Marc P. Mailhot, Piano Tuner

Marc has been tuning pianos since 1976 and welcomes new clients at this time. His mentor and teacher was the late Clyde Woods and information on Clyde can be found later on this page.

It is highly recommended a piano should be tuned at least twice a year...shortly after the change of seasons in winter and summer...when changes in humidity affect the soundboard. Regular tuning maintains stability of the instrument and can help prevent some long-term issues from developing with regular attention. This is especially true in northern climates where changes in season are very pronounced with warm humid summers and cold dry winters. Serious pianists and teachers who depend on their instrument have them tuned at least four times per year with the change of seasons and even more often if they are used frequently and subject to significant variations in humidity. Concert pianists have them tuned before every performance and sometimes "chipped-up" during intermissions. Pianos are normally tuned in the Equal Temperament to Standard Pitch A-440.

Marc says: "A piano is a very valuable instrument and should be treated with the same respect as any other professional musical instrument. This means that great care should be placed upon maintaining the instrument in it's best possible condition and environment for maximum performance and enjoyment."

Services offered at this time are a complete and fine tuning...pitch raising...minor repairs and cleaning both inside and outside. We can approximate the age of a piano and will be happy to research this for you.

Marc will be happy to answer any questions you may have and also offers a free piano evaluation before any tuning or work is done.

*Cleaning includes removing the action and keys...and cleaning inside the piano key bed...polishing and cleaning the key pins and replacing worn felt and paper punchings...tightening action screws and lubricating all moving action parts...as well as removing dirt and any foreign objects inside the piano.

Marc's Mentor and teacher was the late Clyde Woods, a renowned and legendary Piano Tuner/Technician from Portland, Maine who worked for Cressey & Allen Music for many years. Clyde was responsible for tuning the Concert Grand at Portland City Hall Auditorium for artists such as Roger Williams, Ferrante & Teicher, Loren Hollander, and other major pianists of that period who performed in Portland...and developed a legendary reputation as a master Piano Technician of his time in Maine. Clyde also tuned the piano at the Fryeburg Fair for Joanne Castle, who gained famed as a jazz pianist for Lawrence Welk.

During the 1970's Clyde was interviewed on Channel 13 in Portland by Dave Silverbrand, showing his trade and skills as a Piano Tuner and Technician, and also played for Dave. My favorite memory of him was tuning Mom's piano all day and refusing payment...just asking her to play the piano for him.

Clyde was born in Unity, Maine and married Winifred Waning, and had a son Richard and daughter Marilyn.

Early in his career he worked for Electrolux and during WW II at the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, NH before learning the tuning trade.

My thanks to his daughter Marilyn Kennie for additional information on his life.

This page is dedicated to my Friend...Mentor and Teacher...Clyde K. Woods, Master Tuner/Technician

This page updated September 4, 2009

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