Well, that's what the textbook says, but the reality of what goes on out there in the piano service world, you may be able to cut that corner.
When the piano tuner finishes tuning your piano, it starts to go out of tune on a micro-scale within a few hours. Slowly, the top end goes out along with any strings that may have loose tuning pins and after a while, it's completely "out" again.
In another case, where a piano has had several strings replaced, the tuner will stretch these strings and then tune them. In a few weeks, these strings will tend to go out of tune first. The tuner is called by the customer and comes out to tune the piano again and charges the customer again for another tuning.
In a third situation, the piano is placed near the front door in sunny Montreal, Canada is tuned and goes out of tune quickly as it gets a sub-zero draft a couple times per day. In some cases, the piano can be moved to a better location in the room, maybe an inside wall, farther from the front door. But in this case, "Aunt Sally" likes the piano right next to the front door because she can look out the window at the snowflakes as she's playing, "Winter Wonderland."
You see, after four piano tunings in under two years, a decent piano in good shape will "stabilize." It is at this point, and only at this point, will you as a piano owner get to enjoy a well-tuned piano for six months at a time.
Don't expect your piano to stabilize after you tune it once, two weeks after the movers leave.
Where am I going with this?
Right here:
In my opinion, the sooner you tune your piano four times within a two-year period, the sooner it will stabilize for six months at a time.
So, don't bother waiting two weeks. Just call your piano tuner, schedule your first tuning and then make sure your piano gets tuned every six months, every year, all the time and the world will be a better place.
"Tune it forward?"
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Your Cat is the Only One Who Plays Your Piano?
Ah, pets and pianos.
I must admit, I am primarily a "dog person," but find cats interesting to watch and try to figure out...especially when they play their piano more then their owners.
I've probably worked on around 5,000 pianos over the years and I have seen many pianos that have been beat on by our furry little friends. Damage ranging from a minor scratch on the piano lid from a candlestick vs. cat kick-boxing match...all the way to broken keytops with deep scratches in the cabinet.
One piano had some sticking keys back in 2010 and there was about a third of a bag of "Purina Dog Chow" under the keys, in the action, in the harp and under the pedals. A few hours later, the piano was repaired, given a pitch raising and was as good as new (except for about 500 permanent veneer scratches on the fall board, cracked action parts that no longer available and disfigured music desk which I consider, "animal music-art.")
Cats like me when I tune. They come into the room and pace around behind me, rub their whiskers up against my leg and sometimes jump right up onto the keys next to my tuning wrench.
If I'm not mistakin', domesticated cats are territorial creatures (but I'm not totally sure because I am a dog person and never bothered to confirm this) so I think they are trying to tell me something.
Maybe something like,
"Hey Mister, what are you doing on MY PIANO?! No humans have even touched it in years! I'm the only one who uses it, so WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?"
Well "Morris," I am here because pianos are really "simple machines" in a way and they need regular maintenance.
If you don't start the lawn mower every six months, it may not start in the spring and your lawn will be two feet high causing the neighbors to stand up at Town Meeting and vote against your community pet project.
If you don't go to the dentist and get your teeth cleaned every six months, you will eventually be asking your local grocery store associate where the "Polident" is.
AND...if your human friends let their piano sit for years without regular maintenance and tuning, it will cost hundreds of dollars to correct the problem when Aunt Trudy comes to check on her piano this coming holiday season.
So attention all pets with pianos:
Move your fuzzy ball-thing, tell your doggy brothers to get the rawhide bone out from under that pedal because it's time for the semi-annual piano tuning which needs to be done, even if your the only one who plays it!
The Final Score:
Piano Tuner...1
Pets.................0
(See you in six months.)
Cat plays piano
Dog playing his favorite tune on the piano. (Hit it boys!)
I must admit, I am primarily a "dog person," but find cats interesting to watch and try to figure out...especially when they play their piano more then their owners.
