In November NIMTA (Northern Indiana Music Teachers Association) met for a meeting in Huntertown at the Piano Shoppe http://thepianoshoppe.org/ owned by piano tuner and technician Larry Merriman. Merriman has been a piano technician in the area for over 45 years. His shop is in a warehouse that houses a large amount of pianos both ready to be restored or ready to be sold after having been restored by himself. Since piano students often go to their teacher for advice regarding the purchase of an acoustic piano, he discussed basic things one can look for to determine their quality. Larry also explained different issues one may have with an acoustic piano (such as sticking keys) that may be easily fixed without a tuner/technician. Did you know Indiana was the home to several piano manufactures including two in Northern Indiana? Merriman gave the group a unique look at one of those factories. In 1871 the Packard Piano & Organ Company was in Ft. Wayne 1871 – circa 1935. The Estey Piano Corp. manufactured pianos in Bluffton from 1935 – 1982.