Paul Tizzard
With over three decades of experience in piano tuning, servicing, and restoration, Paul has established himself as a trusted professional in the Cape Town region. As the owner/operator of his business, he brings a personal touch to every piano he services, ensuring meticulous care and attention to detail. Committed to delivering quality craftsmanship and prioritising customer satisfaction, he has built a loyal clientele and awaits the chance to include you in this valued community.
“Our (Paul Bothner Music’s) relationship with Paul Tizzard started over 30 years ago. Over this period of time we’ve come to know Paul as professional, reliable, reasonable and skillful; with the utmost and unequivocal pride in his work.”
Carel van Heerden (B.COM RETAIL; MIACSA)
Services:
Tuning
Pianos naturally go out of tune with use and are also influenced by seasonal shifts. If a piano hasn’t been tuned in several years, it will require a pitch adjustment before a fine tuning can be effectively performed. Typically, pianos in a home environment are tuned once a year, while those in professional settings are tuned before each performance. More frequent tunings contribute to greater stability over time.
Maintenance
A piano’s intricate mechanism is composed of thousands of moving parts, including hinges, springs, tapes, levers, hammers, and dampers. With regular use, the felts within this mechanism can wear down, necessitating adjustments to ensure optimal performance. Depending on the maintenance history of the piano, these adjustments may be incorporated into a tuning session.
Restoration
There comes a time when a piano requires more comperhensive repairs. Older instruments show significant wear on their mechanisms, and this deterioration impacts the touch and tone of the instrument. However, with proper repair, its vitality can be restored. Outright replacement isn’t always necessary; often, a thoughtful refurbishment can serve as a viable alternative. This approach is evaluated and discussed with the owner during the initial visit.
About:
Paul’s journey into the world of piano restoration began in Cape Town during the late 1980s alongside his father, who was a skilled piano technician. Initially aspiring to be a musician, Paul had never considered a career in piano work until his father pointed out the potential for a stable future in this field. This encouragement led Paul to explore the intricacies of the craft, where he quickly discovered a fulfilling path. His father Bob Tizzard, a respected trombonist and double bass player in the vibrant jazz scene of the 1960s, had previously transitioned from music to piano technology, and the two collaborated for nearly a decade until Bob’s passing in 2000. Following this, Paul continued the family business, carrying forward the legacy.
Today, Paul Tizzard Pianos proudly serves over 1500 clients, ranging from private individuals to educational institutions and live music venues. His passion for piano work is evident in his appreciation for the complexities involved and the meticulous attention to detail this craft demands, resonating perfectly with his personality.
Paul is also active on the local music scene.
Gallery:
Testimonials:
“Paul Tizzard has become my first call piano technician in Cape Town for recording sessions and is the technician taking care of my Steinway and Sons Model S at home. Paul’s commitment to his work as well as his sensitivity to the music, being a musician himself, sets him apart from anyone else I’ve worked with. I have and continue to recommend Paul to anyone serious about the care of their prized pianos.”
“Paul Tizzard is an excellent musician and those “big ears” together with his piano tuning skills, make him one of the most sought after piano tuners in Cape Town. My experience with seeing Paul work, is to watch someone who really cares and who will go the extra mile to get a result that satisfies his perfectionist ideals.”
“Paul Tizzard has been tuning not only my personal pianos but a number of pianos at schools where I have worked and in the homes of my private students. He is a completely professional tuner. Paul is prompt, professional, pleasant and gives good value for money. I recommend him highly to anybody who wants a really through and efficient tuning done.”
“I first met Paul Tizzard when he tuned my piano at our home in Cape Town. At the time, more than two decades ago, I was so impressed with the quality of his craftsmanship that I recommended him to tune the pianos at some of Cape Town’s top schools such as Springfield Convent and Oakhurst Girls Junior.
After taking up duties as Head, Department of Music and Musicology (Rhodes University) it became a priority to have our pianos well maintained and to establish a regular tuning regimen. As the Eastern Cape’s leading piano tuner had partially retired, I contacted Ian Burgess-Simpson (Cape Town) to evaluate the Department’s pianos, especially the two concert Bosendorfers housed in the Beethoven Room. Ian Burgess-Simpson recommended that a large slice of the contract be outsourced to Paul Tizzard, and we are very grateful for the outstanding service Paul has delivered. Paul understands pianos, and his regular reports of each piano’s condition is welcomed; providing valuable insight into the Department’s fixed assets.
A professional to his fingertips, with an easy demeanour, it is always a pleasure dealing with Paul and our relationship is one that we cherish.”
“Paul has tuned, repaired and maintained several pianos for me at home and at venues where I have worked over the last 20 or so years. A highly skilled and experienced professional, he has never let me down, I have no hesitation in recommending his services.”
“Paul Tizzard started tuning the pianos at the Groote Kerk seven years ago. Paul is a highly intelligent and hard working individual. He is very reliable and honest. In encounters with Paul, he is friendly, polite, professional and positive.
Paul has a vast knowledge of the mechanics of the piano. He has the ability to bring the best quality of sound out in any piano, as he has an incredible ear and he is extremely musical. Paul tunes piano with a beautiful singing tone, with much warmth in the middle register and rich tones in the base.
I much prefer him to any other tuners that I have worked with and have had him tune my personal Bösendorfer Grand Piano at home as a result of his fine work.
Paul has been a wonderful asset to the Groote Kerk and it is a great pleasure and honour for us to have such a specialised piano tuner working for us.
“…I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the splendid, expert and caring way you have been treating my long-suffering but faithful Steinway when it needed attention. A professional musician like myself spends most of his waking time at the piano, whether performing, practicing, teaching or composing. It goes hard on the instrument and without regular maintenance and tuning it quickly goes into decline. To know that I can call on a first class piano technician like yourself and rely on your help and sympathy is an invaluable boost to my morale. Thank you for the years of support my Steinway and I received from you.”
Contact:
Paul Tizzard Pianos
Paul Tizzard is a piano tuner/technician in Cape Town offering piano, tuning and servicing.