Brian L. Janey, RPT, AM

Accredited Appraiser (AM), Personal Property — Pianos and Keyboard Instruments

Fallbrook, California, United States

Professional Profile

Accredited Appraiser specializing in pianos and keyboard instruments, with over 25 years of combined experience in valuation, connoisseurship, restoration, and technical analysis. Recognized for expertise at the intersection of piano technology and USPAP-compliant appraisal practice, serving private clients, estates, fiduciaries, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance professionals in complex valuation assignments. Combines hands-on technical inspection with formal appraisal methodology to produce valuation conclusions that are both mechanically informed and professionally defensible.

Professional Affiliations & Credentials

• Accredited Member, American Society of Appraisers (ASA), 2019–Present

• Registered Piano Technician (RPT), Piano Technicians Guild (PTG), 1998–Present

• Member, National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), 2002–Present

• President, San Diego County Chapter, Piano Technicians Guild, 2019–Present

Education

Bachelor of Arts, English
Bethany College, Scotts Valley, California, 1989

Diploma, Piano Technology
Randy Potter School of Piano Technology, Bend, Oregon, 1999

Appraisal Education & Continuing Professional Development

American Society of Appraisers (ASA)

Ongoing continuing education through the American Society of Appraisers, including topics in appraisal review, expert witness testimony, IRS compliance, valuation in litigation contexts, and professional ethics (2019–Present).

ASA National Conferences & Symposia (Selected Coursework)

• Expert Witness Testimony

• IRS Views of Appraisals

• Appraisals in the Courtroom

• Appraiser Liability

• Bankruptcy & Litigation Valuation

• Insurance and Inflation Risk

• AI Ethics in Valuation

Professional Experience

Registered Piano Technician & Appraiser

Allegro Musical Ventures, Inc. – Fallbrook, California
1998–Present

• Perform USPAP‑compliant appraisals of pianos and keyboard instruments for insurance scheduling, damage and loss claims, estates, trusts, charitable contributions, litigation support, and private sale advisory.

• Provide valuation consulting for CPAs, fiduciaries, insurance adjusters, attorneys, and executors.

• Conduct condition surveys and written reports on instruments damaged by fire, smoke, soot, flooding, environmental contamination, and improper handling or storage.

• Apply advanced connoisseurship and technical analysis to distinguish legitimate market comparables from non‑comparable listings.

• Execute and supervise shop‑level reconditioning, restoration, and mechanical regulation to professional performance standards.

• Service pianos in concert halls, orchestral series, festivals, and professional venues, frequently working directly with touring and celebrity artists.

• Restore and evaluate pianos affected by catastrophic events, including wildfire‑related smoke and ash exposure.

• Diagnose, calibrate, repair, and replace electronic and robotic systems across all generations of Yamaha Disklavier reproducing player pianos.

• Advise clients and professionals on valuation considerations, risk exposure, and appropriate documentation for insurance and fiduciary purposes.

Relevant Background & Specialized Expertise

Former firefighter with an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Technology, contributing specialized insight into fire dynamics, smoke behavior, and post-loss conditions in the appraisal of affected instruments.

Teaching, Leadership & Publications

• President, San Diego County Chapter, Piano Technicians Guild (2019–Present)

• Instructor and host of technical and appraisal‑focused training sessions for piano technicians in shop and classroom settings

• Presenter at Piano Technicians Guild National Conventions (2022, 2023, 2024) on piano valuation, appraisal methodology, and market analysis

• Published in the Piano Technicians Guild Journal, including work on the evaluation of smoke and soot affected pianos, addressing conditions in which instruments may appear serviceable but are functionally and environmentally compromised.

• Educational content creator and host, The Piano Appraiser (YouTube), focusing on consumer education, appraisal ethics, and valuation best practices

Areas of Specialization

• Insurance Scheduling and Damage/Loss Appraisals

• Charitable Contribution and Estate Appraisals

• Piano and Keyboard Instrument Valuation

• USPAP Compliance and Scope of Work Analysis

• Fire, Smoke, Soot, and Water Damage Assessment

• Connoisseurship and Market Analysis

• Expert Advisory for Fiduciaries, Insurers, and Legal Professionals

Curriculum Vitae prepared for professional and informational use. Detailed appraisal engagement history and references available upon request. Appraisal reports prepared in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).