| 1. Steinway is the best piano in the world. | | | | While it can grate on your nerves, the force with which |
| There are a handful of piano companies which make | | | | kids hit the keys of a piano even with their fists can't |
| pianos equal in quality to Steinway. (For example: | | | | match the power professional pianists inflict upon a |
| Bosendorfer, Bechstein, Fazioli, Bluthner and Mason & | | | | piano in concert. Just be sure that the children don't |
| Hamlin are all top notch pianos with rich histories.) In | | | | take sharp or heavy objects to the keyboard since |
| fact, if you look in the latest supplement to "The Piano | | | | this can damage the instrument. |
| Book", by Larry Fine, New York made Steinway | | | | 4. The fall board of a piano must have a slow close |
| pianos are rated in the 3rd rank of pianos according to | | | | feature to avoid injury. |
| manufacturing quality. So why is Steinway recognized | | | | The slow close fall-board feature of a piano is a great |
| as the undisputed leader? In a word: marketing. Just as | | | | marketing tool. The truth is, unless you have some |
| Microsoft dominates computer software because of | | | | really wild kids, the incidence of being hurt by a falling |
| aggressive licensing arrangements, John Steinway | | | | fall board is quite rare. Most of the best pianos including |
| helped propel Steinway & Sons to its market | | | | Steinway do not offer a slow close fall board. |
| dominance through exclusive artist contracts and | | | | 5. You shouldn't place a piano on an outside wall. |
| favorable institutional arrangements. | | | | Even in a temperate climate, the insulation of modern |
| 2. When you move a piano it has to be tuned. | | | | homes will keep the temperature fairly stable even on |
| This is a half truth. The fact is, a piano that is moved | | | | an outside wall. However, it is important to avoid direct |
| will show up pretty much as it left most of the time. | | | | sunlight on your piano. This will not only effect tuning |
| However, after the piano gets acclimated to its new | | | | stability, but it will fade the finish in a matter of weeks. |
| environment, it will require tuning. The piano may not | | | | Also, you should keep your piano closed particularly at |
| sound bad, but the pitch of the entire instrument may | | | | night. If you leave your windows open at night, the |
| adjust slightly up or down. It is important to keep a | | | | moist night air will rust the strings. Also, even with the |
| piano stable. It is best to wait at least a couple of | | | | piano closed, the cooler air can make the sound board |
| weeks or even longer after a move before tuning to | | | | contract destabilizing the tuning. Use your judgment in |
| make sure the piano has settled. | | | | balancing the enjoyment of your piano versus its |
| 3. Kids banging on a piano may damage the | | | | longevity. |
| instrument. | | | | |