Family History

The McClard Family has been connected to Piano Tuning since the early 1930s when Ralph Leslie Townsend, Jr., my Great-Grandfather, tuned his first piano. Ralph learned to tune pianos in his late teens when he acted as driver for a blind piano tuner in Atchison Kansas named Vic Phillips. Ralph served in the Army in World War II. Upon his return, he had a number of small businesses connected with trucking. In the early 1960s he returned to piano tuning full time.

Ralph passed down the trade to his Son-in-law, My Grandfather Don McClard, who was a Band Director in Southeast Missouri for 30 years. He continued tuning his whole life and trained all three of his sons while they were growing up.

My father and Uncle, Steve and Dan McClard, continued the family business after their Father’s death in 1989. My father was also a Band Director in Missouri for 28 years before retiring and tuning pianos full time. He taught me and my brother the art from a young age.

My Story

I started learning how to tune pianos with my father when I was 7 years old, and mastered it while in college by tuning all of the pianos at Southwest Baptist University and Evangel University. I moved to Nashville, TN in 2023 to pursue music and start my own piano tuning business, and have been successful with both.

Apart from my work in piano tuning, I have had a fulfilling journey in the world of marching percussion, having marched snare drum with Freedom Percussion, The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and Music City Mystique in DCI and WGI circuits. In addition to my performance experience, I share my passion for drumming as a drum line instructor for the Ravenwood High School Marching Band.

Alongside my marching endeavors, I have also showcased my drum set skills with various bands and artists, both in live settings and recording studios. Presently, I am an active member of the band Hayloft, with upcoming music releases on the horizon!

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