Meet The Expert, Joe Kemple

My Approach to Your Piano

I usually spend more time on a service call than the “quick-turn” tuners. My goal isn’t just to make the strings pitch-perfect for today, but to ensure the entire instrument stays stable for the long term. Every service focuses on three core elements:

• Stability for the Missouri Climate: Setting the tuning pins precisely so the block can withstand the Midwest’s extreme seasonal humidity shifts.

• Mechanical Troubleshooting: Identifying and fixing the root causes of sticky keys, sluggish repetitions, or structural noises rather than just treating the symptoms.

• Tonal Voicing & Balance: Adjusting the density of the hammer felt and aligning the strings to ensure a consistent, clear, and pleasing voice across all 88 keys.

Professional Credentials & Experience

I maintain instruments to the demanding standards required by professional musicians, academic institutions, and performance venues throughout the St. Louis region.

• Master Piano Technician: Inducted into the Master Piano Technicians of America in 2015.

• Institutional Legacy: Served as the on-staff piano technician for Truman State University, managing their entire inventory of performance grand pianos and student practice pianos—returning to the very institution where my family’s technical lineage began back in 1922.

• Dealer & Concert Background: Provided technical prep and concert service for two regional Steinway & Sons dealers, as well as serving as the technician for the largest music store in Norway.

• Factory Certifications: Certified by Yamaha, QRS, and PianoDisc. Fully certified installer for Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver humidity control systems.

A Background in Applied Music & Technology

My perspective on how a piano should respond to a musician’s touch is shaped by my own background performing music.

• Performance: I performed as a soprano bugle player with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps and have played multiple instruments in several rock, jazz, and classical groups.  Knowing how it feels to perform on stage changes how I approach the responsiveness and action layout of your keyboard.

• Technical Interests: A lifelong amateur radio operator (Extra Class, Call Sign: KZØN) with a deep background in electronics, acoustics, and communications technology.

While our family’s piano service tradition in Missouri dates back to my grandfather in 1964, Burd and Sons was officially established in 1988. Today, I am proud to carry that honest history forward alongside my oldest sons, Ike and Riley, who are working in the shop as the fourth generation of technicians serving our neighbors throughout the St. Louis city, county, and St. Charles county areas.

“I treat every piano as if it were my own. Whether it’s a century-old family heirloom or a professional’s studio workhorse, my goal is simply to make it a joy for you to play.” — Joe Kemple, Master Piano Technician