Why should I have my piano tuned?
The piano is one of the most versatile of musical instruments. Its unique nature allows it to be played loud and powerfully or soft and expressively. It can be used to lead a group of musicians in a church or concert hall, or fade into the background providing the ambience to a pleasant meal in a restaurant. It can be enjoyed by many people at once, or an individual simply playing in his or her home for pleasure. In order to maintain this beauty, your piano must be regularly tuned and serviced.
How often should I have my piano tuned?
The general recommendation is no less than once per year for a household piano. Because pianos located in churches and schools for example, generally receive more vigorous playing and the temperature changes much more radical and frequent, it is recommended to be tuned at least twice a year. If left for longer than these recommended intervals it is possible - even probable - that your technician cannot guarantee a stable tuning as the strings are no longer used to being stretched. In this case two or more tunings may be required to stabalise the piano. It is also possible that string breakages may occur - breakages for which your technician cannot be held responsible, and the cost of which you, as the owner, will have to cover.
What is regulation?
Despite the fact you might, as a conscientious piano owner, have your piano tuned regularly by a qualified technician, you may notice on occasion a deterioration of its performance. It's important to note that tuning is only the adjustment of the system of strings and pins that determines the pitch of each string. Your piano also requires periodic servicing called regulation, which attends to the mechanical parts that cause the strings to sound when keys are played. Over time deterioration of parts of the action (the mechanical workings of the piano) can be seen, and felt, due to the compacting and settling of cloth and constant changes in the wood caused by temperature and humidity variations. Regulation is the adjustment of all action parts to bring the piano back to its optimum playing condition. Think of it as having your car or boiler serviced every year.
Why should I have my piano regulated?
The piano consists of thousands of moving parts, and these parts need regular adjustment to critical tolerances so they can respond well to a player's every command, allowing playing to remain pleasurable. There is nothing that will disenchant a pianist more than an unresponsive instrument, for example how can you develop sensitive playing and control when every key on the piano responds with a different level of touch? Neglecting to have your piano routinely regulated will also result in the felts, pins, hammers, and almost every part of the instrument to wear more quickly and could therefore result in more costly repairs at a later date.
How do I know when my piano needs regulated?
If you feel you have no control over how notes are sounded, particularly when trying to play softly or sensitively - a note (or notes) will not repeat when you attempt to play the same key rapidly - some notes don't sound at all! Any of these symptoms (although they are not the only ones) are most likely caused by poor regulation of the action. I recommend the website of The Piano Technician's Guild for further comprehensive information.
How often should I have my piano regulated?
Several factors can decide the answer to this question. The frequency and intensity with which it is played, humidity and temperature changes, and also the quality of the piano. In general, though, the recommendation would be to have your piano regulated every 4-5 years.
If you have any questions that are not listed here, call Mark on028 9581 0310 or
07763 751 581
Telephone:
028 9581 0310
Mobile:
07763 751 581
Email:
info@thepianodoctor.co.uk