Hi, I’m Charles Bordner.
I was introduced to piano tuning and repair in my last year of High School. My Youth Minister suggested we each put up money to buy a piano and restore it. So we came up with fifty bucks, took a pickup truck to Kahala (near Diamond Head, on Oahu, Hawaii), paid for the piano, loaded it onto the truck and moved it out to the lanai at his house.
I remember we stopped for a moment, looked at the piano, looked at each other and then asked, “What now?” Fred said, “We start working!”
So we rolled up our sleeves and pulled the piano apart (I’ve always loved taking things apart and putting them back together again).
We finally realized that we weren’t able to put new strings into the piano, and so we called a Piano Technician who lived in Kailua. He came over and I was his shadow for all the time he was there. I studied his every move, questioned his every action, and then got myself invited to his piano shop in his home.
Once there I scanned his tools and parts, and made mental notes of everything I would need to begin doing what he did for a living.
He recommended a Piano Technician’s course, which I enrolled in and completed. That was in 1969.
Since then, I’ve tuned pianos in homes, churches, synagogues, concert halls and recital rooms.
Can you guess that I love working with pianos? It’s great therapy for me, and I always aim to leave a job only after I’ve played the piano and feel the beauty of the music restored.
If you have any questions about piano tuning, repair or regulation, or if you’d like a free estimate, call me at 760.707.7249.
Love Affair With The Piano 
Hello Charles,
I have reviewed this website and have to admit that even though I don’t play the piano I surely can appreciate it’s music. I find it extremely fascinating the passion and history behind your love affair with this instrument. I have also heard from several people that you are extremely talented not only in tuning but teaching piano. Wishing you the best in all you do and never let the passion die out.
Tim
Hi Dad,
What I like the most about your blog is the passion I feel from you talking about your desire to tune pianos. It’s something you have kept doing for 40 years and that’s what would make me want you to tune my piano (If I had one). I like how you personalized the story. It makes me feel like you are a true, honest hard working man and not someone who is trying to make a quick buck by doing a crappy job.
Love,
Jennifer
Hi,
My husband had you tune my piano for our anniversary in late May. You did a marvelous job. We do need you to come out to finish fixing the one key that is stuck. If you could please contact us that would be wonderful,
Thanks,
Pam Kemp