I've probably worked on around 5,000 pianos over the years and I have seen many pianos that have been beat on by our furry little friends. Damage ranging from a minor scratch on the piano lid from a candlestick vs. cat kick-boxing match...all the way to broken keytops with deep scratches in the cabinet.
One piano had some sticking keys back in 2010 and there was about a third of a bag of "Purina Dog Chow" under the keys, in the action, in the harp and under the pedals. A few hours later, the piano was repaired, given a pitch raising and was as good as new (except for about 500 permanent veneer scratches on the fall board, cracked action parts that no longer available and disfigured music desk which I consider, "animal music-art.")
Cats like me when I tune. They come into the room and pace around behind me, rub their whiskers up against my leg and sometimes jump right up onto the keys next to my tuning wrench.
If I'm not mistakin', domesticated cats are territorial creatures (but I'm not totally sure because I am a dog person and never bothered to confirm this) so I think they are trying to tell me something.
Maybe something like,
"Hey Mister, what are you doing on MY PIANO?! No humans have even touched it in years! I'm the only one who uses it, so WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?"
Well "Morris," I am here because pianos are really "simple machines" in a way and they need regular maintenance.
If you don't start the lawn mower every six months, it may not start in the spring and your lawn will be two feet high causing the neighbors to stand up at Town Meeting and vote against your community pet project.
If you don't go to the dentist and get your teeth cleaned every six months, you will eventually be asking your local grocery store associate where the "Polident" is.
AND...if your human friends let their piano sit for years without regular maintenance and tuning, it will cost hundreds of dollars to correct the problem when Aunt Trudy comes to check on her piano this coming holiday season.
So attention all pets with pianos:
Move your fuzzy ball-thing, tell your doggy brothers to get the rawhide bone out from under that pedal because it's time for the semi-annual piano tuning which needs to be done, even if your the only one who plays it!
The Final Score:
Piano Tuner...1
Pets.................0
(See you in six months.)
Cat plays piano
Dog playing his favorite tune on the piano. (Hit it boys!)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The Craigslist Piano Reality Check
So the piano you got on Craigslist doesn't REALLY play that well?
As Texas Gov. Rick Perry would say, "Oops!"
Well, it happens to the best of us.
Here's a plan to "unscrew" that piano problem. Contact your local piano technician request a piano repair estimate. More often than not, the best course of action is to plan on paying to have your piano tuner come out to your house, open up the piano and find the problem. It's well worth the money. Most tuners will do this for around $100. If the problem is a minor in nature, the technician may offer to stay and repair the piano and then tune it on the spot without charging you for an estimate. This is the best scenario, so take advantage of it.
If the piano needs major repairs, you should ask what the charges for an inspection, appraisal and repair estimate. Many pianos need action overhauls, string repairs or key repairs which can give the piano a new life. These repairs usually run several hundred dollars. Have piano inspected to get a list of the repair problems, get an appraisal to find out what it's worth and a repair estimate to find out exactly how much it will cost to bring it up to speed. Pianos are like cars; when they need major repairs, you need to make a decision as to whether or not they are, in fact, "economical to repair."
The Reality Check Part:
Don't just let the piano sit there. Sometimes, pianos cannot be repaired unless completely rebuilt costing thousands of dollars. Most often, free and cheap pianos found online usually cost a few hundred of dollars to fix, so "bite the bullet" and plan on paying for a repair estimate. Then schedule your piano technician fix it and you will be playing, "I Can See Clearly Now" in no time.
As Texas Gov. Rick Perry would say, "Oops!"
Well, it happens to the best of us.
Here's a plan to "unscrew" that piano problem. Contact your local piano technician request a piano repair estimate. More often than not, the best course of action is to plan on paying to have your piano tuner come out to your house, open up the piano and find the problem. It's well worth the money. Most tuners will do this for around $100. If the problem is a minor in nature, the technician may offer to stay and repair the piano and then tune it on the spot without charging you for an estimate. This is the best scenario, so take advantage of it.
