Will Borchard PT ’25, PA ’26

“I found my people”

Will Borchard, age 26 | Searsport, Maine
Piano Technology ’25, Advanced Piano Technology ’26

What did you do before coming to NBSS?

I grew up in Southern California and went to college at Deep Springs College in eastern California. I moved to New England seven years ago and have mostly been working on small-scale vegetable farms and in kitchens.

When/how did you discover for discipline/field?

I grew up playing piano. In school, I played the French horn, and I consider that my primary instrument. My college was very small, only about 30 students total, so there wasn’t really a music department. But there was a piano technician, Dick Dawson, who was the tuner for our entire rural region. He rebuilt the college’s Steinway Grand piano, and, for the first time, I was able to play a well-regulated, well-voiced, in-tune piano. It opened my eyes to the importance of the equipment we use as musicians.

Dick was 88 when I met him, and he became a very important person to me in addition to introducing me to the field.

Why did you choose to invest in training for a new career?

I enjoyed farming and cooking, but found myself wanting to commit to building a skill set that could give me a sustainable career. I had hoped to one day be able to learn piano tuning from Dick; however, he passed away in 2023. 

I was living in the South End at the time and came across the School as I was researching piano tuning training. When I read about the options, the NBSS Basic Piano Technology (PT) and Advanced Piano Technology (PA) program seemed like the only place that could get me from zero to 60, and I loved how focused it was on employability.

What are some ways you have felt supported during your time at School?

I am immensely grateful for the financial aid the School provided. When I decided to apply, I was nervous about how I could make it work. But when I saw the financial aid package, I was very impressed.

It is so clear that everyone at NBSS is interested in seeing students succeed. There is nothing but support from the instructors, staff, and administrators—and you feel that.

I appreciated that after the first year, we were employable. In between the PT and PA programs, I was able to work all summer as a technician. And during the PA program, the School made it possible for us to do piano tunings in the Boston Public Schools and get paid for our work.

Also, the School is very much a connecting place for professional relationships. I found my new job thanks to a graduate I met during a gathering at NBSS. You can always find mentors and people who will be there for you.

How has your life changed because you chose to go to NBSS?

I found my people at NBSS. We’re all different, but there’s also something that unites us. It is so nice to be surrounded by people who are dedicated to craft. My brain space is filled with pianos, and other students understand that.

I came to NBSS looking for more focus and a stable professional path, and I found that. With piano technology, I can go nearly anywhere in this country, and there’s a significant need.

What’s next for you?

I’m really excited to be moving to Maine to work alongside NBSS graduate Frank Fischer PA ’86 at his business, Precision Piano, which I will be taking over when Frank retires. Precision Piano services most of mid-coast Maine and inland to Bangor, working with churches, music centers, halls, and private customers.

I will hopefully be doing some piano rebuilding, but the bulk of the work will focus on tuning. In New England, with our changing weather, people always need their pianos tuned.

There’s something really rewarding about working as an independent technician and visiting people’s homes. You’re not just taking care of their piano—you’re also taking care of them. It can be a very special occasion for customers. You’re not just making their instrument better. It’s about remembering the name of their kids or their dogs, and taking the time to recognize the joy in improving the instrument.

What’s a favorite memory from you time at NBSS—something that’s stayed with you?

In the PA program, we have two big pushes for some of the more complex skills we learn: pinblock drilling/fabrication and bridge notching. Emily Townsend PT ’07, PA ’08, Piano Technology Department Head, brings in a lot of wood, and we practice over and over and over, drilling holes endlessly, or notching with our chisels that we sharpened all year. It’s an incredibly humbling experience. I hadn’t realized the extent of the precision of the work. We had some fun, healthy competition between us that kept us going!

What is one of your favorite places at NBSS?

I was a big fan of eating lunch in the circle out front of the School with my other classmates. We could just spend all lunch talking about tuning or something from class.