If you’re sitting on a cherished VHS collection—whether it’s home movies, rare recordings, or out-of-print media—it’s absolutely worth digitizing it while you still can. What got me involved in this? I’ve established a bit of a reputation as the “legacy media guy” with my customers, thanks to all of these floppy disk transfers. So they’ll … Read more
Over a century ago, famous artists played on specialized instruments from Ampico designed to capture their work. Today, you can download those very same performances as MIDI files available for download! Your very own Disklavier can reproduce those century-old performances. What once were marks made by a nearly-extinct technology on chemical paper can now be … Read more
I’ve made a brief list here of websites where you can find free or public domain MIDI files. I always recommend registering or donating if you find the services valuable. If you’re downloading numerous songs at once, I highly recommend DownThemAll, a browser extension that allows you to simultaneously download many files at once. In … Read more
Alexander Peppe learned the trade of piano tuning and repair from his father, Eric Peppe. He further developed his craft as the exclusive in-house piano technician at Starbird Music for six years, where he tuned, regulated, and repaired a wide variety of both consignment pianos and new floor models. This allowed him to explore the … Read more
I provide a variety of services here locally in Southern Maine relating to keyboard instruments. I also can assist throughout the country with problems peculiar to older Disklaviers, USB emulation, floppy disk transfers, and other technical problems peculiar to older digital and hybrid instruments. Piano Tuning I do tune pianos throughout Southern Maine. Piano tuning … Read more
This publicly posted price list is accurate as of January 20th, 2025. Travel I will not charge travel for any piano within an hour of Portland, Maine. I am willing to travel farther, although I will sometimes charge for considerable distances and trips to islands if there aren’t enough other customers in the area. Discounts … Read more
A Yamaha service note from 2004 refers to Giebler’s Yamaha DOM package, which is used for copying Clavinova and Disklavier files. I’m in the process of transferring files in a Yamaha CLP-156, a Clavinova from 1994, which uses an early version of ESEQ. I was curious to see if Giebler’s software package gave me better … Read more
Have you recently received an email offering a free, high-quality piano to you, a “passionate instrument lover”? I periodically receive emails from customers asking me for guidance after receiving similar emails. See the email below for an example: GreetingsI am offering my late husband’s Yamaha Piano to anyone passionate about musical instruments. Please inform me … Read more
I recently had a client request that I replace the stock GH3 action in her Yamaha CVP-305 with a Yamaha Natural Wood action, and so I had an opportunity to do some experimenting. Note that these action swaps are possible, but are in no way endorsed by Yamaha, and will result in voided warranties. The … Read more
As a professional piano technician, I’ve spent several years working at some of Maine’s most beautiful music venues. One of my favorites is Cadenza, a listening-room just two blocks from L.L.Bean at 5 Depot St. in Freeport. It opened its doors in 2019, after a top-to-bottom renovation that upgraded everything from the lighting and sound … Read more