When you buy a used piano, you may be faced with the task of getting rid of its musty odor. Cigarette smoke, bug and rodent infestations and mold cause most of the piano odors. Pianos that give off a musty smell may have mold or mildew growing inside them. Remember, many pianos are over 30 years old and just because you found them in someone's living room, doesn't mean that they were never stored in a damp basement or dirty garage for a short period of time or even for years in some cases.
You can try removing the bottom panel located under the keyboard and vacuuming the dust out of the lower compartment. You may then place a new, opened box of baking soda in the lower right-hand side of the compartment. If you find that this helps, but doesn't completely solve the problem, call your local Piano Tuner-Technician and ask them to schedule a service call to perform an internal cleaning.
The tuner will come out to your home, take the piano apart and take all the keys out, exposing dust and mildew that has been trapped inside your piano since its first year. (I highly recommend that you DO NOT attempt to remove the keys yourself. You can severely damage your piano and it could end up costing hundreds of dollars to fix.)
The technician will then thoroughly vacuum and clean the internal cabinet of your piano the proper way. Cleaning solvents may be used in this procedure. They may also used a compressed air hose to get way inside the action and behind the strings. An opened box of baking soda should then be placed in the compartment. You may want to schedule a piano tuning also. Pianos should be tuned every six months. This procedure can cost anywhere from $125 to $250 depending on your tuner's rates and how dirty the inside of the piano is.
Your piano should be "ship-shape" after this procedure. In tune and without that musty odor, allowing the piano player to stay in "practice mode" for a longer period of time without breathing that unhealthy odor.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
What's "under the hood" of that used piano?
When shopping for a used piano, make sure your look inside it. Bring a flashlight. Ask the seller if they would remove the panel beneath the keyboard and the panel that includes the music desk (the music holder).
If you are looking at a grand piano, ask the seller to lift the lid and slide the music desk off. In some cases, the seller may offer to remove the fall board which covers and protects the keys so you can look inside with a flashlight.
This will allow you to examine the general condition of most of the internal parts. You don't need to know what all the parts are called or what their function is. You just need to see the general condition.
Do the parts look fairly new, but dusty? If so, this is a good sign.
In most cases, you will find a coating of dust inside most pianos. This can be a very light coating or a very heavy coating of dust. The heavy coating of dust is often found in pianos over 50 years old. Many times, there will be foreign objects and old parts near the pedal area. Some of these parts may have come loose and fallen down over the years. In some cases, the parts up top have been replaced and the piano works fine, anyway. However, if some of the keys don't work properly, the piano will require some repair by a piano technician.
If the parts look rotted, cracked and some are broken, you should call a piano technician to come in and do a piano appraisal and a repair estimate BEFORE you buy the piano. Another alternative is to look around for another piano somewhere else.
Remember, buying a used piano is similar to buying a used car. It's easy for the seller to shine up the outside. It's what's inside that matters more than the outside. Many practice rooms in music schools across the country have beat up pianos that play really well. If the piano plays well (just like if the used car drives well), it may very well be worth buying. The outside is important, but not as important as how the piano plays and was maintained over the years.
Most pianos that have leg, pedal and cabinet damage were, at some point in their lives, moved by the owner. Lifting the piano up is only half the battle. Getting it from point "A" to point "B" without putting a scratch on it is the goal of a piano moving pro. Remember, people can be seriously hurt moving a piano if they are not experienced. I highly recommend hiring professional piano movers to deliver your used piano to your home because it's well worth the money. Plan on about $200 to $600 on the average. Pianos are like cars. Don't get stuck with a lemon!
So when shopping for a used piano, look inside, have a piano tuner-technician appraise and estimate repairs at a later date (if necessary) and hire a professional piano mover.
If you are looking at a grand piano, ask the seller to lift the lid and slide the music desk off. In some cases, the seller may offer to remove the fall board which covers and protects the keys so you can look inside with a flashlight.
This will allow you to examine the general condition of most of the internal parts. You don't need to know what all the parts are called or what their function is. You just need to see the general condition.
