your piano teacher. I don’t care how well you play, just that you don’t stop letting the piano do for your what it has always done for me - get you through the good, the not so good and the “Can we try that again?!?” moments of life. 

Below I’ve include a few links I thought you might find fun and/or interesting. Thank you again for your support, understanding and patience. 

Sending peace, kindness and good health, from my home to yours! 

Sincerely,

Vada Dunford

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Attune Piano on Flickr
Pictures from my adventures of life in and around pianos since I opened my doors as a sole proprietor in 2013. The link will take you straight to the photostream, but feel free to click over to the albums page to browse the different categories there: 

Piano Technicians Guild
One of the most well-known sources for piano technology for both technicians and clients alike. 

Piano Buyer
A free online resources for buying, selling and maintaining new, used and digital pianos.

Price Point Piano
Guide for consumers and technicians. The articles on this free site are definitely worth the read. 


Thursday, March 19, 2020

Covid-19 Action Update

Well it’s no secret that life is anything but the normal routine these days because of the Covid-19 virus. So in an attempt to do my part in maintaining individual and community health, I will be temporarily closing business to any and all field work. This means that all piano servicing appointments have been postponed and I will not be scheduling any work until further notice. 

I hope, as do we all, that this disruption will resolve sooner than later. Once the threat of passing along infection has significantly reduced and that social distancing is no longer needed, I will send out a notice and start scheduling piano tuning appointments on a first come, first serve basis. 

Thank you for the understanding, support and encouragement that you have given over the years, and for the many yet to come. 

Stay well!

Vada Dunford, Owner/Technician 
Attune Piano Services 

Sunday, January 14, 2018

New Piano Tuner to Visit Juneau


I am please to announce that my trusted colleague, Stephen Cinti, will be joining me on my next piano servicing trip to Southeast Alaska. He will be assisting me in Juneau while I am working on the pianos in Haines and Petersburg. 



Dates of travel will be as follows: 

February 22nd - March 2nd: Juneau / Stephen
February 23rd - March 2nd: Haines / Vada
March 5th - March 8th: Petersburg / Vada

If you would like to schedule an appointment, email attunepiano@gmail.com or call (360) 202-8040

Thank you Southeast Alaska for your continued support!!


A Little More About Stephen:

Stephen Cinti’s interest in pianos began in childhood when he took piano lessons from his mother. As a teenager in Boise, Idaho, he diversified his musical pursuits by taking up electric guitar, and playing with various bands in the Boise area. This eventually led to musical studies at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles. After completing his degree in contemporary guitar performance, Stephen moved to the Live Music Capital of the World (Austin, TX) to see what kind of a life he could make for himself in the pursuit of musical performance. While living there, he met his wife, Samantha. While continuing to pursue a career with playing guitar, Stephen wasn’t satisfied with needing to have an office job to make ends meet, and began exploring a work that could also be a passion. Through some conversations and meetings, he learned about the possibilities offered in a career in piano technology. He remembers fondly his first meeting with Steve Walthall, the regional Vice-President of the Piano Technician’s Guild. As he walked through Walthall’s workshop, he was overcome with the sense that this was exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Afterwards, he began apprenticing with Mr. Walthall and then started his own business as a full-time piano technician in Austin and the surrounding areas. Stephen is a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, and in his business, Stephen serves individuals, organizations, and does contract work for the local Steinway Gallery, as well as for the all-Steinway school Huston-Tillotson University. When he’s not tuning or repairing pianos, Stephen continues to be an active part of the Austin music scene as a session guitar player. Stephen and Samantha also enjoy visiting with friends or planning trips to colder climates, another passion that Stephen looks forward to marrying with his love for pianos. 

Monday, May 23, 2016

News From a Local Music Store


Piper Music in Bellingham has a new owner! Congratulations to Dr. William Brooke for this new chapter in his life. Dr. Brooke has a diverse background of education and experience in both music and business. Looking forward to meeting him and seeing the positive changes he will bring to the area.


*** NEW LOCATION ***

Please note...as of June 3rd, Piper Music will be located at: 
1705 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225


They will be open until May 28th at the current location: 
2512 Meridian Street

Bellingham, WA 98225




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