FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does my piano go out of tune?
There are several forces acting on a piano to cause it to go out of tune over time, but the biggest factor than affects all pianos regardless of quality can be summed up in one word:
Humidity.
The strings in your piano are all stretched across one thin, flexible membrane of wood called the soundboard. Typically made of spruce, the wood for the soundboard is chosen for its superior resonant qualities, and is in part what makes a piano tone so distinct and beautiful. But for all its beautiful sonic qualities, wood is notoriously dimensionally unstable. What this means is that much like a door frame that sticks when it's humid, the soundboard in your piano shrinks and swells with the change of seasons that bring a change to the relative humidity conditions in your home. It is for this reason that the piano should be tuned twice a year to keep up with the inevitable swings in relative humidity we all experience here in New York City.
How often should my piano be tuned?
Due to climate conditions in New York City, it is advised that your piano be tuned at least twice a year regardless of its quality or level of use. Newer pianos are recommended to receive three or four visits for the first few years.
It sometimes comes a surprise to owners of a brand new piano that newer pianos require more frequent overall maintenance than older pianos. This is not a reflection of a poorer quality instrument or poorer manufacturing process, but is instead an accommodation made for the inevitable period of adjustment where the new materials begin to break in. On a new piano, the strings still need to stretch, the wooden bridge caps still need to compress, and the felt and buckskin still need to wear in. It is crucial that the piano be diligently maintained in its early years, as doing so will help your instrument develop rock-solid stability only attained by allowing the piano to properly break in.
What can I do to prolong the life of my instrument?
Simple things like keeping drinks and plants that require water off the instrument will help avoid any accidental damage to the finish or the delicate inner workings of the piano.
Taking careful consideration as to where the piano gets placed in the room can help avoid damage to the soundboard from an intense heat source such as a radiator or damage to the finish from direct sunlight.
Often times we are limited in our placement options when space is at a premium, so the best way to not only prolong the life of the instrument, but also prolong the life of each tuning and regulation it receives is to outfit the piano with a dedicated piano climate control system. Ordinary room humidifiers wont accomplish the same goal as a piano humidifier which is to stabilize the relative humidity at the soundboard and in turn, stabilize the piano.