About us
For nearly 50 years, Country Piano has provided high quality piano restoration services to satisfied clients nationwide.
Our Story
Our roots go back to the 1960s when a young Myles Kaufman apprenticed under Ed Lindeblad, of Lindeblad Piano in Randolph, NJ. Ed was a master piano craftsman who had learned the craft from his father, Axel. Myles lived near Ed’s piano shop in Randolph and attended the same school as Ed’s four sons (Dave, Mark, Paul & Eric). When Ed needed an extra pair of hands in the piano shop, Myles offered to help out. Under Ed’s care Myles learned the art of piano restoration, apprenticing for about 10 years. During those years Myles learned the various tasks one would find in a piano rebuilding shop: soundboard repair, pinblock replacement, restringing, case refinishing, action building etc. This hands on learning experience taught him all the aspects of piano restoration as well as the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail that County Piano as become known for today.
During these years apprenticing, Myles also worked alongside two of Ed’s sons, Paul and Eric, who were also learning the piano business. In the 1980s Myles and Paul teamed up and started their own Piano Restoration and Sales Company in Northern NJ, and also became brother in laws. This business lasted until the early 1990s, when Myles and his family relocated to the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY and set up shop in the Watkins Glen NY area.
Meet the Rest of Our Team
Michael – Owner/ Master Craftsman
Myles’ son Michael started apprenticing at the early age of 12, learning the art of piano restoration from his father. From 6th grade through 12th grade he would put in a couple of hours a day after school, learning all of the aspects of piano restoration. His summers were spent disassembling pianos, making and installing new pinblocks, soundboard restorations and restringing countless instruments.
Michael later landed restoration accounts with various Steinway dealers such as Jordan Kitts Music in Maryland and Denton Contier & Daniels in Buffalo NY. For a three year period Michael was the Foreman at Lindeblad Piano Restoration in New Jersey and oversaw their entire restoration facility. This job included being their official “Belly Man” and personally fabricating and installing every pinblock, as well as setting each piano’s bearing. He also did all the initial “chip and pull up tuning” after each piano was strung, wrapped and packaged all the pianos for long distance shipment and kept the shop in check, personally assuring the quality of each piano. Michael now continues the restoration trade at Country Piano and may one day teach it to one or both of his young daughters.
Edward – Master Piano Tuner / Professional Pianist
Edward Clute is a professional pianist and piano tuner, and also happens to be blind. What Edward lacks in eyesight he makes up for with his ears. Edward is one of the best piano tuners and pianists in the northeast, keeping our pianos on pitch and in tune. When Edward is not tuning pianos, you’re likely to find him playing piano at an event, restaurant, or with various bands at Lot 10 in Ithaca, NY. Edward started playing piano at the age of 3, learning from his mother who attended Sweet Briar College, and majored in music. In the 1960s, Edward attended the New York State School for the Blind, and later went on to attend The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he graduated as a piano major and received a diploma in music. Edward also learned piano tuning while at the Conservatory. He apprenticed with Lauren Pelky at the Batavia School for the Blind, and is now a master piano tuner with over 40 years of experience.
Ed owns a majestic vintage 1912 restored Mason & Hamlin model “BB” 7′ Grand Piano in his home piano studio, which he bought from the shop. In his own words “This is the best Mason Hamlin I’ve ever played, I had to buy it, this piano is fabulous!”
Thomas – Master Craftsman
Thomas Sayers kind of fell in our lap… In the early 2000s we received a call from Tom’s wife, who was living in Boston at the time. She told us that she and Tom were thinking about relocating to the Ithaca, NY area (which was only about 20 miles from the piano shop) and wanted to know if we were hiring – and we were! Tom’s background in the piano restoration trade started at North Bennet Street School (one of the few remaining schools that teach piano tuning, repair and restoration). After graduating, he went on to work for M. Steinert & Sons (Steinway Dealers in Boston) in their restoration department for about 5 years. Tom has since polished his skills in the piano field, actively tuning pianos in the Ithaca area and servicing the pianos at Ithaca College on a routine basis. Tom builds, installs and regulates all the actions at our shop, and his work is top notch.
Mark – Master Craftsman
Mark Philips – son of the late Webb Philips (Master Piano Craftsman of Allied Piano), is also a Master Craftsman himself. Mark’s old world craftsmanship married with modern day technology is second to none. Mark has over 35 years of experience in hand fabricating & installing new soundboards. His specialized techniques and experience help to refine the sound of each piano. We are fortunate to have him on our team of skilled artisans.
The shop’s lucky break came one day in September of 2009 when, unannounced, Taylor Swift walked into the shop with her mother and her body guard. They were traveling through the area and were in the market for a special piano for Taylor’s home in Nashville. She hand selected an exquisite vintage Steinway model “B” grand piano in a Louis 15th design. Years later she put in another order for a vintage Steinway model “M” to practice on, for her Rhode Island home.
If you are looking to have your cherished heirloom piano restored, or are in the market for a quality instrument or if you are looking to sell your piano, give us a call.
Tom Sayers at Ithaca College getting ready to fine tune the Shigeru Kawai Concert Grand
Michael’s old Dr Seuss book “When I grow up, I want to be”…penciled in “Piano Refinisher”
Michael, educating the Northern NJ Piano Technicians Guild how to properly remove broken agraffs and install new ones into a Steinway harp.
Our clients include Grammy Award winning artists and composers, musical institutions, piano dealers, and proud piano owners.
Some Clients we have worked with:
- Taylor Swift
- Howard Shore
- Ray LaMontagne
- Stanton Lanier
- Cornell University
- Eastman School of Music
- Asbury First United Methodist Church
- Jordan Kitts – Steinway dealer
- Denton Contier Daniels – Steinway dealer
- C&M Restoration
- FingerLakes Restoration
- Lindeblad Piano Restoration
We are committed to providing high quality craftsmanship and excellent service to the music community. We are proud of our history and we look forward to the opportunity to share our craft and passion for restoring pianos with you.