How often should a piano be tuned? Ideally a piano should be tuned twice a year - once when the weather turns cold and dry in the late fall and again in the spring as the weather becomes warm and humid. Concert pianos are tuned every time they are played. A piano tuning can take from one to two hours or even longer depending on the condition of the piano.
Why does a piano go out of tune? The most common reason for a piano to go out of tune is the change in seasons. As the soundboard either expands or contracts with the change in air moisture, the piano strings will either tighten or loosen thereby sending the piano out of tune. Hard usage & moving the instrument will also throw the piano out of tune.
Is there anything one can do to keep the soundboard from going through the shrinking and expanding cycle? We highly recommend having a
Climate Control System from Dampp Chaser installed in the piano. This allows the piano to maintain more more physical stability as well as better tuning stability. Anything such as a room humidifier that will add additional room humidity will also aid the piano during the harsh winter months. Ideally 40 to 60% humidity in a room should be maintained year round. A piano is a wooden object and both the case and the soundboard are subject to the changes in air humidity. Pianos will still need to be tuned at least once a year.
Why do I need a piano lamp? A piano lamp is specificaly designed to provide correct lighting for the piano player. It illuminates the music without casting shadows and enables the pianist to read the music clearly without eye strain. There are many styles and designs to fit in with your specific piano and your decor.
Where is the best location to put the piano? Your piano location should be chosen with care with the piano placed on an inside wall away from windows and heat sources. Although it is popular with designers to place a piano in a window, the sun will bleach the wood, crack the finish and often results in overheating the piano causing the soundboard to crack and, at the very least, go instantly out of tune. Heat sources next to a piano such as heat registers, infloor heat elements, and fireplaces also wreak havoc on your piano by not only drying out the air but creating uneven heating of the instrument itself. To prevent damage to the soundboard and all internal and external wooden parts , the piano must be protected from extremes in heat and humidity. Your piano will perform best and longest in a consistently stable environment.
What can improve my child's practice time? Children have additional problems with playing and practicing on an instrument that is designed for an adult. Their legs are too short to reach the floor. This creates not only instability for the child on the piano bench which is 18" to 20" high, but places undue strain on the back muscles. The child often tries to stand at the piano. If you have had trouble getting your child to sit long enough at the piano to get the benefit from the daily practice session this could definitely be part of the problem. Adjustable piano benches and/or the Jansen Adjustable Piano Pedal Platform are excellent answers to this problem as they allow the child to sit securely and can be easily adjusted as they grow.