Do the parts look fairly new, but dusty? If so, this is a good sign.
In most cases, you will find a coating of dust inside most pianos. This can be a very light coating or a very heavy coating of dust. The heavy coating of dust is often found in pianos over 50 years old. Many times, there will be foreign objects and old parts near the pedal area. Some of these parts may have come loose and fallen down over the years. In some cases, the parts up top have been replaced and the piano works fine, anyway. However, if some of the keys don't work properly, the piano will require some repair by a piano technician.
If the parts look rotted, cracked and some are broken, you should call a piano technician to come in and do a piano appraisal and a repair estimate BEFORE you buy the piano. Another alternative is to look around for another piano somewhere else.
Remember, buying a used piano is similar to buying a used car. It's easy for the seller to shine up the outside. It's what's inside that matters more than the outside. Many practice rooms in music schools across the country have beat up pianos that play really well. If the piano plays well (just like if the used car drives well), it may very well be worth buying. The outside is important, but not as important as how the piano plays and was maintained over the years.
Most pianos that have leg, pedal and cabinet damage were, at some point in their lives, moved by the owner. Lifting the piano up is only half the battle. Getting it from point "A" to point "B" without putting a scratch on it is the goal of a piano moving pro. Remember, people can be seriously hurt moving a piano if they are not experienced. I highly recommend hiring professional piano movers to deliver your used piano to your home because it's well worth the money. Plan on about $200 to $600 on the average. Pianos are like cars. Don't get stuck with a lemon!
So when shopping for a used piano, look inside, have a piano tuner-technician appraise and estimate repairs at a later date (if necessary) and hire a professional piano mover.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Importance of Having Your Piano Tuned on a Regular Basis
Generally speaking, your piano should be tuned at least twice per year. When the piano is tuned on a regular basis, good things happen across the board. First, since the instrument did not drop way out of tune, the piano tuner can really fine tune the instrument now, resulting in a more accurate tuning.
Take a moment to picture an auto mechanic performing a tuneup at a service station. The first car is running so rough that the mechanic replaces all the spark plugs, the air cleaner and the fuel line filter. He also changes the oil, refills the coolant and checks all the spark plug wires. Now the car runs properly. The second car he works on was tuned up six months ago and runs almost perfectly. Now the mechanic can take an hour to really fine tune the carborater and check other systems under the hood. In the end, the car is really fine-tuned now.
At the same rate, the piano tuner runs into the same type of job, so to speak. One customer has a piano that has not been tuned for over eight years. Now the tuner must do a pitch raising, stretching all the strings above the pitch that they will be tuned to, then tuning them down to their respective pitches. Chances are a few keys are sticking and need adjustment or even replacement. Now the parts may be replaced immediately if the tuner has them on hand or may have to be ordered. Now the tuner will return within a couple of days or weeks to replace the part. In the interim, the piano may have some notes that do not play right. This first piano job is more expensive and took longer to complete.
The second piano the tuner works on was just tuned six months ago. Although the piano is out of tune, all keys work, the pedals are working fine and all systems are in good working order. Now the piano tuner can focus on performing a regular tuning. The strings do not need to be stretched, nothing needs to be fixed and no parts need to be ordered. As a result, the tuner will spend a good hour or more really fine-tuning your piano so it sounds even better then the last tuning.
That's the goal of the piano tuner: to make your piano sound even better than the last tuning - every time.
Don't let your piano slip way out of tune because it costs everyone more time and money to get it back in shape. Instead, have your piano tuned every six months. This will insure that everyone who plays the piano will enjoy what they are playing and will not be listening to the wrong information; the wrong notes. It is very important that students are only exposed to instruments that are in good tuning order. This will help them develop their listening skills more easily.
It's well worth the money to have your piano tuned every six months.
Take a moment to picture an auto mechanic performing a tuneup at a service station. The first car is running so rough that the mechanic replaces all the spark plugs, the air cleaner and the fuel line filter. He also changes the oil, refills the coolant and checks all the spark plug wires. Now the car runs properly. The second car he works on was tuned up six months ago and runs almost perfectly. Now the mechanic can take an hour to really fine tune the carborater and check other systems under the hood. In the end, the car is really fine-tuned now.