If the piano needs major repairs, you should ask what the charges for an inspection, appraisal and repair estimate. Many pianos need action overhauls, string repairs or key repairs which can give the piano a new life. These repairs usually run several hundred dollars. Have piano inspected to get a list of the repair problems, get an appraisal to find out what it's worth and a repair estimate to find out exactly how much it will cost to bring it up to speed. Pianos are like cars; when they need major repairs, you need to make a decision as to whether or not they are, in fact, "economical to repair."
The Reality Check Part:
Don't just let the piano sit there. Sometimes, pianos cannot be repaired unless completely rebuilt costing thousands of dollars. Most often, free and cheap pianos found online usually cost a few hundred of dollars to fix, so "bite the bullet" and plan on paying for a repair estimate. Then schedule your piano technician fix it and you will be playing, "I Can See Clearly Now" in no time.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Miking the Piano for Live Performance
Miking the piano to present a crystal clear performance can be a bit tricky. It is best have two people work on this setup, so find an assistant if you can. Also, you may want to work closely with the sound tech on this and ask them to mark the settings after you get the clear, full sound that you are looking for.
Every piano is different in many ways. They have different shapes, different age strings, different cabinets, etc. Some pianos have new bass strings which are loud and bright, while others have older strings which are usually quieter and sometimes present a "tubby" or short sustain sound. Plan your time wisely when miking your piano.
Miking the Grand Piano (in stereo if possible)
First, lift the lid and prop it up with the longer stick. Grab two mic stands equipped with booms and place the first mic about 12 inches above the bass strings. Now, aim the mic at the string in the middle of the bass range at a point about halfway down the string.
Now place the second mic about 12 inches away from the middle of the treble string set and about halfway down the length of the strings.
Set the bass strings' mic to the left channel and the treble strings' mic to the right channel.Run a test performance by playing the piano and adjust both mics as necessary.
In noisy stage situations, adjust the mics to about six inches away from the strings, instead of 12 inches away. This will help to minimize the stage noise and bleed problems from other instruments. Also, feedback can occur when mic placement is in a given spot or the record level is too high. Do test recordings until the noise settles down. Make sure you have people walk by the piano to change the acoustic field so you can see if feedback could occur.
An instrument mic with a switchable bass cut/rolloff filter is recommended for most piano miking situations. If you find that the volume with these two mics is too low, then add a dynamic mic near the treble strings.
Miking the Upright Piano:
Grab a mic stand equipped with a boom and place the mic about six inches from the back of the piano a right around middle C. Do a test performance by playing the piano. Move the mic a foot to the left, play and listen, then move the mic one foot to the right of middle C and play and listen. Pick the best position with the best sound and then fine tune as necessary.
You may want to add a second mic if you cannot get the full range of sound. Every stage setup is different.Once again, a mic with a switchable bass cut/rolloff filter is recommended.
Testing, adjusting and retesting is the key. Get people to listen with you from different parts of the room. If you have a half hour or so to experiment, you should achieve the sound your looking for.
Remember: Feedback will knock Jerry Seinfeld's PEZ dispenser right onto the floor and THAT could get ugly. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
Every piano is different in many ways. They have different shapes, different age strings, different cabinets, etc. Some pianos have new bass strings which are loud and bright, while others have older strings which are usually quieter and sometimes present a "tubby" or short sustain sound. Plan your time wisely when miking your piano.
Miking the Grand Piano (in stereo if possible)
First, lift the lid and prop it up with the longer stick. Grab two mic stands equipped with booms and place the first mic about 12 inches above the bass strings. Now, aim the mic at the string in the middle of the bass range at a point about halfway down the string.
Now place the second mic about 12 inches away from the middle of the treble string set and about halfway down the length of the strings.
Set the bass strings' mic to the left channel and the treble strings' mic to the right channel.Run a test performance by playing the piano and adjust both mics as necessary.
