| #ffffff;" /> | | | | Try to keep the temperature of your home at a |
| Having your piano tuned is definitely the single most | | | | relatively consistent level; despite what the |
| important part of the instrument’s maintenance, | | | | temperature outside happens to be. Somewhere in the |
| but unfortunately, very few piano owners follow a | | | | neighborhood of seventy degrees would be ideal. |
| reasonable schedule when it comes to having their | | | | Keep your piano away from direct sources of heat |
| pianos tuned. Piano owners often think that they can | | | | and cold. Avoid getting too close to radiators or central |
| go years between tunings and everything will be fine, | | | | air and central heat registers. |
| or that they can try to replace a professional tuning by | | | | Try to keep your piano away from direct sunlight. You |
| subscribing to some myth or old wives tale (like | | | | may be surprised to find that, even if your |
| keeping jars of water in their piano), but this simply | | | | home’s thermostat is set to seventy and its |
| isn’t the case. To truly get the most out of your | | | | cooler outside, direct sunlight can make the piano very |
| piano, it needs to be taken care of by a professional, | | | | hot and cause an internal increase in humidity, wreaking |
| and with regularity. | | | | havoc with the tuning. |
| When does my piano need tuning? | | | | There are also internal humidity control mechanisms |
| It’s an often heard question among tuning | | | | that can be installed inside of your piano to monitor and |
| technicians and piano manufacturers, most of whom | | | | regulate levels of humidity to make sure that all of the |
| suggest a minimum of two times a year. Depending on | | | | internal wooden components stay at the optimal level |
| what type of climate you live in, however, once about | | | | of humidity and keep your piano in as good a shape |
| every three months (or whenever the seasons | | | | as possible. Though this can be a bit of an initial |
| change) would be an optimal schedule for tuning. | | | | investment, it will prevent you from needing to have |
| What do the seasons have to do with piano tuning? | | | | your piano tuned every three or so months, so it would |
| With every seasonal change there are also usually | | | | likely save you some money in the long run. |
| drastic changes in both temperatures and levels of | | | | Your piano can also become out of tune from an over |
| humidity. Your piano has been meticulously crafted out | | | | abundance of play, this however is a best case |
| of wood, and wood is a material that is particularly | | | | scenario. The more often you sit down to play your |
| susceptible to changes in humidity and moisture. | | | | piano, the more enjoyment it is probably bringing to you |
| The changes in the level of moisture cause the | | | | and those around you, so if you are playing so much |
| wooden sound board to expand and shrink causing a | | | | that you need frequent tunings, the investment in your |
| big change in the tension of the strings, and causing the | | | | piano was a very wise one. If you are one of the few |
| piano to go out of tune. | | | | with this problem, you should consider yourself lucky. |
| If it’s impossible for you to afford the once | | | | If you follow along with the preventative maintenance |
| every three month tunings, there are a few things that | | | | suggestions, then the suggested twice annual tunings |
| you can do on your own to help keep your piano in | | | | will probably be enough to keep your beloved piano in |
| the best shape possible between a less frequent | | | | shape. If you can afford the internal humidity control, |
| maintenance schedule. | | | | that’s even better for your piano’s |
| Preventative maintenance | | | | health. |