Meet Lachlan
Lachlan began his life-long passion for music at an early age; singing in the choir, taking piano lessons, and composing classical music from the age of eight.
He also enjoyed making things, and spent many hours in the shed, where he learnt about design, appreciated the beauty of wood, and enjoyed working with a wide range of materials and processes,
including woodturning, leatherwork, sewing, metalwork, restoring old furniture and re-finishing wooden items.
Later Lachlan studied composition at the University of Melbourne, and piano technology with a number of other piano technicians over a five year period. These passions and experiences lay the foundation for the inception of Pianos Victoria, and the professional work he now offers.
The adage ‘follow one’s dream and the rest will come’ is ever so evident when you meet Lachlan and experience his depth of knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm in all he does.
Piano Stories
Pianos hold a special place in people’s hearts; they give voice to neglected avenues of self expression, they give wings to the imagination, and they give gentle comfort to those around them. They look and sound beautiful, they are always waiting to express your feelings, and just like a new pet, people love them from the very first day. Sometimes they have a long story that touches many generations, sometimes you can only wonder about their story. My favourites are the stories they create with us right now. Here are a few I’ve had the privilege to witness. . .
“A man used to come into the workshop quite frequently. He played piano at home every day, and had the unusual habit of playing with a light staccato touch, with just the occasional extremely loud note. Most times he would play two or three notes on a piano then stop, saying it was not quite the sound he wanted. One day it was different. He played a beautiful German August Forster, and evidently liked it. I gave him space, as I didn’t want to make him self-conscious. From the adjoining room I heard him improvise the most extraordinary music, playing continuously for five minutes without a pause. It was precise, classical, vibrant, and had clear gestures and phrases. It was like listening to Beethoven or Schubert improvising. . . . You can’t buy tickets for a concert like that! . . .
“A family acquired a beautiful German piano, but it was badly out of tune. They had an eight year old girl who loved music, and played the cornet as well as the piano. I gave the piano a double tuning, and returned a month later for a follow-up tuning. I asked if the girl had been playing the piano more after the first tuning . . . her mother told me ‘So much! We can’t get her through her daily routine anymore! ’. . . .
“I tuned a piano in an aged care home. An elderly man took an interest and came over. He told me that he used to work in a piano factory in Germany. He seemed to enjoy seeing all the working parts of the piano again. I had to do some work to each of the keys and asked if he’d like to join in. He did, and we had a great afternoon working together. . .
“A man engaged me to tune a piano for his elderly mother, who had dementia and had lost most of her verbal skills. After a long job tuning and repairing her old piano she came to play it. With one hand she played the entire melody of an old hymn, and sang all the words as she played. Her son was amazed.
“A man bought a piano. He had previously composed with synthesizers, pedals, multi-tracking etc. I tuned the piano a year or so later, and he told me how it had improved his composing in so many ways, particularly with harmony and structure.
“One day my colleague received a call from a woman who explained that her father had recently moved to an aged care home. He used to be a professional pianist, and once he settled into the aged care home he found a second-hand piano and paid for it to be delivered. The piano he found was deemed to be too ugly, and he was asked to remove it. His daughter was very upset as she made arrangements to have it removed. My colleague did remove the piano, but, with approval from management, replaced it with one of my best German pianos, - on loan for as long as required. I hope her father is still enjoying it.
Come Visit Our
Workshop
36 Denham Road
Tyabb, Vicotria 3913