
Where artistry, craftsmanship and curiosity meet.

I am Khai Tien Nguyen — pianist, Steinway-trained technician, and founder of The 88 Lab in Singapore. Since the age of five, the piano has been central to my life. What began as lessons and conservatory training evolved into a lifelong search for something deeper — for the kind of sound that truly speaks, and the instrument that can carry it.Curiosity led me to question: why do certain pianos resonate so profoundly? Why does some music feel fully realized on one instrument yet incomplete on another? To search for those answers, I trained and worked as a piano technician at Steinway & Sons Netherlands — to connect the pianist's imagination with the inner workings of the instrument, and to shape its voice and response as an extension of the pianist's touch, thought, and emotion.The 88 Lab was born from this intersection. Each project — be it performance, restoration, regulation, voicing, concert tuning or collaboration — is approached with care, precision, and a deep commitment to musical integrity.Explore the portfolio or connect with me on LinkedIn to learn more.
At The 88 Lab, the mind of a pianist meets the precision of a technician — offering services that support both the instrument and the artist.Projects are undertaken in Singapore, Vietnam, The Netherlands, and across Southeast Asia, specializing in in-depth regulation, detailed voicing, concert tuning, and luxury piano restoration.
Concert Piano Tuning – Precision tuning (standard or pitch raise) to keep the instrument at the ideal pitch (A440 or A442 Hz).Technical Services: Regulation & Voicing – Calibrating the piano’s mechanism and tone to reveal its full potential and meet the pianist’s unique preferences.Bespoke Repairs & Restoration – Expert care for fine instruments, ranging from minor technical repairs to large-scale structural restoration and revision.Professional Consultation – Honest, expert advice on piano selection, care, and setup, including detailed inspection reports for purchase, sale, or restoration planning.Piano Acquisition & International Logistics – Specialist sourcing advice and coordination for international piano purchases and high-value handling (by inquiry).
Piano Pedagogy & Masterclasses – Musically rich lessons for pianists of all levels, with approach that integrates technical understanding of the instrument with artistic expression, conducted on high-quality, well-maintained pianos.Technical Workshops & Talks – Interactive sessions that unveil the "inner life" of the piano. These workshops encourage a deeper connection between the player and their instrument by demystifying the mechanics behind the music.Creative Collaborations – Exploring the intersection of sound and form. Interdisciplinary projects with artists, designers, and makers are welcomed to create unique performances and installations that push the boundaries of the traditional piano experience.
A reflection of The 88 Lab's values.At The 88 Lab, every project — whether in sound, craft, or collaboration — stems from a commitment to depth, sensitivity, and musical integrity. Below is a selection of work that embodies this approach.
Institutional Restoration & Revision
Selected large-scale restoration and technical repair projects on Steinway & Sons grand pianos for world-renowned institutions, including: The Concertgebouw & Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Royal Conservatoire The Hague & Conservatorium van Amsterdam, De Doelen Rotterdam & Theatre De Vest, Conservatorium Maastricht & Conservatorium Tilburg, The Canadian Embassy in the Netherlands, Bij Andreas & various private concert artists.Global Technical Support
In addition to major structural work, full-scale maintenance, precision regulation, and regular concert tuning are provided for leading venues and professional clients across The Netherlands, Singapore, and Southeast Asia.
A True Piano Whisperer – Thank You, Khai!Khai transformed my 100-year-old piano, which was in a terrible state, into an absolute gem. The touch is now incredibly sensitive, and every key and tone are so beautifully regulated that it feels like playing on a brand-new instrument. What’s even more impressive is that she allows you to customize your piano’s tone, colour, balance, and tension – tailoring everything to your personal taste and playing style.Thanks to Khai, my beloved Steinway has been rescued and brought back to life with more soul than ever before. Her passion, dedication, and craftsmanship are second to none. She pours her heart into every detail, and her rates are more than reasonable given the exceptional quality of her work.I am beyond grateful. Thank you, Khai – you are the best I’ve ever met.Karen Wong
Director, Forte Musicademy
We recently had the pleasure of working with Khai, a skilled and meticulous piano technician, who came to our school to service our instruments. She worked on five upright pianos and two grand pianos, providing regulation, voicing, and tuning.Khai demonstrated a high level of professionalism, precision, and care in her work. Each piano showed noticeable improvement – not only in playability but also in tonal quality and consistency. Her voicing work brought out the unique character of each instrument while ensuring an even and expressive sound across the registers.We truly appreciate her dedication and expertise, and we look forward to working with her again in the future. Highly recommended!Benny Lan
Owner - Managing Director, Liszthoven Music School
Hi Khai, I just got home to try the pianos. They’re beautiful, especially the Steingraeber. I can now shade the tone & sound. It’s much more responsive to change of touch. Thank you so much Khai.Mrs Rena Phua
Former Head of Piano Department, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
Hi Khai, the kids are so happy because they say the piano is so nice to play now. We recorded my daughter’s G8 Piano Performance exam on the Steingraeber after you had worked on it and she got a Distinction!!! Thank you!! The pianos sound so much nicer!!Leonie, a happy parent
Khai is truly one of the best piano technicians I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is absolutely fantastic—meticulous, perfectionistic, and deeply committed to bringing out the absolute best in every instrument she touches.Her attention to detail is unmatched. Whether she’s tuning, refurbishing, calibrating, or balancing the tonal textures of the strings, Khai brings a rare precision and artistry to her work. She doesn’t just tune pianos—she transforms them. It’s like she speaks the instrument’s language and knows exactly what it needs to sing at its highest potential.Khai is a true wizard of the piano. Her passion for excellence and her remarkable skillset makes her an invaluable technician, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.Florin Mantale
Pianist & Educator, Amsterdam Piano Academy
Khai carried out an extensive round of regulation and voicing, and the results were beyond our expectations! We were amazed at the sound our K. Kawai baby grand could produce—my daughter even remarked that it now sounds a little closer to her teacher’s Steinway! 😊This was our first time engaging a piano technician who is also a pianist, with technical experience at the Steinway Service Centre. Khai’s musicality, technical expertise, and passion for the piano truly brought out a beautiful voice we never knew existed in our instrument.Shandy
Music lover and Mother of 2
.... and this is only the beginning. Thank you for trusting me to do what I love.
Khai
THE 88 LAB PTE. LTD.UEN: 202524805Z
Registered Business Address (mailing only)
111 North Bridge Road, #20-05, Peninsula Plaza
Singapore 179098Tel:
(+65) 8025 4227 Singapore
(+31) 6 2145 7920 The NetherlandsE-mail: [email protected]