In noisy stage situations, adjust the mics to about six inches away from the strings, instead of 12 inches away. This will help to minimize the stage noise and bleed problems from other instruments. Also, feedback can occur when mic placement is in a given spot or the record level is too high. Do test recordings until the noise settles down. Make sure you have people walk by the piano to change the acoustic field so you can see if feedback could occur.
An instrument mic with a switchable bass cut/rolloff filter is recommended for most piano miking situations. If you find that the volume with these two mics is too low, then add a dynamic mic near the treble strings.
Miking the Upright Piano:
Grab a mic stand equipped with a boom and place the mic about six inches from the back of the piano a right around middle C. Do a test performance by playing the piano. Move the mic a foot to the left, play and listen, then move the mic one foot to the right of middle C and play and listen. Pick the best position with the best sound and then fine tune as necessary.
You may want to add a second mic if you cannot get the full range of sound. Every stage setup is different.Once again, a mic with a switchable bass cut/rolloff filter is recommended.
Testing, adjusting and retesting is the key. Get people to listen with you from different parts of the room. If you have a half hour or so to experiment, you should achieve the sound your looking for.
Remember: Feedback will knock Jerry Seinfeld's PEZ dispenser right onto the floor and THAT could get ugly. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Piano Benches - Size Matters!
Whether your piano's bench is badly broken or is missing, it is very important that you choose a bench that is the correct height to fit your piano.
The right piano bench can make a huge difference in how comfortable the piano performer is while playing.
Generally speaking, there are a few different types of benches including artist benches, grand benches, upright benches, duet benches and piano stools. The artist piano bench is the most comfortable and the most expensive bench on the market. This bench cover is usually made of leather and has a height and tilt adjustment that starts at 18" and raises up to 21" tall. The grand bench is typically 19'' tall and about 33" wide. The upright bench is range from 18 1/2" tall to 20" tall. The duet bench is similar to the upright bench and is built to seat two people around 30" wide. The first piano bench was a piano stool which has four legs and a round seat. Modern piano stools can be adjusted by spinning the seat. These stools are typically used with antique pianos, but come in handy for very young children who can not reach the keyboard well. Because the piano stool can be raised as high as 25", it serves as a great backup "bench" for families with small children who want to learn, but cannot reach the keyboard properly.
Used benches and stools can be found online or at your local used piano store. Used piano bench prices typically start at about $100. New piano benches start at (fasten your seat belt) around $150 and can go over $1,000.
If you need a regular, new piano bench, you should budget about $200 to $300 and shop online, visit your local used piano store or ask your piano tuner to show you a catalog. Plan on receiving your bench in about 10 days to 2 weeks because they are fairly heavy and express shipping is expensive. Ship it "ground" if you can wait.
One last note: Teach your children to "respect the piano." Kids who fight over who gets to play next can end up flipping the piano bench and hitting their head on the floor or hurting their fingers. This happens all the time. It's a good idea to teach young children to "wait their turn to practice" and "one at a time at the piano." If you are placing two children on a duet bench, they should be closely supervised. (Two kids on one piano can be hazardous!)
So relax, get your wallet out, plan ahead, stay safe and "have a seat!"
Happy practicing!
The right piano bench can make a huge difference in how comfortable the piano performer is while playing.
Generally speaking, there are a few different types of benches including artist benches, grand benches, upright benches, duet benches and piano stools. The artist piano bench is the most comfortable and the most expensive bench on the market. This bench cover is usually made of leather and has a height and tilt adjustment that starts at 18" and raises up to 21" tall. The grand bench is typically 19'' tall and about 33" wide. The upright bench is range from 18 1/2" tall to 20" tall. The duet bench is similar to the upright bench and is built to seat two people around 30" wide. The first piano bench was a piano stool which has four legs and a round seat. Modern piano stools can be adjusted by spinning the seat. These stools are typically used with antique pianos, but come in handy for very young children who can not reach the keyboard well. Because the piano stool can be raised as high as 25", it serves as a great backup "bench" for families with small children who want to learn, but cannot reach the keyboard properly.
