Business Details
47 Years
experience
Expert Piano Services in Pacifica, CA
Kimbell Music was founded in 1979 by Michael Kimbell, a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild since that year. Our business combines technical expertise with deep artistic passion, offering piano tuning, maintenance, and repair services alongside music publishing. Michael holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Cornell University and has received numerous accolades for his compositions, including First Prize from the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Our work spans symphonic, chamber, choral, and childrens music, with editions meticulously prepared to industry standards.We serve individuals, organizations, and businesses in San Francisco and San Mateo County, ensuring each instrument reaches its full potential while reviving classical and romantic piano works for modern audiences. Edith Kimbell, our music editor and translator, contributes literary precision to vocal works, enhancing accessibility for performers. Our decades of combined experience position us as trusted specialists for both technical care and artistic innovation in piano services.
Services
Piano Tuning
Piano Repair
Music Publishing
Music Composition
Viol Music Arrangements
Harp Transcriptions
Choral Works
Piano Editions
Piano Maintenance
Piano Evaluation
Details
- Year established: 1979
Highlights and features
- We offer over 45 years of piano technician expertise as Registered Piano Technicians.
- Our team includes an award-winning composer with works performed internationally.
- We combine technical piano services with music publishing and historical preservation.
- Our technicians hold advanced degrees including a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University.
- We serve both individual musicians and major institutions with personalized attention.
Associations and certifications
- Piano Technicians Guild
What people say
True expert
Unmatched experience
Beautiful compositions
Meticulous editions
Professional performances
Services
Piano Tuning
Our piano tuning services adjust string tension to ensure harmonic precision. Technicians use specialized tools to modify pitch, restoring optimal sound quality. Regular maintenance prevents damage from overstretched strings, preserving instrument value for owners in residential and institutional settings.
Piano Repair
We provide comprehensive repair solutions for acoustic and digital pianos including regulation, voicing, and mechanical restoration. Our Registered Piano Technicians diagnose issues with internal mechanisms and structural components, ensuring instruments maintain their performance standards and investment value over time.
Music Publishing
Our publishing division specializes in computer-engraved editions of classical and romantic piano works. We revive out-of-print compositions with editorial precision while publishing original works in multiple genres. Each edition balances modern clarity with fidelity to historical originals for professional and amateur musicians.
Music Composition
Award-winning composer Michael Kimbell creates original works across symphonic, chamber, and vocal categories. Our catalog includes modern interpretations of classical forms with innovations in harmonic structure. Compositions receive professional performances by orchestras and chamber ensembles nationally.
Viol Music Arrangements
We produce viola da gamba transcriptions of Renaissance and Baroque compositions. Our arrangements preserve historical authenticity while enhancing playability for modern performers. The catalog includes both original works and adaptations of classical pieces for viol consort and solo instruments.
People
Michael Kimbell
Registered Piano Technician & Composer
Dr. Michael Kimbell, a Registered Piano Technician since 1979, combines technical expertise with musical artistry. He earned his DMA from Cornell University and has composed award-winning works performed internationally. He leads piano services while directing music publishing operations.
Edith Kimbell
Music Editor & Translator
Edith Kimbell contributes literary expertise to vocal music translations. With a Master's in German literature from Cornell, she ensures poetic accuracy in editions. She also writes short fiction and assists in family business operations.
Questions
What piano services do you offer?
We provide full-service piano tuning, repair, regulation, voicing, and maintenance for acoustic and digital instruments.
Do you publish music editions?
Yes, we publish original compositions and revive historical piano works using computer-engraved scores.
How often should a piano be tuned?
Manufacturers recommend tuning twice annually, with additional sessions for performance instruments or climate changes.
Do you service historic pianos?
Yes, we specialize in heritage instrument maintenance including Yamaha Disklavier and harpsichord models.
Where are you located?
We operate from Pacifica, CA, serving San Francisco and San Mateo County clients.
What credentials do your technicians hold?
Our lead technician is a Registered Piano Technician since 1979 with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Cornell University.
Reviews (3)
Nancy Colman
Mar 08, 2022
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Michael Kimbell recently did a great job tuning and repairing my old upright. It was a pleasure dealing with him, and I thought the cost was very reasonable.
Hilton A.
Sep 10, 2018
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This is my oldest brother. Hey Michael, yeah, I'll give you a good review. Michael is a serious musician. Talented.
Suzanne N.
Oct 09, 2017
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I've had the pleasure to witness Mr. Kimbell's meticulous work and HIGHLY recommend him. He is a gem and I cannot praise him enough. You will be VERY happy that you hired him to service your piano.
