Caring for a Piano

       All musical instruments require a high standard of care and a certain amount of maintenance to keep their tone sweet and their mechanism in the fullest working order. The piano, with its thousands of internal moving parts, is-despite heavy construction-a relatively sensitive instrument.

       As this is built largely of wood and felt it should come as no surprise that, without regular servicing and care, its touch and sound will deteriorate over time; yet many people expect a piano to perform well year after year with little or no attention. The amount of use and skilled maintenance a piano receives, and the climatic conditions in which the instrument is kept, determine not only how long a piano lasts but how well it performs.

        Every pianist can recognize a key that sticks or does not quickly repeat, but most will grow accustomed to an action that is not working efficiently and adapt their playing technique to compensate for it. Likewise, the piano's tone can change considerably over a period of time.

        A piano tuner can readily evaluate the actual and potential condition of the instrument and its parts. Primarily required to tension the strings so that they vibrate in harmony, most tuners also regularly adjust or repair other minor developing faults before they become harmful to the action parts, keyboard, or strung back.

        They can also judge when a piano needs regulating and voicing, the results of which can dramatically transform the touch and tone of any piano, providing that its individual parts are structurally sound and are in good condition.

         Purchasing a new piano is a considerable investment and, with the high expectations placed on the instrument's performance, it is essential for every pianist to know how to care for his or her piano.