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Jeff Stickney began his piano service career in the fall of 1983 as an apprentice with Richard West, Piano Technician at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In April of 1984 he completed the Piano Technicians Guild written, tuning and technical exams to become a Craftsman Member of the Guild, now known as Registered Piano Technician (RPT). During this time, Jeff also established the Organ Service Department for the Bedient Organ Co. in Lincoln. He continued with both piano and organ work until 1989, when he trained a successor in organ service and focused exclusively on Piano Service.

In 1985, Jeff completed a 2-week course in grand and vertical action rebuilding taught by Micheal Drost at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Since that time, Jeff has pursued numerous opportunities to continue to advance his skills as a Piano Technician including regular attendance at PTG Regional and National Conventions, completion of the Yamaha Little Red School House and Disklavier training seminars, and individual training sessions with some of the top technicians in the country. He has also completed testing to become a Dampp-Chaser (Piano Humidity Control System) Certified Installer. Although complete rebuilding is not currently offered as a service, Jeff has rebuilt numerous grand pianos of all sizes, and continues to stay current on rebuilding technology. He can refer customers to excellent options for rebuilding, and continues to provide action service, including regulation, key bushing replacement, and minor repairs and parts replacement.

Activities in the PTG include having served as Chapter President and Vice President in Nebraska and Montana, as well as having given numerous tuning tests as a Certified Tuning Examiner, or as an RPT member of the testing team. He has taught many technical sessions for the local chapter, as well as having taught a course to piano students at UM. He enjoys frequently opportunities to guest lecture at UM on historical temperaments and other topics related to tuning and the piano.

Jeff was the Piano Technician for the University of Montana School of Music from 1991 until 2007, and has tuned for countless concerts through his work at UM, as well as in other venues in the Missoula area. He regularly tunes for the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and the String Orchestra of the Rockies.