{"id":3217,"date":"2026-05-05T17:13:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/?p=3217"},"modified":"2026-05-05T17:13:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:13:48","slug":"this-tasmanian-has-tuned-18-000-pianos-now-he-s-won-a-place-at-sydney-film-festival-20260504-p5ztp8-htmlrefrssutm_mediumrssutm_sourcerss_feed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/?p=3217","title":{"rendered":"This Tasmanian has tuned 18,000 pianos. Now he\u2019s won a place at Sydney Film Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Garry Maddox\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"64\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_64%2Ch_64%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/8eb9106bbf9d4d6f5987a25e6b49627e290edc5a\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_64%2Ch_64%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/8eb9106bbf9d4d6f5987a25e6b49627e290edc5a, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_128%2Ch_128%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/8eb9106bbf9d4d6f5987a25e6b49627e290edc5a 2x\" width=\"64\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 libeSR\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\"\/>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>After four decades tuning an estimated 18,000 pianos, Martin Tucker reckons his job is guaranteed to give him a living for as long as he wants.<\/p>\n<p>Australians love playing pianos \u2013 as <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/tv-and-radio\/i-dismissed-the-first-season-of-the-piano-now-it-makes-me-cry-on-the-sofa-20260401-p5zkow.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the hit ABC series <em>The Piano<\/em> shows<\/a> \u2013 and the acoustic (non-electronic) ones always go out of tune.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Martin Tucker and his documentary director partner Natalia Laska whose film, The Piano Tuner, is having its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.09%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/d3243a6e2236a40661f22eb109aaf3a97c6e7cf7 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Martin Tucker and his documentary director partner Natalia Laska whose film, The Piano Tuner, is having its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">George Fragopoulos<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t got anything in the diary for the month of June but I know that by June there\u2019ll be pianos that need tuning,\u201d said Tucker, a colourful and talkative Tasmanian who stars in the new documentary <em>The Piano Tuner<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019ve been through the recession of 2009 or whatever, it was bulletproof.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe went through COVID. Everyone stayed at home and wanted to play the piano. They weren\u2019t spending their money on bigger things like bathroom renovations or new cars but they could afford $200 or $300 to get the piano tuned.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/movies\/three-hour-kangaroo-valley-documentary-is-a-real-escape-from-madness-20260325-p5xeeg.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kristen McLennan at her free-range chicken farm in Kangaroo Valley with filmmaker Ian Darling, whose documentary on silence and solitude a rural community will premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.17132575969425803%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_106\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f9d9febfde1cea992951cb8cf85eb00869475be2 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Tucker\u2019s craft is the subject of Natalia Laska\u2019s <em>The Piano Tuner,<\/em> which is having a world premiere at <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sff.org.au\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sydney Film Festival<\/a> in June. Festival director Nashen Moodley announced the program for the 73rd festival at the State Library of NSW on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p>It opens on June 6 with <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/movies\/filmmakers-face-legal-warning-over-brittany-higgins-story-20260127-p5nxbn.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Selina Miles\u2019 <em>Silenced<\/em><\/a>, a documentary about Australian human rights lawyer <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/the-international-lawyer-who-specialises-in-breaking-the-silence-20241028-p5km1e.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer Robinson<\/a>\u2019s work battling the weaponisation of defamation laws in the post #MeToo era. Among its interview subjects are Amber Heard and Brittany Higgins.<\/p>\n<p>The centrepiece of the festival, the $60,000 competition for \u201caudacious, cutting-edge and courageous\u201d cinema, includes films by a former winner in Iran\u2019s Asghar Farhadi (with the drama <em>Parallel Tales<\/em>) and an Australian debut feature director in Adrian Chiarella (with the horror film <em>Leviticus<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p>Also in the competition are films by such highly regarded international directors as Pawe\u0142 Pawlikowski (Thomas Mann biopic <em>Fatherland<\/em>), Romania\u2019s Cristian Mungiu (family drama<em> Fjord<\/em>), Austria\u2019s Marie Kreutzer (<em>Gentle Monster<\/em>), American Olivia Wilde (dramedy <em>The Invite<\/em>), Russian Andrey Zvyagintsev (thriller <em>Minotaur<\/em>) and Japan\u2019s Hirokazu Kore-eda (sci-fi drama <em>Sheep In The Box<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 jtDZiB\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_1.2063%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_2.4127%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_1.1587%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_2.3175%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u201cFor banks, you tell them you\u2019re a piano tuner and they think you\u2019re an elephant trainer\u201d says Tucker. \" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.113%2C$multiply_3.0899%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_56%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/f5a54688282fa4ab31ca57f0b283e364f1750303 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bRhmzR\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>\u201cFor banks, you tell them you\u2019re a piano tuner and they think you\u2019re an elephant trainer\u201d says Tucker. <\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">George Fragopoulos<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To make<em> The Piano Tuner, <\/em>which screens in the $20,000 Australian documentary competition, Laska spent eight years filming Tucker, her partner, at work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m from Poland, so piano music is