Scott Higgins is perpetually in search of that flawless pitch.

As the chief piano technician at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and the Performing Arts Center, Higgins dedicates his daily efforts to ensuring that the university’s pianos perform at their utmost capacity.

Higgins hails from a lineage of piano technicians. Following his high school graduation in 1979, Higgins enrolled in a vocational school in Boston to master the art of piano maintenance, emulating the paths of his father, grandfather, and uncle.

“Initially, I aspired to be a veterinarian or a police officer,” he remarked. “But I ventured to Boston to explore this piano venture, and ultimately a school in Boston recruited me as a piano technician.”

Higgins worked for various educational institutions and organizations in Boston, including the New England Conservatory and the Boston Symphony, before relocating to the University of Oregon, the University of Memphis, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. At every institution, he engaged with Steinway pianos. The university’s designation as an All-Steinway School attracted him to UGA in 2011. The institution’s preferred piano brand and its convenient location in Georgia have rendered UGA an ideal setting for Higgins.

“I enjoy being here, and it’s near some fantastic locations,” he stated. “I participated in a festival in South Carolina and another in Savannah. They were conveniently close so that I didn’t have to lug my gear and worry about weight for the flight.”

During the past 13 years, Higgins has worked to upgrade 40% of the university’s piano collection, offering students and visiting artists even superior quality instruments. He most recently supervised the acquisition of 30 new pianos, a significant accomplishment for a music institution.

“That’s quite exceptional. I’m not aware of any other institution that has done that unless they’re launching a new program and declaring, ‘We need to acquire pianos,’” Higgins noted. “When we procured these pianos, I updated my LinkedIn page to say, ‘We’ve got a great football team, but we possess an incredible piano collection.’”

In 2021, he was honored with the Franklin College Staff Excellence in Service Award, highlighting the contributions he makes to the School of Music and Performing Arts Center.

Higgins typically starts his day at the Performing Arts Center, inspecting the Steinway pianos utilized by visiting artists like Alfredo Rodriguez and Yulianna Avdeeva. Depending on the day, the pianos might require multiple inspections. For the School of Music, he and his associate Tony Graves dedicate time to each practice room to ensure that the pianos are functioning optimally for the students and faculty.

Some pianos demand more attention than others. While many may simply require a tuning, another might be in Higgins’ workshop, awaiting a complete internal replacement.

“A piano comprises approximately 12,000 components, all of which must function together harmoniously,” Higgins explained. “Most individuals approach a piano, they see the keys, they play it, and perceive no issues. However, if each component isn’t properly adjusted, a skilled pianist would struggle to coax the piano into producing the desired sound.”

In this role, Higgins has discovered that confidence is his most invaluable asset. While collaborating with distinguished pianists, he’s recognized the significance of instilling assurance in his expertise.

“For a major concert, I’ll arrive in a suit and tie, and it entirely transforms the atmosphere,” he shared. “When I appear appropriately dressed, they’re more inclined to trust that I genuinely understand the instrument.”

Higgins relishes opportunities to educate others about pianos. In January, he participated in his inaugural Piano Day, an event designed for high school students to learn about pianos to foster interest in UGA’s piano programs. Alongside master classes and discussions with faculty members, Higgins led a session on piano upkeep.

“Very few piano players, even those who tour internationally, understand their instrument,” he explained. “If you play the clarinet, you handle your own repairs. If you’re a cellist, you manage your own maintenance. Pianos are among the few instruments where the instrument is supplied.”

When he’s not tending to pianos, Higgins enjoys mountain biking with his wife and participating in acting classes. Although work often limits his ability to commit to extended productions, he has had the chance to appear in music videos, commercials, and short-form soap operas.

On campus, Higgins is now committed to a fresh objective.

“If I could acquire four new Bs for this school,” he said, referring to a specific Steinway piano model, “we would become unbeatable.”

The post Piano technician assists musicians in achieving the correct pitch appeared first on UGA Today.