https://www.mckinleycoda.com/home daily 1.0 2026-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/648bea4e-2005-4a51-8702-51f7b024422e/IMG_0226.jpg Home - An Aurelia Piano Co. Technician Providing Piano Tuning, Regulation, Repair, and Evaluation in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC Area https://www.mckinleycoda.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-04-16 https://www.mckinleycoda.com/about daily 0.75 2026-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/d4f99e90-c0f8-4fb2-9bd7-faab905932cc/McKinley+With+Instrument+Collection.jpeg About - McKinley is now one of the members of Aurelia Piano Company: a collective of piano technicians using their combined skills to service the DMV area. By submitting to McKinley’s contact form, your inquiry will automatically be forwarded to our talented administrative team for review. “Since I was 5 years old, I have been devoted to musical instruments of all shapes, sizes, and cultures— but the piano has always been my first and last love. I grew up surrounded by my dad’s world instrument collection, and although I was initially enchanted by the marimba, he thankfully had the good sense to sign me up for piano lessons instead. After almost a decade of learning on my grandmother’s console, my relationship with the piano gave birth to a passion for multi-instrumentalist songwriting. I have now worked in every field from audio engineering and recording to music education and instrument repair/evaluation; I’ve worked in world instrument stores and performed music of all genres on stages around the world, but exploring the artistic and mechanical brilliance behind the piano is my career. Following a 2-year apprenticeship under local piano technician Hannah Beckett, I have tuned, regulated, evaluated, cleaned, rebuilt, installed silent systems; and repaired pianos of all brands, conditions, and background. I now service pianos across the Northern Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland area. My training includes partial factory training with Fazioli; one-on-one rebuilding mentorship under FSU professor Anne Garee; Yamaha Disklavier player system training; graduation from the Renner Academy; and several years of contracting on behalf of PianoCraft, a local piano dealership that specializes in sales, trades, tuning, evaluations, concerts, high-end rebuilds, and other services. In addition to being a member technician of Aurelia Piano Co., I serve as a contributing writer and editor for the Professional Piano Technician’s Network — a digital library of resources and instruction for piano technicians around the world — and Piano Buyer, one of the world’s most comprehensive consumer guides for pianos. I am also the host and producer of “The ProPTN Podcast”, a talk show on which I interview professionals from across the piano technology industry, including such names as Steingraeber CEO Fanny Steingraeber, Bösendorfer concert tuner Colin Taylor, electric keyboard technician Emma Kleidon, and historic instrument conservation specialist Ken Eschete.” https://www.mckinleycoda.com/piano-tech-services daily 0.75 2025-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/38b52b49-76d8-4de7-9d44-e5bd97372f34/IMG_9221.jpg Services - Tuning Although it may not be apparent to the average ear, pianos are constantly falling out of tune because of fluctuations in humidity. Whether it’s the positioning of the piano in your home or just changes in the weather, varying humidity levels can have simple—or dramatic—effects on your piano’s sound. Every healthy piano should be tuned at least once or twice a year to maintain their beautiful sound and longevity. By using a combination of aural skills and the latest in electronic tuning technology, I can make sure that your instrument sounds pitch perfect! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/3f73e755-a9d0-4f47-956d-e11af5b5e4b0/IMG_7798.jpeg Services - Regulation and Maintenance There are thousands of parts and mechanisms inside your piano that work together to make it sing — and while it may seem to be in good functioning condition, there are also many ways that these little components can become worn or misaligned over time. If these parts are not serviced regularly, your instrument may be performing at just a fraction of its full potential! Regulation can dramatically improve everything from touchweight to the overall quality and consistency of sound. If you already plan on contacting me about tunings or evaluations, ask me about my regulation services as well! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/33cff0aa-4b05-4f0e-939a-2c60d2489bdb/IMG_7630.jpeg Services - Evaluations Looking to buy a used, new, or refurbished piano in the VA/DC area? Similarly to buying a car, investing in a piano can be a nerve-wracking process — but it doesn’t have to be! Ask me about scheduling an in-person inspection so we can make sure that your money is being spent on a well-functioning instrument. FOR INSURANCE APPRAISALS: While I am not a certified appraiser with the IRS, I can perform formal evaluations to help your insurance company calculate the potential replacement value of your instrument. Every insurance company does musical instruments appraisals a little bit differently, so I recommend contacting your insurance company beforehand to see if they need any specific information or additional materials. Otherwise, my evaluations involve a thorough examination of the piano’s cosmetic appearance, condition of the parts, and its overall state. All of these findings are compiled into a spreadsheet along with a written summary for the client to keep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/355d909e-af7b-488f-ba7e-2f093b59d18f/Verticle-Piano-Front-No-Shadow.png Services - PLSS Installation The Piano Life Saver Systems (PLSS) - or “Dampp Chasers” - are the premiere way to keep your piano sounding great in between tunings. These systems also help to maintain the longevity of a piano’s parts and their regulation, keeping it in good shape for longer. Equipped with a simultaneous dehumidifying/humidifying system, the PLSS compensates for the frequent, dramatic changes of the VA/DC/MD climate by keeping your piano at a healthy and happy 40-50% relative humidity. To learn more about these systems, visit the PLSS website. Contact me to schedule your PLSS installation today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617693275bc66453dda0f391/c0454cbf-e493-45cb-a01c-5df4a36fb14d/IMG_7036.JPG Services - Parts Replacement and Action Rebuilding Does your piano feel heavy or difficult to play? Has it lost its power and resonance, making it sound flatter or weaker? This can be caused by a variety of issues. The hammers may need to be replaced because they’re worn out or ill-suited for the piano; the geometry of the parts may be poorly designed; or the weight of the keys may be unbalanced. Luckily, these issues can be solved! Assuming your piano is young enough that it still has some years ahead of it, we can reconstruct your action for optimal repetition, dynamic control, and comfort. Schedule an assessment today to see how your piano can be improved.