In 1989 Mike Kurta, RPT, retired from a successful 30 year career as owner/mechanic of his family's auto repair business in Detroit. Too young to really retire, he settled on piano tuning as a second occupation having been a player since childhood. Apprenticing under brother-in-law Frank McKowen, RPT, a veteran piano technician, Mike soon learned the ropes and thus began his shift from tuning engines to tuning pianos. (He says "it's a lot cleaner.") As time went on, he developed three busy practices one in Northern Michigan and later, following grandchildren, a second in Central New York, and a third in a suburb of Chicago. He is now back in Traverse City, Michigan with his wife of 50 years Margaret, to be closer to family. Mike has now fully retired from actively tuning and keytop replacement.