Past & Present Happy Clients
“As a member of the Florida State University faculty, I worked with Ms. Grattan in a master class on piano action assessments and restoration. I thoroughly enjoyed supervising her grand piano restoration project in this master class and was able to observe her meticulous, concentrated, and dedicated approach. Her rich background in art, music, and culture brought an unusually sensitive view to the focus of her work. Her enthusiasm, preparedness, and punctually made our association a most enjoyable one. She demonstrated initiative at the start of the project and tenacity in its completion.In summary, Ms. Grattan is a woman of excellent character: disciplined and accustomed to concentrated effort and hard work. She does not avoid the difficult or complicated and approaches each situation with quiet assurance and a positive attitude. I recommend her enthusiastically.”
“I am the owner of a 100-year-old Steinway grand that has been with me my entire adult life. It originally belonged to my grandmother, who started teaching me to play it when I was three. I am not a professional musician, but I play every day when I am home.
Kim has been tuning and maintaining this piano since she arrived in Atlanta five years ago. She immediately told me that it needed an overhaul, but I pushed back. I didn’t want a new piano. I wanted *this* piano. But she was patient and I eventually came to understand that the rebuilt piano would be closer to what it had been when it was new.
And that is exactly how it turned out. The new piano has the same rich bass and distinctive sound the old piano had. But the action is even and precise, and I don’t have to work as hard to play it. I can even play more quietly, something my chamber music partners have noticed and appreciated.
I am grateful to Kim for her tactful support while nudging me toward what I now recognize was an inevitable decision. And for sending me pictures of the work in progress - postcards from my absent piano. And for returning repeatedly after the work was completed to double-check the action and make small adjustments. I don’t claim to understand all of the details of what she did, but I can confidently say that the end result is perfect.”
“Kim completely restrung, rebuilt and regulated the action, and re-voiced the hammers on my model L Steinway piano, completely transforming the instrument. Her work was extremely meticulous, evidencing great technical skill, knowledge, and attention to detail. One of Kim’s greatest strengths is that she can actually play the piano with sensitivity and dynamic control. It is essential that a technician be able to play softly in order to be able to voice and regulate an instrument for serious use by a concert pianist. Kim showed this ability in spades, and I am thrilled with the results of her work. She has transformed my piano into the best instrument in town, and she did it with the highest professionalism, on time, and within budget. I am happy to offer her my very highest recommendation.”
“Kimberley Grattan was our piano technician at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts for the 2016-17 school year. Her responsibilities included the tuning and maintenance of over forty upright and grand pianos. It is rare to find a piano technician that can tune to artistic standards and will also dedicate herself to the fine art of voicing and regulating. Kimberley is such a person and was well respected among our staff. Additionally, Kimberley was always willing to accommodate on short notice. She has the demeanor of a true professional and any institution would be fortunate to entrust their fine instruments to her. It is with great enthusiasm and without reservation that I recommend Kimberley for any endeavor she may pursue as a piano technician.”
“Kim has done an excellent job maintaining my Steinway concert grand. The tunings hold very well with the touch, voicing, and regulation all at a professional level. I can highly recommend her services without reservation.”