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The following are some common questions about piano care and maintenance. For further information about these topics, follow the links, which are provided courtesy of the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.
How often should my piano be tuned?
Most pianos in the Central Texas area will benefit from being tuned twice a year, due to the change in humidity from winter to summer. It's always a good idea to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for how often your piano should be tuned. http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-howOften.php
Since my piano isn't used very much, why is it necessary to have it tuned?
Playing your piano is only one of the factors which cause it to go out of tune. A change in humidity has the most effect on tuning. During the summer, the pitch rises due to the humidity in the air and in the winter, the pitch drops because the humidity decreases. http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-humidity.php
My technician charged me extra for a pitch raise. What does that mean?
When pianos haven't been tuned for many years, the pitch can sometimes be so low that the piano just won't stay in tune the first time through. In order to stabilize the pitch at A-440 (concert pitch), technicians often have to tune your piano a second or third time. The charge for pitch raising is for the extra work involved. http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-pitchRaise.php
My piano doesn't seem to play the same as it did when it was new. Why is that?
The action of your piano probably needs to be regulated. Over time, the felt and leather used in the action compresses and changes the position of the various parts of the action, thus putting the action out of regulation. This is normal wear and tear and can be addressed by your technician during a tuning appointment. http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-regulation.php
My technician mentioned something about voicing. What does voicing mean?
Voicing is the process of making the tone (or voice) of the piano even from register to register. Simply put, when technicians voice a piano, the loud notes are made softer and the soft notes are made louder, giving you an even tone across the keyboard. http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-voicing.php
How should I take care of my piano?
How should I prepare for the technician when he/she comes to tune my piano?
Before your technician arrives, you should take everything off the lid of the piano and remove all music, books and lamps from the music desk. Also arrange to have a quiet enviornment in which your technician can work. Loud noises, such as television or music, children, dogs, kitchen noises, vacuum cleaners, etc., are distractions and will adversely affect the ability of your technician to properly tune your piano. Remember, the quieter the house, the
better job your technician can do for you.
My piano is not very old but my technician is telling me that the action needs to be reconditioned. Am I doing something to damage my piano?
No. When pianos are played for several years, the action of the piano is subject to normal wear. The hammers become slightly flattened out at the crown, the keys become loose in the front, and other things happen which change the way the piano plays and sounds. Rather than replacing parts, the technician will typically file and voice the hammers, rebush the keys and regulate the action, restoring the piano to its optimum condition.
http://www.ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners-rebuilding.php#reconditioning
My piano has been in my family for many years, but my technician says that the original parts are worn out and that the piano needs to be rebuilt. Why is this necessary?
Web links and resource materials provided by:
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