Steven Jett

Steven attended the North Carolina School of the Arts Conservatory of Music, where he developed an appreciation for keyboard instruments and the craftsmanship behind their construction. He went on to work for three of the country's finest pipe organ-building workshops, earned certification as a piano technician from the Piano Technician Academy, and is a member of the Piano Technicians Guild.

Organbuilding

Steven apprenticed at Taylor and Boody Organbuilders, learning pipe making, embossing, and gilding under the guidance of artist and craftsman Robbie Lawson. He trained in tuning using mostly unequal temperaments and voicing organ pipes before moving to Tacoma to work at Pasi Organbuilders, where he honed his skills and studied piano technology in his free time. Later, Steven worked on large ornate organs at Fritts Organbuilders and started Jett Piano Services, which quickly grew into a full-time business. Although he loved building organs, his passion is with the piano.

Highlights from Steven’s organ building days include:

• Taylor and Boody (Op. 57-65): Restoration of the Rudolf von Beckerath organ at St. Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA (1962); repairing and creating new pipes for the completion of Opus 27, St. Thomas Church, New York; and building and installing magnum opus, Op. 65, at Grace Church, New York

• Pasi Organbuilders (Op. 20-26): Building and Installation of the organ at Yale University Op. 20; revisiting and refreshing earlier projects with Martin, including Op. 14 in Omaha, one of the largest dual-temperament organs ever built; and bringing embossed pipes to Pasi’s organs for the first time with Op.22 and Op.25

• Fritts Organbuilders (Op. 38-48): Including two organs for Hillsdale College, featuring hand-drawn oil sizing for gilding on the organ case of Op.44, and the creation of one of the largest embossed pipes ever built, 16’ F, for Op. 42

Steven’s work building organs extends to instruments as far as Europe and Japan.

  • Pasi Op.22

  • -Steven Embossing facade pipes for Fritts Op.42

  • -Embossed pipe for Fritts Op.42

  • -Steven being reckless with excitement about having completed one of the largest embossed pipes ever made for Fritts Op.42

  • -Facade pipes Steven is in the middle of gilding for Fritts Op.42

  • -Gilded embossed facade pipe for Fritts Op.42

  • -Fritts Op.42 half finished in the workshop.

  • -Fritts Op.44 Steven hand painted this oil size in preparation for gilding.

  • -Steven gilding Fritts Op.44

  • -Gilding completed for Fritts Op.44

  • -Fritts Op.44 half built in the shop

  • -Fritts Op.44 after Steven completed the facade pipes.

  • -Fritts Op.42

  • -1962 Beckerath Organ

  • T&B Op.27

  • T&B Op.65

  • Pasi Op. 20 Yale University

  • -Half installed Pasi Op.24 with a Steven standing on the top of the organ for scale

  • -Pasi Op.24

  • -Dedicatory recital for Pasi Op.23

  • -Maurine and Steven tired from installing Pasi Op.21

Jett Piano Services

Steven’s passion for both the mechanical design and music of the piano led him to pursue piano technology. Built during the final years of his organ-building career, Jett Piano Services serves a diverse clientele, including public schools, colleges and universities, performance and recording spaces, and hundreds of residences across the Puget Sound area. His work occasionally takes him back to his roots, tuning pianos at Epiphany Church where a Pasi organ he helped build during his time at Martin’s shop resides, and partnering with Taylor and Boody on select projects.

Some notable achievements of Jett Piano Services include:

• Tuning for contemporary composer William Chapman Nyaho for his performance and recording of new compositions

• Tuning for singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer’s concert at the historic Temple Theater in Tacoma

• Head piano technician for over 75 schools and educational Institutions, including Stadium High (basically Hogwarts), Tacoma School of the Arts, and SAMI at Point Defiance Zoo

• Certified Piano Life Savor/Dampp-Chaser Installer

• Rebuilding a 1907 Checkering concert grand, an important and textbook example of early 20th century American piano building

• Hired to unpack, install, regulate, and tune Taylor and Boody Op. 79, a continuo organ for Gonzaga University in Spokane

  • -Amanda Palmer signing posters while Steven tunes for her concert at The Temple Theater

  • -Two Steinway D’s Steven tuned for William Chapman Nyaho’s recording

  • -New action for the 1907 Chickering scale 131 Concert grand Steven rebuilt

  • -Steven tuning the 1907 Chickering concert grand

  • -T&B Op.79 continuo organ for Gonzaga University Steven set up

  • -T&B Op.79 continuo organ for Gonzaga University Steven set up

  • -T&B Op.79 continuo organ for Gonzaga University Steven set up

  • -A grand piano Steven takes care of at a college in Tacoma

  • -In the middle of reshaping the hammers for this Yamaha grand piano

  • -Grand piano Steven cares for at a church near Tacoma

Steven Jett

Steven enjoys a variety of personal interests that fuels his creativity and passion for craftsmanship. Having a love for art and woodworking, He has designed and built many projects in his wood working shop, recently unique light fixtures.

He enjoys cooking and entertaining, often preparing meals with fresh ingredients from his garden and orchard, sometimes with native mushrooms he forages during hikes. During his dinner parties, while everyone finishes their meal, he sits at his piano and plays for his guests a few from his favorites.

“Continuing this tradition of piano work is a true honor. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build a community of musicians and friends around my business. You are an integral part of this, and I look forward to caring for your piano for many years to come.”

  • -Sconces Steven designed and made in his workshop for his stairwell

  • -Berries from Steven’s garden

  • -Steven recording and album with a close friend

  • -Lamp designed and made for over his dining table

  • -A pond Steven dug in his back yard

  • -Steven’s famous pickled eggs

  • -Pacific Golden Chanteralles found while foraging

  • -Figs from Steven’s orchard

  • -Forage chanterelle risotto, Kale from the garden, and a salmon fillet a customer gifted Steven

    -Forage chanterelle risotto, Kale from the garden, and a salmon fillet a customer gifted Steven

  • -Cherry trees in the orchard are happy

  • -Repairing a chair in the woodshop

  • -Candle lit dinner party

  • -Steven is ridiculous