Tuning:
The approximate 220 strings on your piano exert about 40,000 pounds of tension on the plate and frame, and about 600 pounds of downbearing on the bridges and soundboard. Seasonal changes in the humidity, as well as the normal, continual decrease of static tension, causes all pianos to go out of tune.
Depending on where you live, the amount of humidity change from season to season, the quality and condition of your piano and how much the piano is played, your piano could need tuning two to four times yearly.
During each service call I will check and tighten the pinblock bolts (and rim bolts in grands), check and adjust the pedals, check and tighten the bench bolts, and inspect your piano for repairs and adjustments that might be needed or recommended.
I can install this system into your Piano which stabilizes the humidity extends the life of the tunings. Please send me an email for details and/or click on the sign to visit the Dampp-chaser website.
Click here for a non flash link to Dampp-Chaser
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I have, in stock now,
humidifier treatment and
pad kits.
Humidity Control:
Your piano is made primarily of wood, a versatile and beautiful material ideal for piano construction. However, this material is greatly affected by humidity. These changes cause wood parts to swell and shrink, affecting tuning stability and touch. This can even cause wood to crack and glue joints to fail.
Other parts in your piano are also affected by changes in moisture content in the air. Felt and Leather can change the dimensional relationships, which leads to changes in regulation and thus, the touch and feel of how your instrument plays.
Changes in humidity greatly affect the piano's soundboard and the relationships with the bridges and the crown of the soundboard. This affects tuning. Humidity also affects the pin block of the piano. The tuning pins are mounted into the pin block. When the pin block drys out, the pins become loose and the piano will not hold a tuning.
The Piano Life Saver System can stabilize the humidity levels inside the piano. It will keep the humidity level around 42% to 45% and tunings will last much longer, saving you money in the long run. Check out the Website (above) or ask me for a brochure on the Life Saver System. This system can be installed in any piano and is much more cost effective than a humidifier installed in a house's heating system, which only adds humidity. (The Piano Life Saver System will add or remove humidity as needed.)
Humidity control will not eliminate the need for regular piano maintenance but will allow more stable tunings by reducing the radical pitch changes to your piano. When your piano stays closer to its correct pitch level of A-440, myself as your technician, will not have to perform a large pitch raising procedure prior to fine tuning.
The Piano Life Saver System includes a low water warning light and an optional light to signal that the pads are no longer wicking water effectively. an audible low water warning beeper is available by special order.
Repairing:
Your piano is a mechanical instrument, made up of 9,000 to 14,000 parts, most of which are wood or felt. Being a mechanical device, your piano will need repairs from time to time. Felt and leather parts wear and wooden action parts can break, even on the most expensive of pianos.
Regulation and Cleaning:
As a mechanical device, your piano action needs regular adjustment, called "regulation". Parts swell and shrink as the humidity changes, wear out with use, or fatigue with age.
Dirt and grit prematurely wear out felt, leather and wood action parts. Regulating and cleaning prolongs the life of your piano.
Proper regulation is necessary for the best performance of your piano. A well regulated piano is a joy to play, because it is more even and responsive to the demands of the pianist.
While new pianos usually arrive fairly well regulated, the felt and leather parts "break in" and minor regulating is usually needed, even during the first or second year of use.
Voicing:
Voicing is also called "tone regulating" and is really the final part of regulating the piano. Although it involves many aspects, voicing includes adjusting the piano's hammers to achieve a full, smooth and pleasing tone in the piano.
Tuning your Piano:
The first time, I'll ask you a few questions about your piano,such as when it was last tuned, brand name, model and approximate age. If it has been several years since the last tuning, a "pitch raise" may have to be performed to bring it up to pitch where a "fine tuning" can be done. The Dampp-Chaser system, mentioned above, can help hold pitch and help avoid the pitch raises.
I do have a couple of requests:
Number One- Please remove everything from the top of your piano because I'll have to open up the piano to do the inspection and tuning on the instrument.
Number Two- If possible, the quieter the invironment is, the more accurately my work can be done. Things like loud talking, music playing, Dish washers and fans, need to be kept to a minimum.
Please notify me before hand if you're not going to be there at the scheduled appointment time so I can book someone else into that time slot. If, by chance, that your not there when I arrive, I will attempt to contact you, but there is a charge for missed appointments.
My Card:
Click Below for a list of local Music Teachers:
 Local Piano Teacher List
Click Below for a Acoustic vs. Electronic Piano for Piano Students:
Acoustic vs. Electronics
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