Michel Pedneau claims that practicing this profession has several facets, each one more interesting than the other. He says that’s the beauty of the job. (Photo: Trium Media)
Michel and Guy Pedneau are following in their father’s footsteps. With almost 50 years of experience, the self-taught duo knew how to maintain the essence of the piano tuning profession in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
“It wasn’t originally planned for our father. He had taught him to play the violin from his father, he was an artist. However, when the economic crisis broke out, he was offered the opportunity to learn how to tune the piano. So he moved to Lac-Saint-Jean and a little later to Chicoutimi to meet the demands of the time,” says Guy Pedneau, the younger of the two brothers.
The youngest adds that among their family members, he and Michel are the only ones interested in continuing their father’s journey. They also began to learn from him at a very early age and followed him around the region when work awaited him.
“We saw our father work and to us he was a wise man. It was a bit fascinating for us, so when we had free time, we would go with him and go everywhere. He gave us a few little tasks and we quietly learned about the area. »
While studying at the Chicoutimi Conservatory of Music, the Pedneau brothers first saw the opportunity to become piano tuners. Since her parents were musicians and establishment pioneers, her destiny was clearly predetermined.
“When the conservatory opened and we liked music, we also started following the currents and listening to the radio. It was here that the first desire to make music arose, and we registered in this institution. He goes on to point out that “with the baby boom, the demand for piano tuning increased and Michel, who had entered the business before me, was no longer able to do it on his own.” He then offered to help me, what I did. Since then we have both worked as piano tuners and each pursued our own artistic career.
A job with mind and heart
Michel Pedneau claims that practicing this profession has several facets, each one more interesting than the other. He says that’s the beauty of the job.
“It’s a way of looking at things. Tuning a piano can be done mechanically, but it can also be done artistically. It is a mixture of both sources, which have more of a scientific basis. Namely the harmonies, the frequencies, but also the cultural approach that allows us to question the beauty of the sound and find out what we can do to improve it. All this together makes it a little discovery every time! calls he.
Even after 50 years in this field, Guy and Michel Pedneau still have that flame and passion that fuels them to this day.
“We meet very enriching people. People are satisfied with our service, we are happy to do it for them. An atmosphere is created that we have not even experienced in recent years. It’s a job that knows how to stay young for a long time! »
A long career that can be summed up in the removal of more than 300 to 400 pianos and the tuning service for upright and grand pianos, stretching from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean to all of Quebec.