Having your piano tuned

For your regular playing, beginners piano lessons, or causual playing, your piano should be tuned at least twice a year (three times a year is better) even if it has not been played at all. A regularly tuned piano is enjoyable to play, for the beginner as well as the expert. Even simple music sounds good on a well-tuned piano, but if the piano is out of tune, everything played on it will sound unpleasant.

Tuning does more than make the piano sound pleasant, it also adjusts the tension of the strings. This is very important, because the strings exert an enormous force which can distort or even crack the soundboard and other parts, if the piano is not tuned regularly and correctly.

The strings are at the correct tension when the piano is tuned to 'concert pitch', which is the standard for tuning all musical instruments. Before your piano lessons, have your piano tuned to 'concert pitch', and you will avoid a major cause of damage, the piano will sound better, and it will be tuned correctly for playing with other instruments.

FINDING A GOOD PIANO TUNER
The very best person to look after your piano is a tuner-technician who not only tunes pianos, but also adjusts and repairs them.

The best way to find one of these skilled individuals is on the recommendation of someone who plays the piano seriously, perhaps your piano teacher might know of one. Ask a friend who plays the piano, or see if the music department of a local school or college, a local music society or local piano shop, piano lesson place, can recommend someone they deal with. Otherwise, look for piano tuner-technicians in the 'Yellow Pages' of the telephone directory, or in advertisements in music magazines or newspapers.

Make an appointment with the tuner-technician and explain what you think needs to be done. Ask for the piano to be tuned to 'concert pitch', even though this may cost extra the first time it is done. Allow at least two hours for the piano to be tuned and pick a time when your home will be quiet, so that the tuner can work without being distracted.

Remove anything which is on top of the piano before the tuner comes, so nothing gets in the way of the work. If your tuner-technician suggests that other work is required, you will probably be well advised to have it done. However, if the piano is very old or has been badly treated, you may be better off considering buying another instrument. Ask for your tuner's advice and get an estimate of the cost of any work.

Stay with the same tuner-technician when you find a good one and make regular appointments so your piano will be well cared for.

Please continue to the next piano lesson page on knowing about your piano , the inside story Next

< Previous