ABOUT MIKE KURTA

In 1989 Mike retired from a successful 30 year career as owner/mechanic of his family’s auto repair business in Detroit. Too young to really retire, he settled on piano tuning as a second occupation having been a player since childhood. Apprenticing under brother-in-law Frank McKowen, RPT, a veteran piano technician, Mike soon learned the ropes and thus began his shift from tuning engines to tuning pianos. (He says “it’s a lot cleaner.”) As time went on, he developed two busy practices one in Northern Michigan and later, a second in Central New York. He is now back in Traverse City, Michigan with his wife Margaret of 50 years, to be closer to family.

Mike Kurta’s career moved forward by becoming a Registered member of the Piano Technicians Guild, an international professional organization with local chapters. He has lectured many times on piano technology at regional and national conventions, and continues to attend conferences and technical meetings to keep up with the latest advances in piano service. He was the Syracuse chapter PTG president before relocating to the Chicago chapter. Mike has tuned for many musical figures and groups such as Stephen Hough, Chick Corea, George Winston, Butch Thompson, John Pizzarelli, Herbie Mann, Branford Marsalis and many others including the Grand Rapids and Syracuse Symphony orchestras. He continues to author technical articles and mentors others on a continuing basis.

Mike embraces  the latest advancements in electronic tuning. Each tuning however, is done twice. The first allows the digital machine to do the “heavy lifting” and the second is done aurally, the traditional method. The best of both worlds are utilized together insuring an excellent result. Repairs, regulation, voicing and cleaning are a part of complete piano care. He can provide all of these things in a prompt professional manner at a reasonable cost. Evening, weekend and immediate tunings are available if necessary. General as well as specific questions on buying, selling and servicing are welcomed. 

Mike’s dedication to customer service is evident in the many thousands of pianos he has serviced from the entry level student instrument, to the fine concert grand piano. He will be glad to stop by and make your piano feel and sound its best.   

Proudly serving Traverse City, Suttons Bay, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Elk Rapids, Williamsburg, Lake Ann, Acme and Northern Michigan