Prime Piano Tips

Voicing and Your Piano

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:55:30 -0400

Voicing is the adjustment of a piano's tone or quality of sound. Tone can be changed without affecting the pitch. For example, turning the bass or treble knobs on your stereo changes the tone but does not alter the notes the musician recorded. A skilled piano technician can voice a piano to change its tonal personality from mellow to bright or robust to delicate. The degree of change possible depends upon the piano's design and condition.

Maintenance of the Teaching Piano

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:08:52 -0400

For your students, your piano is much more than just a musical instrument--it's a unique vehicle for their self-expression. It can increase self-esteem and self- knowledge, and can also provide the opportunity for much-needed recognition. Your piano has a task far beyond teaching scales and chords, and it must be up to the challenge.

Tips on Buying a Piano

Fri, 28 May 2010 22:32:55 -0400

Purchasing a piano for your family can create a lifetime of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation. Before you spend money for either a new or used piano, some preparation is helpful so that you purchase a piano appropriate for your needs to help insure musical success for your family. A key step in choosing a piano involves establishing your musical and furniture needs to fulfill your dreams. A piano provides elegance, sophistication and beauty to your home, so it's important that your instrument will play properly and compliment your home's décor. Musically, you should select a piano that has the key touch and musical tone that you enjoy.

Pitch Raising and Your Piano

Wed, 19 May 2010 18:05:57 -0400

Your piano is designed to sound its best when tuned to A-440 (A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second), the international pitch standard. At this pitch, power and tonal range are optimum and your piano will match the pitch of other instruments. When your piano varies from A-440, pitch adjustments are required to bring it back to standard.

Piano Regulation- What is it and do I need it?

Wed, 19 May 2010 08:27:02 -0400

As a conscientious piano owner, you probably have your piano tuned regularly by a qualified technician. You may, however, notice a deterioration of its performance despite regular tuning. It's important to note that tuning is only the adjustment of the system of strings and pins that determines the pitch of each string. Your piano also requires a periodic servicing called regulation, which attends to the mechanical parts which cause strings to sound when keys are played and affect the sound through use of the pedals.

How does humidity effect my piano and what can I do about it?

Thu, 13 May 2010 10:36:09 -0400

Your piano is made primarily of wood, a versatile and beautiful material ideal for piano construction. However, being made of wood, your piano is greatly affected by humidity. Seasonal and even daily changes in humidity cause wood parts to swell and shrink, affecting tuning stability and touch. Extreme swings in humidity can eventually cause wood to crack and glue joints to fail.