Today we’d like to introduce you to James Romig.
Hi James, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I got into instrument repair back in 2014. I had managed a music store in Allen, TX for seven years prior to that, and then an orchestral string instrument store hired me to manage a second location for them. The training included repairing string instruments, and I realized this was my calling. I learned the value of small details and patience. I became very accomplished in all facets of violin, cello, and bass repair and discovered I have a gift and passion. I recalled a past conversation at my church with a gentleman who was retiring and looking to sell his piano repair business. I wasn’t in a place financially to make it work at that time, but the idea of being an independent business owner in instrument repair really stuck with me.
Ten years after that conversation, I decided to get a piano and work on it in my garage. I used my lunch breaks to read and study the parts of the piano and how to tune them. I would practice on my garage piano, and I had some friends who were willing to let me tune their pianos for free.
I launched Romig Pianos in July 2019, and requests started coming. Things were going really well for a while, and then 2020 happened. I was still able to repair instruments in my garage, but everything else slowed down. This gave me a lot of time to reflect and explore what to do next. I decided to go back to school and study piano technology. I was accepted to all three schools I applied to, and decided to attend the University of Houston.
We packed up and moved to Houston in August 2021 and have been here since. I completed my studies in one year and have had many unique opportunities. I am a senior piano technician at Interlochen and Aspen during their summer music festivals. I am also a guest teacher at Oberlin Conservatory, and have attended the Steinway Academy in New York. In addition, I am the teacher of piano technology at Thurgood Marshall High School in Fort Bend ISD. This is the only high school in the country that offers a program of this type. Students learn how to tune, repair, and maintain pianos. There are a ton of jobs available in this field, and the awareness of this program is growing. One of our graduates was just recently hired by Steinway Hall in Dallas, TX.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had to work really hard to learn the skills I needed to. I’ve been fortunate in the people that I have met along the way to help me. I also learned that I am in charge of my career, and I can’t wait on anyone else to give me what I need. I have to go out and get it. That seems to have been one of the defining characteristics of my career.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an instrument technician and educator. I specialize in pianos and stringed instruments including violin, viola, cello, and bass. I have served in the Dallas and Houston area for twelve years. I serve private clients in the greater Houston area. In piano I am a senior technician at the Interlochen Summer Music Festival, and also the Aspen Summer Music Festival. Additionally, I have been a guest teacher and technician at the Oberlin Conservatory.
I am most proud of the program I have built at Thurgood Marshall High School. I received a grant of $27,000 to supply tools and supplies for this program in 2023. One of our graduates has been hired at Steinway Hall in Dallas.
What sets me apart from others is that I am able to connect with people really well.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say the best piece of advice is when pursuing a dream, go by the rule of thirds. One third of the time is going to be amazing, another third is going to be okay, and the last third is going to be really hard, not necessarily in that order! When I have one of those hard days when I want to quit, I tell myself that’s a good thing. If I can push past those quit days, the next day is usually much better. Don’t quit. Fight past it. For piano work I would say get a free piano from Facebook Marketplace, a piano tech book, basic tools like a tuning hammer, and then work on tuning 30 minutes a day. Get involved in a music group and begin networking. All musicians need a piano tech, and there aren’t many out there. There are even fewer ones that actually do good work. Word of your work will get out soon and you’re in business!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://romigpianos.com
