Select a question to read the answer.

How do I move a piano?
Where should I place my piano?
Should my piano be subject to sudden temperature changes?
What is the best humidity conditions for my piano?
What is tuning?
How does a piano go out of tune?
How often should I have my piano tuned?
Does tuning affect the tone?
What is a piano action and why does it need maintenance?
What is voicing?
What is touch?
How often should the action be regulated?
Will regular maintenance save me money?
Why do keys sometimes stick?
What should I do if a pencil or coin falls inside my piano?
Is a piano ruined if the soundboard is cracked?
Can children banging on my piano cause damage?
What should I use to polish the cabinet of my piano?
How do I clean the keys?
Is it okay to place my favorite things on my piano?
I would like to purchase a piano, but where do I begin?

How do I move a piano?   Top
When moving a vertical piano within your home, always be sure to lift the piano off the front castes and roll the instrument on its rear casters. When moving a grand piano the instrument should be lifted and carried rather than rolled. By rolling the instrument, a leg could snap off and the piano might fall to the floor.

Where should I place my piano?   Top
Your instrument may be placed against any wall in a well insulated home, except in direct sunlight and a heating and/or air conditioning vent. The best location is usually an inside wall.

Should my piano be subject to sudden temperature changes?   Top
No. When a cold room is warmed suddenly, moisture will condense on the piano stings and other metal parts causing them to rust. Felts will absorb moisture dulling their action and resulting in an unclean sound.

What is the best humidity conditions for my piano?   Top
For the best performance, try to keep the room temperature between 72* to 79*, with relative humidity factor of 40-50%. Excessive dryness and extreme humidity are both harmful to your instrument. The use of materials such as wood, felt and cloth can expand and contract and be damaged easily.

What is tuning?   Top
Tuning is the adjustment made to the tuning pins by the piano tuner, to bring each string into its proper tension.

How does a piano go out of tune?   Top
The wood in the soundboard, pin block and bridges continually change, swelling when it is humid, shrinking when it is dry. This phenomenon, combined with the tension pulling the piano together, causes the strings to stretch and contract. Some strings stretch at different rates than others. That is how your piano goes out of tune.

How often should I have my piano tuned?   Top
All pianos go out of tune whether played or not, because of the expansion and contraction due to atmospheric changes. New pianos should be tuned at least two times the first year. Thereafter, your piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year. If you want your piano to have a long and useful life, it must be kept in tune – even when no it use.

Does tuning affect the tone?   Top
Tuning sets the correct pitch of each note. It is impossible for tuning to ever affect the tonal quality of the piano.

What is a piano action and why does it need maintenance?   Top
A piano action is the length of the stroke and amount of pressure required to sound a key. This must be reset periodically as parts age, expand, and contract with climate changes.

What is voicing?   Top
Voicing deals with the hammer felt shape and resilience factor. In other words, this is the hardness and/or softness of the felt on the end each hammer. The proper contact must be balanced throughout all registers of the piano keyboard, to bring out dynamic, lyrical, and fundament sound of your piano.

What is touch?   Top
Touch is the energy required to depress a piano key until it causes the hammer to strike the string. A pianist usually refers to touch as the ease and responsiveness with which a piano can be played.

How often should the action be regulated?   Top
The action of your piano should be regulated about every 7 to 10 years. If you permit your technician to make any minor adjustments necessary at each tuning, you will avoid any possible expensive adjustments in the future. Regular service insures the playing ability of your piano, protects your investment, and guarantees higher resale value.

Will regular maintenance save me money?   Top
Absolutely! Your piano will always be in perfect condition. You will prolong its life. It will have a higher resale value, should you ever wish to sell or trade it in on another instrument.

Why do keys sometimes stick?   Top
Excess moisture often causes keys and felt bushings to swell and react sluggishly or even stick. Your piano service person can compress the felt area, which will help your keys move without sticking. It is very important that excess moisture and moisture fluctuations be minimized as much as possible.

What should I do if a pencil or coin falls inside my piano?   Top
The action of your piano can be seriously affected by foreign objects. Never try to remove these objects yourself. Call a qualified piano technician to remove anything which has fallen into your instrument.

Is a piano ruined if the soundboard is cracked?   Top
The general answer is "NO". The wooden soundboard often develops cracks over time, as there is a significant amount of stress applied by the string tensions. Some cracks are much more significant than others, which might need to be secured to eliminate excess vibrations. In some extreme cases the amount of cracking can be bad enough to ruin the piano.

Can children banging on my piano cause damage?   Top
Pianos are made to be played with force. However, each individual piano is precisely crafted and calibrated. There is such a thing as too banging force which can result in abuse and damage.

What should I use to polish the cabinet of my piano?   Top
The cabinet of your piano is constructed of the finest quality veneers and hardwoods available. It is protected with hand rubbed superior quality polyester and urethane finishes. To clean away dust and smudge marks, use a soft damp cloth. To increase the shine on the cabinet, use a soft cloth and apply a premium quality liquid wax, preferably one with silicones. Apply in long strokes as compared to circular motion. Remember to close the piano when sweeping or dusting.

How do I clean the keys?   Top
To keep the keys of your instrument clean, wipe them with a soft damp cloth. If there is soil on the keys, which a damp cloth will not remove, wipe the cloth across Ivory soap. Then rub lengthwise along the top of the key until the spot is gone. Dry with a soft cloth. DO NOT USE SOLVENTS OR OTHER CHEMICALS to clean your piano keys.

Is it okay to place my favorite things on my piano?   Top
A heavy object may cause poor tone or noisy vibrations. A vase or flowers could spill and serious damage can result. Be careful.

I would like to purchase a piano, but where do I begin?   Top
It is important to match the piano to the musician. The very talented musician will require a better piano. The lesser talented musician will not require the same quality. It is important to not "under" purchase for the talented musician.