At the same rate, the piano tuner runs into the same type of job, so to speak. One customer has a piano that has not been tuned for over eight years. Now the tuner must do a pitch raising, stretching all the strings above the pitch that they will be tuned to, then tuning them down to their respective pitches. Chances are a few keys are sticking and need adjustment or even replacement. Now the parts may be replaced immediately if the tuner has them on hand or may have to be ordered. Now the tuner will return within a couple of days or weeks to replace the part. In the interim, the piano may have some notes that do not play right. This first piano job is more expensive and took longer to complete.
The second piano the tuner works on was just tuned six months ago. Although the piano is out of tune, all keys work, the pedals are working fine and all systems are in good working order. Now the piano tuner can focus on performing a regular tuning. The strings do not need to be stretched, nothing needs to be fixed and no parts need to be ordered. As a result, the tuner will spend a good hour or more really fine-tuning your piano so it sounds even better then the last tuning.
That's the goal of the piano tuner: to make your piano sound even better than the last tuning - every time.
Don't let your piano slip way out of tune because it costs everyone more time and money to get it back in shape. Instead, have your piano tuned every six months. This will insure that everyone who plays the piano will enjoy what they are playing and will not be listening to the wrong information; the wrong notes. It is very important that students are only exposed to instruments that are in good tuning order. This will help them develop their listening skills more easily.
It's well worth the money to have your piano tuned every six months.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Sostenuto Pedal, The Bass Sustain Pedal and The Celeste Pedal
The sostenuto pedal or "middle pedal" keeps raised any damper that was raised at the moment the pedal is depressed. This makes it possible to sustain some notes (by depressing the sostenuto pedal before notes to be sustained are released) while the player's hands are free to play other notes. This can be useful for musical passages with pedal points and other otherwise tricky or impossible situations. The sostenuto pedal was the last of the three pedals to be added to the standard piano, and to this day, many pianos are not equipped with a sostenuto pedal. (Almost all modern grand pianos have a sostenuto pedal, while most upright pianos do not.) A number of twentieth-century works specifically call for the use of this pedal. This pedal is often unused in modern music.
The bass sustain pedal can be found on many uprights and baby grands in place of the sostenuto pedal, which lifts all the dampers in the bass. It works like the damper pedal, but only affects the lowest notes.
Some upright pianos have a practice pedal or celeste pedal in place of the sostenuto. This pedal, which can usually be locked in place by depressing it and pushing it to one side, drops a "muffler" (or strip of felt) between the hammers and the strings so that all the notes are greatly muted; a handy feature for those who wish to practice in domestic surroundings without disturbing the neighbors. The practice pedal is rarely used in performance.
So many times piano pedals look the same, but have different functions. A few compositions that demonstrate the sostenuto pedal are Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata (FULL) - Piano Sonata No. 14", Chopin's "Prelude in D Flat Major RAINDROP" and "Mine" by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin 1933.
The bass sustain pedal can be found on many uprights and baby grands in place of the sostenuto pedal, which lifts all the dampers in the bass. It works like the damper pedal, but only affects the lowest notes.
Some upright pianos have a practice pedal or celeste pedal in place of the sostenuto. This pedal, which can usually be locked in place by depressing it and pushing it to one side, drops a "muffler" (or strip of felt) between the hammers and the strings so that all the notes are greatly muted; a handy feature for those who wish to practice in domestic surroundings without disturbing the neighbors. The practice pedal is rarely used in performance.
So many times piano pedals look the same, but have different functions. A few compositions that demonstrate the sostenuto pedal are Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata (FULL) - Piano Sonata No. 14", Chopin's "Prelude in D Flat Major RAINDROP" and "Mine" by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin 1933.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Shopping for a New or Used Piano
When the time comes to buy a piano, which is a better deal: a new piano or a used piano?
