That Eric Alper

Pianos may look like large, sturdy instruments, but musicians know that looks can be deceiving. They’re actually quite delicate and include thousands of wood, metal, felt, cloth, and wool parts. To keep a piano sounding its best, musicians need to take certain steps to ensure the instrument is receiving proper care. Read on to find out what it takes to maintain a piano’s perfect sound.

Proper Positioning

Pianos should be located against internal walls and as far as possible from windows and doorways. The room must be kept at a consistent temperature, so avoid placing a piano against west-facing walls that tend to get hot in the summer and place them far from heaters and air conditioners. Try to avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as well.

Humidity Regulation

Wood is very responsive to environmental changes. Changes in humidity cause it to expand and contract, which can loosen turning pins, alter the action on the keys, and cause the piano to go out of tune. Excess humidity can also damage the felt pads and cause the steel strings to rust, making an already bad situation even worse.

In the summer, consider running a dehumidifier to combat excess humidity. In the winter, make sure the air doesn’t get too dry. If the musicians’ skin feels dry, the chances are their pianos are suffering, too. The best solution is to install a humidity control system.

Proper Handling

Moving any large object safely can be a challenge. Moving pianos without taking proper precautions to protect them can be disastrous. The only way to ensure a piano’s safety when moving it to a new home is to hire a company like Piano Movers of Texas that has access to skilled personnel, specialized moving equipment, and trucks capable of safely transporting these large but delicate instruments.

Frequent Tuning

Most home pianos need to be tuned twice a year to accommodate changes in weather. The speed at which the instrument will go out of tune depends on several factors, including:

• Frequency of use
• Pianists’ playing styles
• The piano’s age and condition
• Humidity and temperature levels
• Whether the piano has been moved recently

Expect to have a piano tuned after every move. Even moving a piano across the room can cause it to go out of tune. New pianos also need to be tuned more frequently, typically at least once per season for the first year. Tuning pianos is incredibly difficult, so it’s always a task best left to professionals.

Regulate As Needed

Just having a piano tuned regularly won’t keep it in perfect playing condition. Tuning doesn’t affect the action of the keys or how the piano plays. That requires a different process known as regulation.

It’s difficult to give a set time frame for how often pianos should be regulated, as factors like wear and tear, excessive expansion and contraction of wood, felt compression, damage to steel strings, or even insect infestations can all affect how a piano plays. Just have the piano regulated whenever the action seems to be changing for the worse. The technician will provide an in-depth inspection of the piano and adjust mechanical parts as needed to restore the instrument to perfect playing condition.

Address Unwanted Changes in Tone with Voicing

Voicing is a process that alters the tone quality of each note. It involves adjusting the tension of the hammer felt, which requires specialized tools and experience. The technician will use needles or specialized chemicals to affect the pliability of the felt, changing the tone of the piano. Before having a piano voiced, have it tuned and regulated.

As with regulation, there’s no way to make accurate generalizations about how often pianos need voicing. Here are some signs it’s time to look into this option:

• The tone has changed for the worse since purchasing the piano
• The piano doesn’t sound good even directly after tuning
• The tone varies substantially between notes
• Musicians can no longer play softly
• Maintain the Finish

Musicians can clean their pianos’ exteriors by lightly dusting the surface with a soft cloth or a piano feather duster. Avoid using chemical wipes and cleaning agents not specifically designed for use on pianos. Some waxes and polishes can be used to maintain the piano’s finish, but check with an expert before buying these products as not all of them are acceptable for this use.

Keep the Keyboard Clean

Clean the keyboard frequently by wiping it down with a soft cloth. If there’s noticeable dirt on the keyboard, pianists can dampen the cloth in a diluted detergent solution and wring it out to make dusting easier. Avoid using alcohol, which can cause the keys to crack, and minimize the need for frequent cleaning by asking guests to wash their hands before sitting down to play the piano.

Prevent Scratches

Never place objects directly on the piano’s surface. If piano owners must place anything on their pianos, they should place a soft cloth beneath them to avoid scratching the finish. Keep in mind when cleaning that dust is abrasive, so it’s best to use a feather duster or a microfiber cloth to keep the dust at bay.

Keep Liquids Away

Never put water glasses on the piano. Never put plants on the piano. Never put any container filled with a liquid of any sort on the piano. If it spills, the results could be disastrous. Even if it doesn’t spill, the condensation can damage the wood, so just avoid it.

Practice Regularly

No matter their skill levels, pianists should play their instruments regularly. Musicians will benefit from the extra practice, and they’ll be more likely to notice minor problems before they escalate. If anything seems amiss during a routine practice session, call a piano tuner or technician to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

The Bottom Line

Pianos are beautiful instruments, but they’re also complex pieces of machinery that require specialized care. Musicians can do their part by providing home maintenance such as humidity control and periodic careful cleaning. The rest should be left to tr