How often should a piano be tuned?
For your home piano, the answer is once every three to six months. For pianos in concert halls,
the answer is every single time it's played, which sometimes means twice in one day.
Why the difference? Because performance requirements and budgets vary greatly. When you
play your piano, it's probably at home after work, with and audience of one or none (ok maybe
your cat or two.) You play for fun, relaxation, and to express your musical creativity. Your
budget may only allow one or two tunings per year.
What does "A-440" mean?
Sound occurs when air is set into motion rapidly. Humans can hear sound if the cycle of
compression and uncompression occurs anywhere from twenty to twenty-five times per second.
When a piano string is set into motion, it vibrates up and down repeatedly. If the note A above
middle C is properly tuned, that string will vibrate up and down 440 tiems in one second, that's
what A-440 means.
Every note on a pianos is tuned using A-440 as the starting point. In 1939 it was decide at an
international conference and recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz, now
known as concert pitch. Before that, it varied as much as a semi-tone higher or lower. And even
further back in time, there was no standard at all. Every village used a prominent local instrument,
such as a church organ, as the standard for tuning its musical instruments.
A properly maintained piano and lessons
If you or your child are taking lessons, it is important that your piano works and sounds as
perfectly as possible. Many people tell me that their child will not be playing at Carnegie Hall, or
that "he/she is only a child" so the piano doesn't have to be perfect. Not true! Your child's ear is
being trained to learn the different sounds or pitch the piano makes. Part of learning is to play with
expression, the louds and the softs. If the piano is not at the right pitch the student will not learn
to recognize pitch, if the touch is wrong, the student will not learn dynamics. If the notes don't
work correctly (or don't sound like the teacher's piano), the student may get frustrated and not
want to continue.
You wouldn't teach someone to drive a car when the wheels are falling off, the steering wheel only
turns one way, the wipers don't work and the horn doesn't make any sound. Get the most from
you instrument and your lessons!
Piano Life Saver System also known as
Humidity Control System.
As a Field Expert I have installed over 100 Piano Life Saver Systems. These systems greatly
extend the life of your piano and reduce the cost of maintenance over the life of your piano.
Piano Life Saver System are a must have for pianos in New England. Your piano performs the
best at 42% Relative humidity. As you know the humidity in the summer can easily reach 70%
and in the winter can be as low as 20%. With this wide change in humidity your piano is at
constant risk of damage from the dryness cracking, splitting, glue joint failure, and excess
moisture.
Please click on the Piano Life Saver logo to learn more about the humidity and the Piano Life Saver
System.
For your home piano, the answer is once every three to six months. For pianos in concert halls,
the answer is every single time it's played, which sometimes means twice in one day.
Why the difference? Because performance requirements and budgets vary greatly. When you
play your piano, it's probably at home after work, with and audience of one or none (ok maybe
your cat or two.) You play for fun, relaxation, and to express your musical creativity. Your
budget may only allow one or two tunings per year.
What does "A-440" mean?
Sound occurs when air is set into motion rapidly. Humans can hear sound if the cycle of
compression and uncompression occurs anywhere from twenty to twenty-five times per second.
When a piano string is set into motion, it vibrates up and down repeatedly. If the note A above
middle C is properly tuned, that string will vibrate up and down 440 tiems in one second, that's
what A-440 means.
Every note on a pianos is tuned using A-440 as the starting point. In 1939 it was decide at an
international conference and recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz, now
known as concert pitch. Before that, it varied as much as a semi-tone higher or lower. And even
further back in time, there was no standard at all. Every village used a prominent local instrument,
such as a church organ, as the standard for tuning its musical instruments.
A properly maintained piano and lessons
If you or your child are taking lessons, it is important that your piano works and sounds as
perfectly as possible. Many people tell me that their child will not be playing at Carnegie Hall, or
that "he/she is only a child" so the piano doesn't have to be perfect. Not true! Your child's ear is
being trained to learn the different sounds or pitch the piano makes. Part of learning is to play with
expression, the louds and the softs. If the piano is not at the right pitch the student will not learn
to recognize pitch, if the touch is wrong, the student will not learn dynamics. If the notes don't
work correctly (or don't sound like the teacher's piano), the student may get frustrated and not
want to continue.
You wouldn't teach someone to drive a car when the wheels are falling off, the steering wheel only
turns one way, the wipers don't work and the horn doesn't make any sound. Get the most from
you instrument and your lessons!
Piano Life Saver System also known as
Humidity Control System.
As a Field Expert I have installed over 100 Piano Life Saver Systems. These systems greatly
extend the life of your piano and reduce the cost of maintenance over the life of your piano.
Piano Life Saver System are a must have for pianos in New England. Your piano performs the
best at 42% Relative humidity. As you know the humidity in the summer can easily reach 70%
and in the winter can be as low as 20%. With this wide change in humidity your piano is at
constant risk of damage from the dryness cracking, splitting, glue joint failure, and excess
moisture.
Please click on the Piano Life Saver logo to learn more about the humidity and the Piano Life Saver
System.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| GINA'S PIANO SERVICE Milford, Connecticut |
| SERVING FAIRFIELD AND NEW HAVEN COUNTY 203-882-8082 or email me at gina@ginaspiano.com |
 | Tuning | |
| Advice | |
| Repairs | |
| Piano Life | |
| Saver System |
SERVICES
How it works: The main
components of the system are
made up of a humidistat which
measures the humidity, a
dehumidifier and a humidifier.
The humidistat turns on each
component as needed to keep
the humidity in the safe zone of
approximately 45% .
components of the system are
made up of a humidistat which
measures the humidity, a
dehumidifier and a humidifier.
The humidistat turns on each
component as needed to keep
the humidity in the safe zone of
approximately 45% .
All rights reserved.
THE INSIDE SCOOP! - REPAIRS & PIANO REGULATION
Due to age and use, all pianos will eventually need some adjustments and repairs. The links
below are the "Owners Guide to Piano Repair". Read on and call or email me with any
questions.
What the heck is a Butt Flange?
Bridle Straps? For your piano not your horse!
Key Restoration (can't think of anything funny about that!)
Elbow Replacement
Vertical Regulation
Keytops - make your keys look brand new!
Pinblock Repair
Polishing Imitation Ivory Keytops
Refelting The Keybed
Replace Full Set of Bass Strings
Cleaning under the Keys
Tying Broken Strings
Keypin Replacement
Replacing the Grand Pinblock
Gluing Loose Ribs
Grand Damper Replacement
Replacing Upright Casters
Due to age and use, all pianos will eventually need some adjustments and repairs. The links
below are the "Owners Guide to Piano Repair". Read on and call or email me with any
questions.
What the heck is a Butt Flange?
Bridle Straps? For your piano not your horse!
Key Restoration (can't think of anything funny about that!)
Elbow Replacement
Vertical Regulation
Keytops - make your keys look brand new!
Pinblock Repair
Polishing Imitation Ivory Keytops
Refelting The Keybed
Replace Full Set of Bass Strings
Cleaning under the Keys
Tying Broken Strings
Keypin Replacement
Replacing the Grand Pinblock
Gluing Loose Ribs
Grand Damper Replacement
Replacing Upright Casters
| New and important information! |