| You're probably thinking "why should I tune my piano?" I | | | | deteriorate from excessive climatic changes. Further |
| haven't moved it. Or you may be thinking that since it's | | | | the piano will maintain better tuning stability and helps |
| really not played all that much, why tune it? Maybe you | | | | prevent keys from sticking. For those of you in dry |
| think that because you moved it a few feet that it will | | | | climates there is a system by Dampp Chaser that |
| be knocked out of tune. These are questions we hear | | | | releases controlled amounts of moisture, again |
| hundreds of time a year. This article is to help inform | | | | controlled to maintain safe levels of humidity. Too |
| you about how to properly care for your piano. | | | | much humidity and not enough is the piano's nightmare. |
| A piano is comprised of thousands of parts, from | | | | The Piano Action |
| simple little felts and leathers to steel strings. The sound | | | | The action is a complex mechanism that converts the |
| resonator that amplifies the strings vibrations is called a | | | | pressured applied by the musician's fingers to the |
| soundboard. | | | | hammers, ultimately striking the strings. The pianist |
| Humidity...a pianos worst enemy. | | | | should give no thought to the mechanism, simply play |
| Humidity is the piano's biggest enemy. As moisture hits | | | | musically. However so many people, especially young |
| the soundboard it will contract and expand as it | | | | students become disinterested in playing when the |
| receives moisture and released it. We all know that | | | | action's felts have worn to the point that it no longer |
| wood will contract and expand. So does the steel on | | | | performs as it should. Notes become hard to play; |
| massive bridges. When the soundboard expands and | | | | others will not respond properly and in general is no fun |
| contracts there is pressure exerted on to the strings | | | | to play. Even Liberace could not play on certain pianos |
| that cross the bridges that are attached to the | | | | that were out of "regulation." Regulation is the |
| soundboard. | | | | procedure we use to reset all the parts precise |
| Tuning Frequency | | | | settings so the piano plays as intended. A well |
| The more a piano is played the more it should be | | | | regulated piano can bring many hours of fun to the |
| tuned. A safe tuning schedule is to be sure to tune it | | | | player and the student is able to execute musically as |
| twice every year. Since the pitch of a piano is relative | | | | desired. |
| to tension it's best to keep the piano tuned so the | | | | Piano Hammers |
| tension does not drop. When a piano is not at its | | | | The hammers, which are densely compressed felt, |
| intended pitch (and tension level) the piano's tone | | | | glued to wood moldings. As time goes by the |
| suffers and major components, such as pinblock, | | | | hammers compress, become flat and deeply grooved |
| soundboard, bridges etc can be severely damaged. | | | | from string cuts. When this occurs strings can begin to |
| You may be thinking that you don't have much | | | | break, the hammers surface is increased and setting |
| humidity because you keep your heat and air running | | | | off more harmonics that are undesirable. The |
| consistently. However air systems are not sufficient in | | | | hammers occasionally need to be reconditioned by a |
| driving out the humidity once it enters the wood, felt | | | | special procedure by a qualified piano technician. When |
| and leather parts. | | | | the hammers are reconditioned the beautiful tone is |
| Piano Cleaning | | | | restored as well as helps prevent needless string |
| The felts will shed fuzz and residue from the constant | | | | breakage. |
| friction inside the piano. This residue can accumulate | | | | Tighten all Hardware |
| under the keys causing the key's downward travel to | | | | Have a technician tighten all crucial bolts and large |
| be affected. Also it can cause you to sneeze. Have a | | | | screws, as well as hinges and all small screws. You'd |
| piano technician clean your piano internally every few | | | | be surprised how such minor details will cause loud |
| years. Gran pianos will have a build up of dust on the | | | | noises. |
| soundboard and around the tuning pins. Routine | | | | Moving a Piano |
| cleaning will prevent massive build up. | | | | Did you just buy a piano? Don't pull a Laurel & |
| Caring for the Piano's Case | | | | Hardy routine, people with any piano knowledge |
| For wood finishes use a damp cloth to remove dust | | | | moving a piano that ends up in dozens of pieces on |
| and finger prints. Once or twice a year you can use | | | | the side of the road. Hire a piano tuner who |
| lemon oil as its very friendly to wood. DO NOT use | | | | understands what will happen with every move made. |
| aerosol products as many contain alcohol which will | | | | Too many people buy a piano from a private home; |
| dry out the wood, damage the lacquer and cause | | | | go with a pickup truck to move it. They think the |
| hazing. | | | | weight will hold it down...nope! Upright pianos are top |
| For the high polish finishes we have found that | | | | heavy. You turn the truck one way the piano goes |
| McGuires no grit polish does quite nicely to bring out | | | | another! I remember about a couple of guys who said |
| the luster. Some people use Windex and Bounty | | | | they could move the piano. They took 6 people with |
| towels to clean the finish. Bounty is the only paper | | | | them. All six were working against each other. The |
| towel that has no abrasives that can add light scratch | | | | piano tipped backward, busted through the wall, hit a |
| marks. Polyester finishes are hard and durable. These | | | | gas line and electrical wire. Do I need to finish the |
| products work well on them. | | | | story? |
| To clean the keys use a very mild detergent. Plastic | | | | Hire a professional piano mover. In the long run the |
| keys are easy to clean and usually for stubborn jobs | | | | party's home won't be damaged; no holes in the wall, |
| denatured alcohol works well. Don't use acetone as it | | | | no needless hernias, and your piano will be cared for |
| will destroy the sheen of the keys. For ivory covering | | | | and secured in a specially equipped truck for piano |
| sometimes lemon juice works well. Some of the | | | | moving only. |
| sharps used (black keys) are either plastic or ebony. | | | | Long Haul Moving |
| Use a mild detergent to clean plastic sharps. For real | | | | Are you moving across the country? Many piano |
| ebony sharps clean them and then use 0000 steel | | | | movers will do long hauls. I suggest if you are moving |
| wool to buff and clean. | | | | to call a reputable piano mover. If they don't provide |
| Pedals | | | | long haul service have them pack your piano and load |
| If the pedals tarnish you can use Brasso or any other | | | | it onto the moving van or the U-Haul truck. Then |
| hardware cleaner. Be sure to place newspaper | | | | acquire the name of a reputable piano mover on the |
| underneath the pedals to protect the floor. Other | | | | other end to unload the piano and do the set up for |
| hardware can be cleaned with these cleaners, just be | | | | you. |
| sure to keep these chemicals off the wood finish. | | | | Caring for your piano as described herein will insure |
| Humidity Control Systems for Pianos | | | | your pianos plays as it should for decades. However |
| A system called a Dampp Chaser humidity and dry | | | | improper care or neglect will reduce the number of |
| climate system is designed to maintain consistent | | | | years the piano will play and help to maintain the value |
| humidity, so the delicate parts inside the piano will not | | | | of your piano. |