Used benches and stools can be found online or at your local used piano store. Used piano bench prices typically start at about $100. New piano benches start at (fasten your seat belt) around $150 and can go over $1,000.
If you need a regular, new piano bench, you should budget about $200 to $300 and shop online, visit your local used piano store or ask your piano tuner to show you a catalog. Plan on receiving your bench in about 10 days to 2 weeks because they are fairly heavy and express shipping is expensive. Ship it "ground" if you can wait.
One last note: Teach your children to "respect the piano." Kids who fight over who gets to play next can end up flipping the piano bench and hitting their head on the floor or hurting their fingers. This happens all the time. It's a good idea to teach young children to "wait their turn to practice" and "one at a time at the piano." If you are placing two children on a duet bench, they should be closely supervised. (Two kids on one piano can be hazardous!)
So relax, get your wallet out, plan ahead, stay safe and "have a seat!"
Happy practicing!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Buying a Piano Online? Have a Plan...
Whether you are searching Craigslist, eBay or a reputable piano store online for a used piano, plan ahead so things go smoothly.
First, contact a reputable piano tuner-technician. Find out how much it would cost to have them inspect and appraise the piano that you are interested in. If the piano is out of your local area, PianoAnswers.com can provide an online appraisal for only $8.95.
Next, contact your local piano mover and get a general idea of what a move might cost, should decide to purchase the piano you are interested in. Make sure you know the height of the piano in inches. This will help the moving company determine how heavy the piano is.
Now, have the piano inspection and appraisal done by your tuner or online.
Next, make an offer to the seller. This offer should be at or below the appraisal amount. It might also be the appraisal amount minus the cost of repairs that was determined upon the piano technician's inspection.
(i.e. if you buy a $500 car for your teenager, that car may very possibly cost you thousands of dollars. Be careful.)
Make arrangements with your piano mover. The buyer normally pays the piano mover.
Once the piano is delivered, schedule an appointment with your piano tuner-technician to repair and tune your piano.
After this is completed, ask to be on the piano tuner's reminder list so that you can make sure your piano is maintained properly by tuning it every six months.
Remember, even a free piano can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to have moved and repaired.
Be careful and make sure your have a plan from the beginning. In the end, you will have a used piano in good repair and have an experienced piano tuner-technician and reliable piano mover.
Now your family can take lessons and practice on a well-maintained instrument which will help the student reach their goal of improving their piano performance.
First, contact a reputable piano tuner-technician. Find out how much it would cost to have them inspect and appraise the piano that you are interested in. If the piano is out of your local area, PianoAnswers.com can provide an online appraisal for only $8.95.
Next, contact your local piano mover and get a general idea of what a move might cost, should decide to purchase the piano you are interested in. Make sure you know the height of the piano in inches. This will help the moving company determine how heavy the piano is.
Now, have the piano inspection and appraisal done by your tuner or online.
Next, make an offer to the seller. This offer should be at or below the appraisal amount. It might also be the appraisal amount minus the cost of repairs that was determined upon the piano technician's inspection.
(i.e. if you buy a $500 car for your teenager, that car may very possibly cost you thousands of dollars. Be careful.)
Make arrangements with your piano mover. The buyer normally pays the piano mover.
Once the piano is delivered, schedule an appointment with your piano tuner-technician to repair and tune your piano.
After this is completed, ask to be on the piano tuner's reminder list so that you can make sure your piano is maintained properly by tuning it every six months.
Remember, even a free piano can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to have moved and repaired.
Be careful and make sure your have a plan from the beginning. In the end, you will have a used piano in good repair and have an experienced piano tuner-technician and reliable piano mover.
Now your family can take lessons and practice on a well-maintained instrument which will help the student reach their goal of improving their piano performance.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Moving Your Piano Outside for Special Events
"Really?"
Yes, "really."
