Bringing over 15 years of master craftsmanship, musical insight, and formal training to restore, regulate, and elevate the voice of your piano.
Comprehensive, expert-level structural care and fine acoustic tuning for your instrument.
Rigorous A440 concert pitch calibration. Combining precision digital testing with traditional high-level aural techniques to ensure a warm, locked, and stable tone.
Meticulous mechanical adjustments to the keys, hammers, and damper action. Corrects touch responsiveness and keys felt weight, restoring dynamic musical expression.
Careful sculpting and needle adjustments of the hammer felt density. Modifies the tone color, transforming harsh, glassy keys into warm, resonant, and balanced registers.
Expert diagnostic and structural repair of mechanical issues, sticking keys, broken strings, soundboard cracks, and pedal adjustments to secure long-term durability.
Transparent and clear pricing. Rates may vary slightly based on individual instruments, age, and wear. Quotes provided prior to all work.
My name is Andrew Helmann, and I am the owner and dedicated technician behind Helmann's Fine Tuning. My journey with pianos did not begin in a mechanics shop, but at the keyboard as a classical musician. This deep-rooted connection to the instrument's emotional power informs every tuning turn and action voicing I perform.
With over 15 years of hands-on experience, I treat every piano with equal care, whether it is a cherished, century-old family heirloom or a concert grand preparing for the stage. My focus is to unlock the maximum rich tone, balanced dynamics, and stability hidden within your piano.
Formal training and credentials from the prestigious Piano Technicians Academy, guaranteeing modern diagnostic science coupled with heritage craftsmanship.
Ensure a smooth and optimal tuning session by taking a few preparatory steps before I arrive.
Please remove all items (photos, books, lamps, decorations) from the top of the piano. This protects your belongings and allows full cabinet access.
Clear a small space around the piano so that the front panels can be removed and a heavy toolkit can be safely positioned beside the keys.
While I carry specialized technician lamps, having functional nearby room lights helps inspect the soundboard and complex back action parts.
Aural tuning requires intense concentration to balance microscopic wave offsets. Please minimize TVs, radios, or loud tasks during the session.
Earning the trust of homeowners, educators, and concert artists throughout Central Wisconsin.
"Andrew brought our old family piano back to life. I haven't heard it sound this beautiful in decades. His attention to detail and professionalism were outstanding."
"As a professional musician, I'm very particular about my piano's tuning. Helmann's Fine Tuning is the only service I trust. Consistently excellent work."
"The entire process was smooth and easy. Andrew was punctual, courteous, and explained the work he was doing. Highly recommended!"
For residential pianos, we recommend tuning twice a year. This aligns with seasonal swings in relative humidity (turning on home heating in winter and air conditioning in summer) which causes the wood soundboard to swell and shrink, pulling strings out of tune. Pianos should be tuned at least once a year to maintain physical structural health.
A standard tuning session for a piano that receives regular maintenance takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. If the instrument has not been serviced for several years and requires a double-tuning pitch adjustment, it will require closer to 2 hours. Structural repairs or deep regulated adjustments vary based on need.
Tuning is the physical adjustment of the string tension to lock the notes at the exact pitch frequency (standard A440 concert scale). Voicing, or toning, alters the actual tonal character of the sound (bright, warm, mellow, brilliant). We do this by adjusting the shape and stiffness density of the hammer felts using specialized tools and needles.
Have questions or wish to arrange a booking? Enter your number below and Andrew will call you directly.
Serving residential homes, schools, and concert venues in Central Wisconsin and neighboring counties.
Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed