Peter Tryon

As a youngster, Peter wanted to be an organ builder and a piano restorer. Piano experience came through working with a relation called George Parnell of Papps and Minns Pianos in Portsmouth, who was a highly skilled Tuner and Restorer. At sixteen he was offered an organ building apprenticeship, but after doing rather better than expected in his GCE exams, he took up a County Organ Scholarship to study the organ at Winchester Cathedral with Alwyn Surplice and later Martin Neary. During this time he continued learning the piano trade. George was an excellent teacher and a stickler for getting things just right. Even today when tuning, Peter can hear George saying: "It's not a beer pump - treat it gently". He was also fond of an expression to "Tune the customer first and the piano second". It was wise advice.

George wanted Peter to take over his business, but it was a time of "It's a Knockout" when pianos were smashed up. In fact it was often cheaper to buy or be given a piano rather than have an existing instrument restored. (Peter remembers putting a hammer through a Steinway Piano then!) His father also predicted that pianos would die out and everybody would have a Hammond Organ and persuaded Peter to train as a teacher at Bretton Hall College in Yorkshire. Peter taught in Bristol and then Beyton Middle School in Suffolk. During that time he was able to carry on his piano work, initially in his spare time, but now full time since taking early retirement.

Although an extremely wise man, Peter's father's prediction fortunately didn't prove to be correct. Slowly people have had pianos restored and there is now quite a revival of interest in proper acoustic pianos. Many people get bored with the electric pianos and "a plastic flower never made a rose".

Fortunately Peter is able to tackle work which some people in the trade shy away from like stringing and action repairs. He likes to think of himself as a piano technician rather than a dealer. He has handled many "problem" pianos for other members of the trade. He is just as happy tuning an ordinary upright bought for £100 off ebay to a full size, concert Steinway grand. To quote one customer: "You love pianos, don't you?"

Peter has a wide range of customers from the dedicated professional pianist through to teachers, churches, schools and beginners.

Peter Tryon FMCM., FASC., ARCM., ALCM., AVCM., Cert Ed.,