With some planning, a service call fee and a little bit of luck, this can be done without harming your instrument. Whether it's a wedding ceremony, cocktail party or family reunion, pianos end up in yards sometimes.
Here are a few tips:
First, contact your piano mover to estimate the cost of moving your piano to the yard and then back after the party or the next morning.
They can usually recommend a piano tuner that can come and tune the piano on the day of your event. Most tuners charge a little more to do this type of pre-event service call.
If this all works out, plan on buying or renting a small canopy that is used for weddings and special yard events. It's not a bad idea to pick up a ground cloth, the type that you use under your tent when camping.
Now, schedule the movers to move the piano out to the yard, early on the day of the event.
Schedule the piano tuner to come at the same time and have them tune the piano after it's in place under the canopy.
Keep a soft blanket and the ground cloth folded up near the stage area just in case of a passing shower. The piano should be fine under the canopy, but you may want to cover it with the blanket to keep the ground cloth from scratching the piano.
Of course, if there is a 90% chance of rain on the day of the event, it's a good idea to scrub this idea...period. (If rain hits your piano directly, it can ruin it forever.) Check with the movers and the tuner to see what their policies are on cancelling a service call.
Many times, in many towns all over the world, people move their pianos outside to hold special events...even when there is a slight chance of showers.
After the event is over, cover the piano with the blanket and the ground cloth and wrap it once or twice with light twine or a small rope. Also, you may want to pick up a spray bottle of rodent repellant and spray it on the ground a few feet from the piano area before you call it a night. (If mice or chipmunks get inside your instrument, it can cost hundreds of dollars to fix.) The piano should be fine under the canopy for the night.
The movers should be scheduled to come back first thing in the morning to return the piano to your living room. Chances are that the piano may need another tuning after it is moved back in the house. This can be done the same day or weeks later, it's up to you.
If you plan carefully, a memorable time can be had by all with live cocktail piano and sing-alongs right in your own back yard without damaging your piano.
It can be done, but be careful.
Yes, "really."
With some planning, a service call fee and a little bit of luck, this can be done without harming your instrument. Whether it's a wedding ceremony, cocktail party or family reunion, pianos end up in yards sometimes.
Here are a few tips:
First, contact your piano mover to estimate the cost of moving your piano to the yard and then back after the party or the next morning.
They can usually recommend a piano tuner that can come and tune the piano on the day of your event. Most tuners charge a little more to do this type of pre-event service call.
If this all works out, plan on buying or renting a small canopy that is used for weddings and special yard events. It's not a bad idea to pick up a ground cloth, the type that you use under your tent when camping.
Now, schedule the movers to move the piano out to the yard, early on the day of the event.
Schedule the piano tuner to come at the same time and have them tune the piano after it's in place under the canopy.
Keep a soft blanket and the ground cloth folded up near the stage area just in case of a passing shower. The piano should be fine under the canopy, but you may want to cover it with the blanket to keep the ground cloth from scratching the piano.
Of course, if there is a 90% chance of rain on the day of the event, it's a good idea to scrub this idea...period. (If rain hits your piano directly, it can ruin it forever.) Check with the movers and the tuner to see what their policies are on cancelling a service call.
Many times, in many towns all over the world, people move their pianos outside to hold special events...even when there is a slight chance of showers.
After the event is over, cover the piano with the blanket and the ground cloth and wrap it once or twice with light twine or a small rope. Also, you may want to pick up a spray bottle of rodent repellant and spray it on the ground a few feet from the piano area before you call it a night. (If mice or chipmunks get inside your instrument, it can cost hundreds of dollars to fix.) The piano should be fine under the canopy for the night.
The movers should be scheduled to come back first thing in the morning to return the piano to your living room. Chances are that the piano may need another tuning after it is moved back in the house. This can be done the same day or weeks later, it's up to you.
If you plan carefully, a memorable time can be had by all with live cocktail piano and sing-alongs right in your own back yard without damaging your piano.
It can be done, but be careful.
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