About Us

John Michael Berrong has been in the piano service business since 1967. Starting his apprenticeship in a family "Used Pianos" business, he was trained by skilled piano factory craftsmen (Lester and Cunningham in Philadelphia) who worked in the family store part time. He trained/worked there for about 4 years learning refinishing, tuning, in-home repair and service work, action repair/reconditioning/parts replacement, regulating, soundboard/bridge repair, pinblock duplication (and full-fit installation), and restringing. He eventually located to a storefront on South Street in Center City Philadelphia to expand his own growing business: THE PIANO WORKS. Over the years, he has mentored John Michael Berrong honored in Times Herald article. (click here to download a PDF of the whole article - 3.4Mbs) several piano tuner/technicians who are now active full time in the business and very successful. He spent 10 years in the South West United States doing work for a wholesale dealer specializing in Steinway Pianos. He has personally rebuilt over 100 Steinway Pianos in addition to countless "Classic American Pianos" with less familiar names. In addition to running a full scale rebuilding facility, he continues to attend seminars, workshops and conventions learning new techniques and technologies and sharing ideas that apply to piano repair, restoration and refinishing. He is a member of the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) and a member of the Master Piano Technicians of American (MPT). Marty Krzywonos' background and passion is music, music , music... A graduate of Trenton state college, Marty received his BA in Music Vocal Education with a major in Piano. After teaching for a few years, Marty accepted an offer to tour nationally with " The New York Experience" as keyboard player, singer and arranger for the group's music. After tiring as a traveling musician (for 4 years), and, acknowledging his curiosity about what makes a piano work, he enrolled in a piano tuning course. In no time he realized this was his life's work! He began apprenticing with the course's instructor, a well-established rebuilder in the Philadelphia area. This man's specialty in the piano industry was installing new, custom soundboards. Marty was exposed to and trained in virtually every aspect of piano repair and rebuilding. His specialty remains custom-crafted soundboards, but he maintains a full tuning, in-home service, and rebuilding schedule. In 1995 Marty bought his teacher's business and continues to grow as a major figure in the piano restoration and service business. In addition to installing soundboards in the shop, one of the services he provides is duplicating soundboards for people in the trade. Send him the old board and he will duplicate it. He also has training videos available to assist the technician removing, packaging for transport, and installing soundboards. His satisfied clients are worldwide. Marty is an active member of the Piano Technicians Guild and organizes the membership information committee for his local chapter. He is constantly traveling to seminars and demonstrations learning about the latest techniques, materials, and trends in our industry. Marty's greatest reward in this business is taking an old (apparently) "obsolete" piano and making it "sing" again, and witnessing his customers excitement and satisfaction when their rebuilt piano is returned to them. raising the bar in piano technology excellence