Pianos are like cars because it may take some time to find the one that's right for you. More often than not, the "used piano" phrase conjures up an image of an old upright piano on its last legs with a ridiculous amount of repair work needed. This is a common misconception. The fact is, there are many excellent deals on used pianos in the private sector and at piano dealerships all over the world. You must set aside some time to go look at each piano which could take days or even weeks. If you have ever bought a used car, you know that there are good deals out there, but it takes time. One of the advantages of shopping a piano dealer is that you can get a quick overview of both the new and used line. Financing is often available for new or used at the piano stores. In less than an hour, you can get a good feel for what might be the right instrument for your family. Most dealers will deliver and tune your piano as part of the deal.
As far as the privately owned pianos go, there are probably several good deals on these within an hour of your home. A 45-minutes trip may save you $500 in many cases. Once again, like used cars, the environment tells the real story. If you walk in to a piano teacher's studio and see a nice neat room where the piano is the centerpiece without a scratch on it, you know the thing is probably in excellent condition. On the other hand, if you show up and the piano is buried under lawn equipment in the garage and all nicked up, that one will probably need at least $500 worth of work. You could bring a piano technician out for the price of a service call to take a look at this beast. Maybe it just needs a few minor repairs, cleaned up and a good pitch raising. In this case, you could offer the owner $100 for it because it obviously needs some T.L.C. Most owners of this type will say, "Sure, I'll take $100 for it. I just want to get it out of here to make room for my riding mower." Now get the piano tuner to arrange the move and the repair job and in about 10 days, you'll have a great new instrument sitting in your living room for half the price.
If the seller "wants to think about it," pay the piano tuner to do an appraisal before you leave if you really like the piano. You can then use this as a bargaining tool with the seller the next day on the phone.
New pianos are an investment. Many reputable dealers who have been in business for a long time will finance your piano, have it delivered and tuned, and offer a trade in of equal value which is good anytime in the future. So if you trade in a $9,000 piano 12 years from now, they will take $9,000 off the selling price of your next piano. The question is, will they still be in business when it's time to buy your next piano? Are they a chain store with several locations? Once again, like a car, you would put a down payment on your new piano and finance the rest. This situation is perfect for the serious piano student who might want to practice on a Yamaha like they have in the practice rooms at college. Also, for the person who has always wanted a brand new baby grand in their living room.
One final note: do not buy a cheap, beat up piano for a brand new student because, just like a freshman's car at college, nobody wants to spend much time around a broken piece of machinery. So if you want your kid to come home from college to visit once in a while, get them a decent used car and if you want them to practice piano and stick with it, get them an instrument in good working order, new or used.
Pianos are like cars because it may take some time to find the one that's right for you. More often than not, the "used piano" phrase conjures up an image of an old upright piano on its last legs with a ridiculous amount of repair work needed. This is a common misconception. The fact is, there are many excellent deals on used pianos in the private sector and at piano dealerships all over the world. You must set aside some time to go look at each piano which could take days or even weeks. If you have ever bought a used car, you know that there are good deals out there, but it takes time. One of the advantages of shopping a piano dealer is that you can get a quick overview of both the new and used line. Financing is often available for new or used at the piano stores. In less than an hour, you can get a good feel for what might be the right instrument for your family. Most dealers will deliver and tune your piano as part of the deal.
As far as the privately owned pianos go, there are probably several good deals on these within an hour of your home. A 45-minutes trip may save you $500 in many cases. Once again, like used cars, the environment tells the real story. If you walk in to a piano teacher's studio and see a nice neat room where the piano is the centerpiece without a scratch on it, you know the thing is probably in excellent condition. On the other hand, if you show up and the piano is buried under lawn equipment in the garage and all nicked up, that one will probably need at least $500 worth of work. You could bring a piano technician out for the price of a service call to take a look at this beast. Maybe it just needs a few minor repairs, cleaned up and a good pitch raising. In this case, you could offer the owner $100 for it because it obviously needs some T.L.C. Most owners of this type will say, "Sure, I'll take $100 for it. I just want to get it out of here to make room for my riding mower." Now get the piano tuner to arrange the move and the repair job and in about 10 days, you'll have a great new instrument sitting in your living room for half the price.
