“It’s been years since our piano was last tuned.”  I hear this quite often and I believe that our economy is an excuse.  Here’s why.  People typically keep their cars in good working order.  They keep their homes in order.  I know there are exceptions to this rule.  However on average, most folks keep their homes and automobiles maintained.  In fact this new year will also send numerous people to the gym for the “new you” they’ve always wanted. 

Pianos deserve the same attention as our homes, autos and bodies.  They require tuning and maintenance, and yes this should be a priority.  I’ve heard it said, “Well having the piano tuned isn’t a priority right now.”  “Then get rid of the piano and allow someone else to enjoy and care for it.” would be my response. 

Let’s make 2012 a year of the piano.  Let’s keep our pianos tuned and maintained.  This resolution should be among the most important on our list, and it is quite doable.  Before you have a problem with the piano, call to schedule your piano tuning/service appointment.   I hope to see you in this new year!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Pianos are mechanical as much as musical, and require regular tuning and service.  The outside may look great, but purchase one without an evaluation, you could be asking for a big headahce.  A piano should undergo an evaluation just the same as a used car should undergo an  inspection prior to purchase.  As a piano technician, I look past the cabinet and ask the tough questions.  Is the piano tunable?  How is it’s tone and pitch?  Is there any structural damage?  Let’s go deeper. 

I will check the mechanicals, look for loose parts, missing parts, broken parts, damaged parts due to smoke water etc.  Does the piano have any missing hardware?  What are the strings like and so forth.  Used pianos especially need evaluation prior to purchase because each one has a different story to tell about its life, where it lived, how often it was played and much more.  Where do you go from here.

If you find a piano that you are absolutely in love with, and you cannot part with the idea of losing it, then give me a call to schedule a piano evaluation.  I will spend about an hour to an  hour in a half with the piano and provide you the full story.  The cost of the evaluation might save you hundreds or maybe thousands in repairs.  Beauty is truly skin deep when it comes to pianos, and there is much more to one than meets the eye.

About five years ago I finished tuning a couple of pianos in a thrift store, and a woman and I discussed this exact question.  The underlying question is this, “Why do you like this particular brand of piano over a different one?”  My training in this field led me to some key observations.

Like an individual, each piano boasts it’s own personality.  The tone may differ ( i.e. a brighter treble, a mellow bass, “brassy” sounding bass, darker bass, dull treble, a tubby bass), touch ( i.e. heavy touch verses a light touch, responsiveness, do keys repeat quickly on staccato blow?  which touch will affect).  There are also the obvious areas such as various types of pianos such as grand, upright, spinet, studio and console.

So what is your favorite piano?  A pianist arrives to the piano with his or her own experience level and expectations.  As a musician I too maintain certain preferences.  As a piano technician however the technical dimensions enter the picture and that along with my training adds certain biases about certain pianos.

We then can take this technicial dimension and apply it to certain situations where we can improve a piano in order to transform it into one a pianist will enjoy more.  For example, a pianist owns a piano with a bright treble.  We can alter it’s tone by “voicing” the hammers or by changing their tone.  We know however that certain pianos can gain some improvement while others are “as good as they’re going to be” because we have a knowledge as to what brands boast higher quality than others.

So before you purchase a piano, play it for a while.  Examine its tone.  Observe it’s touch. Play slow.  Play fast.  A piano preference is as individual as the piano itself, and with the technical help of a piano technician, we can help you maintain that preference for a life time.

Swings in temperature and humidity cause a piano to go out of tune.  Structural problems will also affect tuning.  This lends to the importance that a piano should receive a thorough evaluation prior to purchase, but we’ll discuss this at a later time.  For now, let’s understand that pianos do go out of tune and that regular service is required.  Why?

A vehicle requires an oil change every three months or three thousand miles.  Why should a piano receive less care and attention?  Vehicles will transport us to where we need to go, and a piano holds the ability to transport us into the future and the past through our emotions and intelect.  We should provide the care and attention our pianos require, and for good reason.

Pianos were designed to perform at standard pitch.  A piano that is at correct pitch (A-440) will aid in proper ear training, and one that’s played along with other instruments should add to the masterpiece.  So how does this apply to the average Joe or Jane who doesn’t perform on the concert stage?

Whether a person is a seasoned or occasional player doesn’t negate the importance that a piano requires routine maintenance.  Remember, your piano is a vehicle that will take you on numerous journeys as your experience grows.  Take good care of your piano and place it on a regular service schedule so that it can provide a life time of enjoyment for your and the next generation.