Self-taught piano tuners from father to son

2023-05-10 17:33:06

Michel Pedneau maintains that the practice of this profession comes in several facets, each more interesting than the other. He says that’s the beauty of the job. (Photo: Trium Media)

Michel and Guy Pedneau follow in their father’s footsteps. With nearly 50 years of experience behind the tie, the self-taught duo knew how to perpetuate the very essence of the profession of piano tuner in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

“Originally, for our father, it was not planned like that. He had taught him the violin from his father, he was an artist. However, when the economic crisis hit, he had an offer to learn to tune pianos. He therefore moved to Lac-Saint-Jean, then to Chicoutimi a little later in his life, to meet the demand of the time,” maintains Guy Pedneau, the younger of the two brothers.

The youngest adds that among the members of their family, Michel and he are the only ones who are interested in continuing their father’s journey. They also began to learn from him very early on, following him around the region when work awaited him.

“We saw our father working, and for us, he was a sage. It was a bit intriguing for us, so when we had free time, we would go with him and go anywhere. He gave us a few small jobs to do and quietly, we learned regarding this area. »

It was while studying at the Chicoutimi Music Conservatory that the Pedneau brothers first saw the possibility of becoming piano tuners. Their parents being musicians and pioneers of the establishment, their destiny was well traced in advance for them.

“As the Conservatoire opened and we liked music, we also started to follow the currents and listen to the radio. This is where the first desire to play music entered, and that we registered in this institution. He goes on to point out that “with the baby boom, the demand for piano tuning became stronger and Michel, who started out in the business before me, was no longer able to provide it alone. That’s when he offered to help me, which I did. Since then, we both work as piano tuners, while each pursuing an artistic career on our own.

A profession of mind and heart

Michel Pedneau maintains that the practice of this profession comes in several facets, each more interesting than the other. He says that’s the beauty of the job.

“It’s a way of looking at things. Piano tuning can be done in a mechanical way, but can also be done in an artistic way. It is a mixture of the two sources, which have a rather scientific basis. Namely the harmonies, the frequencies, but also the cultural approach which allows us to question the beauty of sound and what we can do to improve it. All of this together makes it a bit of a discovery every time! he exclaims.

Even following 50 years of working in this field, Guy and Michel Pedneau still have this flame and this passion that ignites them to this day.

“We meet very enriching people. People are happy with our service, we are happy to do it for them. It creates such an atmosphere, that we haven’t even seen the past years. It’s a job that knows how to keep you young for a long time! »

A long career that can be summed up in the removal of more than 300 to 400 pianos and in the tuning services for upright or grand pianos, which have extended from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean to the whole of Quebec.

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