Tasmanian Piano Tuner Stars in Documentary Premiering at Sydney Film Festival

Martin Tucker, a Tasmanian piano tuner, has spent over forty years tuning an estimated 18,000 pianos across Australia. His craft is celebrated in the documentary ‘The Piano Tuner’ by Natalia Laska, which follows Tucker travelling around Tasmania and the Northern Territory, sharing his skills with music lovers and offering practical advice like keeping pianos played daily to deter mice. Tucker’s work remains in demand even during economic downturns, including the 2009 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, when home-based piano playing surged. Beyond tuning, Tucker collaborates with piano removalist Tony Gamble to run a ‘piano orphanage’ in Hobart, rescuing unwanted instruments and redistributing them to new homes or responsibly discarding them. The documentary, reflecting Tucker’s engaging personality and extensive experience, premieres at the 73rd Sydney Film Festival in June in the Australian documentary competition. The festival features a diverse lineup of international films, including works by Olivia Wilde, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Paweł Pawlikowski. Tucker’s story highlights both the cultural importance of pianos in Australia and the dedication of a craftsman whose skill has endured decades of changing times and tastes.