Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I have my piano tuned?
How often should I have my piano tuned?
Why should I have my piano regulated?
How do I know when my piano needs regulated?
How often should I have my piano regulated?
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 etc. generally receive more vigorous playing and, more importantly, because temperature changes in these environments are much more radical and frequent, recommendation would be 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 stabalize 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.
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 - a piano which they just don't want to play!(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 - in fact 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 regualtion of the action. I recommend the website of The Piano Technician's Guild for further comprehensive information - www.ptg.org
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.
