In short, piano technicians can handle all aspects of piano repair, including tuning. Piano tuners, on the other hand, may not be qualified to do repairs or any service beyond tuning.

That means if a string breaks, a pedal is squeaky or a key is sticking, you may have to make a second call for a piano technician to repair it.

Pianos can have more than 12,000 adjustable parts that affect how it plays.

That’s why it’s important to find a technician who not only can tune your piano but also keep it in tip-top shape.

Doing so can help extend the life of your piano and enhance your playing experience.

Piano strings change pitch for two primary reasons: the initial stretching and settling of strings when the piano is new, and soundboard movement due to humidity variation.

When the soundboard reacts to changes in humidity, strings tighten and loosen as the soundboard reacts to the climate. Sometimes the pitch will rise above the standard A-440, but usually it will drop.

This means that each string needs to be tightened considerably to bring it to pitch. But as each string is tightened, it causes the pitch of previously adjusted strings to change as tension increases. A special technique called "pitch correction" can then be done to raise the strings to their correct tension levels. A pitch correction is essentially a special tuning procedure designed to leave the piano approximately in tune.

The next step is to do a more accurate tuning. Sometimes that can occur in the same visit. Other times, it might require a second or even a third visit. In general, the longer a piano has gone without regular service and the greater the change in humidity levels, the more visits may be required.

Your piano is a major investment which deserves regular servicing to keep it working well and preserve its value. By always maintaining your piano at standard pitch, you create long-term tuning stability because the strings and structure stay in equilibrium. You also ensure proper ear training because you always hear your music in the correct key.

Learn more about the Pitch Correction procedure here. https://www.ptg.org/ptgmain/piano/care/care-faqs

Your Piano Has an Enemy

Your piano is greatly affected by humidity. Changes in humidity cause wood and other parts to swell and shrink, and, in extreme cases, even result in rusting of strings.

All of these things lead to instability and can greatly affect your piano. Keeping a stable humidity level is one of the most important things you can do to extend a piano’s tuning stability, playability and lifespan

Humidity Control Tips

• Position your piano away from areas of temperature extremes, especially direct sunlight.

• Control the humidity within your home.

• Consider installing a humidity control system within the piano itself. These systems are installed out of sight on the piano and keep the piano at a steady humidity level. Feel free to ask us about options.

While not eliminating the need for regular piano maintenance, humidity control will allow more stable tunings. Wood parts, glue joints, metal parts and your piano's finish will all last longer.

Looking for more information on how to preserve your piano for a lifetime of enjoyment?  Drop us a note or give us a call.

Link for more information: https://www.ptg.org/piano/buying.

The Expensive Free Piano

It seems like a deal. A free piano with a beautiful finish. All you have to do is pay someone or convince some friends to help you move it and soon you’ll be making beautiful music.

Stop.

The reality is that “free” or “cheap” pianos can be incredibly expensive if the condition of the instrument requires complete rebuilding in order to be a playable instrument. Suddenly, your free piano becomes an expensive and heavy paperweight.

Do your homework before accepting any free piano. Don’t let the exterior be your only judge of the pianos condition.

The best option? Contact us or another piano technician to evaluate the piano BEFORE you bring it home. You’ll save time and money.

Looking for more information about evaluation or purchase of pianos? Drop us a note or give us a call.

Link for more information: https://www.ptg.org/piano/buying.

"QUIT BANGING ON THAT PIANO!"

You may have yelled that a time or two at one of your children. Because it’s so annoying, keys struck loudly at random can rattle your nerves.

But it won’t damage the piano. Most pianos are built to withstand very heavy use. Watch a professional pianist play or listen to how hard your tuner pounds each key when tuning. In comparison, a child’s small hands couldn’t possibly play that hard.

The real danger is kids dropping small toys inside, slipping coins into the slots between the keys, or running toys across the finish.

So encourage your child to have fun with the piano, not to be afraid of it. Don’t worry if young children play haphazardly and loudly. Teach respect for the instrument and encourage playing and they will be on their way to a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

Visit https://www.ptg.org/piano/students for resources to help get that journey started.

General Recommendations

• Generally speaking, a soft disposable towel, using warm water and hand/dish soap is safe to use on virtually every finish, key, and case parts. Always follow up with a dry soft disposable towel to dry any standing liquid.  

• Cleaning pianos is a gentle process not a scrubbing process. Pressing hard or vigorous scrubbing may lead to scratching or removing the finish. Always proceed with caution and use common sense. Remember to wash your hands after you have thrown away the towels.

 Looking for more information about how to clean and take care of your piano? Drop us a note or give us a call.

Link for more information: ptg.org/pianocare.

Sound occurs when air is set into motion rapidly. Humans can hear sound if those cycles occur anywhere from twenty times each second to about twenty thousand times each second.

When a piano string is set into motion by you pressing a key, it vibrates up and down repeatedly. If the note A above middle C is properly tuned, that string will vibrate 440 times in one second. That’s what A-440 means.

Every note on a piano is tuned using A-440 as the starting point. A-440 has been accepted as the universal standard for most of the century.

Before that, there was no standard at all. If you go way back in time, every village used a prominent local instrument, such as a church organ, as the standard for tuning its musical instruments.

If you’re like a lot of piano owners, you’ve been playing your piano a lot more lately. It’s possible you’ve noticed your piano doesn’t “feel” like it’s playing as well as usual. It’s possible that your piano may need regulation.

 How can you tell if your piano needs regulation? If the keys don’t feel as sensitive as they used to, you can’t play as softly as you used to, or the tone just doesn’t sound right, some regulation might help. If you notice that the keys are not level (some higher or lower than the rest), the touch is uneven or that the keys are sticking, the need for regulation is indicated.

The next time your piano is tuned, we can also check to see if some regulation can help improve the sound. You can learn more about regulation here.