Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamuela “Sam” Haasenritter.
Hi Kamuela “Sam”, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
There was a piano technician in the church that I grew up in. While going to college, I worked for him doing odd shop jobs and moving pianos. Eventually, he had me train to install player piano systems. Although it was the same company that was the leader in player pianos in the early 1900s, this was a modernized system that ran off of compact disks in the late 90’s. After about a year of installing those systems, I stopped working for him all together and continued my collegiate studies..In time, I decided to approach a different piano dealership about installing the system so i could make money while attending college. This was a third generation rebuild shop and they liked the quality of the work that I performed and the reliability I showed up with day after day. So, they opened up the technical side of the business to me. I began an informal apprenticeship and supplemented that with academic studies in piano technology. After a couple years, I joined the piano technicians guild, which is the only national organization that provides continuing education for piano technicians and a high quality, standardized certification series of examinations. In 2000 I passed those examinations And became a Registered Piano Technician – the equivalent of an accountant becoming a CPA. Since then, I’ve gone out of state and out of country for more education, including regional and national conventions, one week at Yamaha headquarters in California, 3 weeks in Vienna at Bosendorfer (historically, considered the very best of the very best, pianos) and a week at the Mason & Hamlin factory in Massachusetts (which along with Steinway Are the only two world-class piano makers produced by the US). Additionally, I had the good fortune of befriending two incredible mentors – one being a concert grade rebuilder and the other the former technician for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I’ve now been in business for myself for 25 years, have incredible customer testimonials posted on Google and have pleased numerous concert artists including Sir Elton John, George Winston, Andreas Klein, John legend, Jim Brickman, Stevie Wonder, Zac Brown and Robin Thicke.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Although it has not been smooth, I’ve been very blessed with some of the best education available. 3 of the biggest obstacles Were 1) realizing I needed to have a systematic education in piano technology, not just what was conveniently available in a local rebuild shop 2) going into business for myself and becoming the sole financial provider for a family of six and 3) navigating an extended home quarantine during covid due to pre-existing health conditions. That being said, I am very blessed that God has provided every step of the way
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Haasenritter Piano Service, Inc ?
I am a concert piano technician which means I have a very high quality skill set. I am very capable and comfortable in providing the highest level of service for the very most demanding pianists in the world. In short, I specialize in making pianos sound phenomenal! And I bring that same skill set to the home piano setting. A quick scroll through over 100 five-star ratings on Google shows how much my customers rave about my ability to make them extremely happy – all of them had no clue How absolutely amazing their piano could sound and feel. In other words, I unlock the full tonal beauty of a piano so it can inspire the very best that a pianist has to offer. Early this week I spent just 1 full day on a 60-year-old Steinway upright and the owner’s response was twofold- 1) he was unprepared for how great this piano could be and 2) He thought it played like a new piano when I was finished! Incidentally, his girlfriend a minute later exclaimed that it sounded like a new piano!! If you like, I could send you a link so you could see that video for yourself And not have to take my word for it
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was more of an introvert and academically very strong. I loved playing with Lego as a kid. And, in late high school I discovered I also had a good aptitude for working with my hands. Although I had 3 years of piano lessons off and on, which honestly is one year of experience three times in a row, my instrument is the trumpet and I played for 15 years for my church
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hpianoservice.com
Image Credits
Kamuela “Sam” Haasenritter
