Laurel Emrys PT ’77

How did you discover your field?

I tried to learn piano tuning from a book and when three different clients complained, I realized I better get some real training.

What was the best part of your time at NBSS?

Graduating near the top of my class with an excellent way to make a good living for the next 50 years of my life.

What are you up to now?

I am happily retired this year. I moved to the wilds of Tennessee and put together an off-the-grid homestead that is in the middle of the forest. My current mission is to play piano for the services in many of the local churches. Every single one of them desperately needs a good piano tuner, and I’m hoping that perhaps someone will read this and consider moving down here. This is a great place to live. And I would be more than happy to get someone started in a good career because I am in touch with all the local churches.

Favorite tool or machine?

My ears!

Besides working, what keeps you busy?

I’m an adventure herbalist, since on my property alone there are 40 different varieties of edible and medicinal herbs. I’ve been practicing natural health since I was in my twenties.

If I wasn’t a piano technician, I’d be a ___.

An architect. I have built for houses, but it would have been great to really know what I was doing.

What motivates or inspires you?

I loved tuning pianos and the training that I received prepared me to understand the physics of sound, and explore how I could use that to help people heal their minds and bodies. Over the years I developed many programs to facilitate that end. Tuning a piano literally creates brainwave patterns that can be very beneficial and expansive. It was also great to be self-employed all those years because I learned how to think for myself, and had plenty of time for a very creative career as a recording engineer, a recording artist with the harp and flute, and a therapist. I am eternally grateful for the wonderful education I got as a piano technician / tuner!