If the seller "wants to think about it," pay the piano tuner to do an appraisal before you leave if you really like the piano. You can then use this as a bargaining tool with the seller the next day on the phone.
New pianos are an investment. Many reputable dealers who have been in business for a long time will finance your piano, have it delivered and tuned, and offer a trade in of equal value which is good anytime in the future. So if you trade in a $9,000 piano 12 years from now, they will take $9,000 off the selling price of your next piano. The question is, will they still be in business when it's time to buy your next piano? Are they a chain store with several locations? Once again, like a car, you would put a down payment on your new piano and finance the rest. This situation is perfect for the serious piano student who might want to practice on a Yamaha like they have in the practice rooms at college. Also, for the person who has always wanted a brand new baby grand in their living room.
One final note: do not buy a cheap, beat up piano for a brand new student because, just like a freshman's car at college, nobody wants to spend much time around a broken piece of machinery. So if you want your kid to come home from college to visit once in a while, get them a decent used car and if you want them to practice piano and stick with it, get them an instrument in good working order, new or used.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Digital Pianos Can Have a New Lease on Life
How do you handle a digital piano that is driving you crazy?
Call a piano technician who is qualified to work on electrics!
Back in the day, there was the Fender Rhodes, a few Roland's and a couple of Wurlitzer's out there. Now, many music schools are using digital pianos. This is a hot issue with many piano teachers. Some feel that it is imperative for piano students to play solely on the traditional acoustic piano so the student will get an accurate feel for the instrument. (I tend to agree with this philosophy.)
But every year, more and more music schools are filling their classrooms with digital pianos and the beat goes on.
At any rate, I must admit, the touch on some of these instruments is pretty close to an acoustic piano, but not really the same. One of the reasons is, the keyboard has lots of mechanical parts. These parts don't last forever and wear out after a couple of years especially in the classroom environment.
Before you sell your digital piano in the front yard for $50 on Saturday morning, check the web for a qualified digital piano repair person in your area. Many times, these can be fixed in a couple of hours for less than $200.
Don't pull the plug until you have someone take a look at it. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Call a piano technician who is qualified to work on electrics!
Back in the day, there was the Fender Rhodes, a few Roland's and a couple of Wurlitzer's out there. Now, many music schools are using digital pianos. This is a hot issue with many piano teachers. Some feel that it is imperative for piano students to play solely on the traditional acoustic piano so the student will get an accurate feel for the instrument. (I tend to agree with this philosophy.)
But every year, more and more music schools are filling their classrooms with digital pianos and the beat goes on.
At any rate, I must admit, the touch on some of these instruments is pretty close to an acoustic piano, but not really the same. One of the reasons is, the keyboard has lots of mechanical parts. These parts don't last forever and wear out after a couple of years especially in the classroom environment.
Before you sell your digital piano in the front yard for $50 on Saturday morning, check the web for a qualified digital piano repair person in your area. Many times, these can be fixed in a couple of hours for less than $200.
Don't pull the plug until you have someone take a look at it. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Cleaning Your Piano Keys
Keys may be cleaned with warm water and a weak solution of Ivory soap. First fill a mixing bowl with warm tap water. Next drop a bar of Ivory soap in the bowl and let it soak for about 5 minutes. Remove the bar of soap and your solution is ready. Grab a roll of paper towels, your bowl of your soap solution and another bowl of plain, warm water. You are now ready to clean your keys. Just dip the paper towel into the soapy bowl, ring it out and wipe about one octave with the solution (It's O.K. if a little bit of water drips threw the keys. It should evaporate within a day or so and it will not damage your instrument). Next, get a new paper towel, dip it in the plain water and wipe the same octave again to clean the soap off the keys. Now, get a new paper towel and wipe that same octave and furniture finish near the keys completely dry. Repeat this procedure, one octave at a time until the entire keyboard is clean. That's it! Your keyboard is nice and clean now!
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