part of my heritage in relation to Frederic Chopin,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I was just there to listen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Tucker] was my first encounter with a living piano tuner and he\u2019s a natural-born performer &#8211; a chatterbox \u2013 and he\u2019s funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The documentary shows Tucker, 61, travelling around Tasmania \u2013 then later the Northern Territory on an annual migration to warmer climes &#8211; being welcomed into music-loving homes and concert halls, passing on such homespun advice as \u201cthe way to stop the mice getting in is to keep playing it every day\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>After taking lessons as a child and performing in a Hobart eisteddfod, Tucker started tinkering in his late teens with a difficult-to-fix Wurlitzer 200 electric piano that he was playing in bands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI used to take the front off this thing and fiddle around with it,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d get the part and fix it. Then it was a matter of \u2018oh, I can pull the front off the real piano that I had to learn on\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_1.4051%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_0.7252%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_1.4504%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Martin Tucker, behind the piano, at work in The Piano Tuner.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_0.5515%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_0.5515%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_1.1029%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_37%2C$y_567\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/b119bf9b64c358296bc8fdc69078f6e4a1da1e21 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Martin Tucker, behind the piano, at work in The Piano Tuner.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Sydney Film Festival<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t do any tuning but seeing all those wooden parts and seeing how they work, it just got me into it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tucker won\u2019t hazard a guess at how many piano tuners \u2013 or pianos \u2013 there are around the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>\u201cBack in the day, every Australian house had a piano in the same way that today you have to have a laptop or a computer,\u201d he said. \u201cBut over the years, there\u2019s less and less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tucker and piano removalist Tony Gamble have started what they call a piano orphanage in Hobart.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_1.4051%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_0.7252%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_1.4504%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson in the documentary Silenced, which is opening the Sydney Film Festival in June.\u00a0\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_0.5515%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_0.5515%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.46%2C$multiply_1.1029%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_64%2C$y_71\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/10d608728943c85b6e42d36dcc08ffb4706d58bb 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson in the documentary Silenced, which is opening the Sydney Film Festival in June.\u00a0<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Michael Latham<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhen people didn\u2019t want their piano any more and couldn\u2019t sell it, he\u2019d just take it off their hands and put it in his shed,\u201d Tucker said. \u201cWhen someone wants a piano, I can go, \u2018Oh, Tony\u2019s got a nice one in his shed\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe sift through them. If there are pianos that aren\u2019t any good, I say \u2018Tony, you\u2019ve got to send it to the tip\u2019 or we have a quiet little burn.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<aside data-testid=\"related-story\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-0 kBAoLZ\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"related-story-heading\" class=\"sc-c8170ed7-1 iHMtRN\">Related Article<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-679b6ed4-0 VKgwt\" data-an-position=\"1\" imagepositions=\"top\" data-testid=\"story-tile\">\n<figure imagesizes=\"[object Object]\" class=\"sc-8825a2fb-0 kZkxVd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/tv-and-radio\/i-dismissed-the-first-season-of-the-piano-now-it-makes-me-cry-on-the-sofa-20260401-p5zkow.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.2805%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.5609%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.2842%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.5685%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Host of The Piano, Amanda Keller, with Andrea Lam and Guy Sebastian.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_0.5127%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.82567338501292%2C$multiply_1.0255%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_346%2C$y_88\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a9ccddf9b48615d6f027bac106ebc8db975dcb7d 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>While a reliable business, Tucker admitted there was a downside to his profession.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo make a living, you probably need to tune between 400 and 500 pianos a year,\u201d he said. \u201cBut for banks, you tell them you\u2019re a piano tuner and they think you\u2019re an elephant trainer. They can\u2019t see the figures they want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees.<\/i><\/b><a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brisbanetimes.com.au\/newsletter-signup?newsletter=the-watchlist\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> <b><i>Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA After four decades tuning an estimated 18,000 pianos, Martin Tucker reckons his job is guaranteed to give him a living for as long as he wants. Australians love playing pianos \u2013 as the hit ABC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1644,78,252,221,231,273,272,271,174,419,127,7,447],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-movies","category-home","category-house","category-reviews","category-reviews-rit-ads","category-shop","category-shop-beauty","category-shopping","category-starlink","category-surface-water","category-trending-uk","category-world","category-world-middle-east"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/owspakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}