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Q. How often does my piano need to be tuned?
A. For normal in home use, you will find your piano needs to be tuned 1-3 times a year. If the instrument is being played multiple hours per day, you could need the piano tuned on a more regular basis. It's not uncommon for some professionals to have their in home piano tuned once a month. For pianos that are not played or are played very little, one tuning per year is still necessary. Think of your piano and its hundreds of strings as a muscle, they must be stretched/exercised in order for them to function in the future. Pianos that are used for performance (competitions, casinos, recitals, concerts) should be tuned weekly, or even daily depending on the piano and performance.
Q. What is a pitch raise?
A. If your piano has not been tuned for a long period of time, or if it has been exposed to drastic humidity change it's possible that the piano's pitch is significantly below A440. With these circumstances the piano would require a pitch raise. Typically a piano will have to be tuned two ore more times during a single appointment to bring it up to and stabilize it at A440. This service costs more than a regular tuning.
Q. What is A440, and why is it important?
A. A440 is the 440 Hz tone that serves as the standard for musical pitch. A440 is the musical note A above middle C (A4). In 1936, an international conference recommended that the A above middle C be tuned to 440 Hz. This standard was taken up by the International Organization for Standardization in 1955 (and was reaffirmed by them in 1975) as ISO 16. Since then it has served as the audio frequency reference for the calibration of pianos, violins, and other musical instruments. If you wish to play your piano with other instruments, your favorite recordings, or use it for vocal training the piano should be tuned to A440.
Q. What is piano voicing?
A. Piano voicing, also known as tone regulation, is the art of balancing the sound from one end of the keyboard to the other. All notes should be equal to each other in volume and tone. If a piano is too bright, I needle the hammers, which brakes down the fibers in the felt, this makes the hammer softer, thus creating a more melodious tone. On the other hand, if you feel your piano's tone is too soft or dark a variety of chemicals are available to harden the hammer felt. Voicing is a matter of personal taste. Classical players, might want a dark, rich sound, while jazz or pop pianist usually prefer a bright singing tone. For full service voicing I level the strings with a small bubble gage, file the hammer felt to take out any grooves that have been formed by the strings, and fit the hammers to the strings making sure that each hammer strikes all of its corresponding strings uniformly. After these tasks, I tune the piano, and use needles and/or hardening agents to balance the sound to your liking. It's my opinion that voicing is one of the most important, and often the most overlooked aspect of the piano service business.
Q. What is piano regulation?
A. Regulating is the process of making your piano perform to the best of its capabilities. While tuning and voicing address the sound of a piano, regulating addresses the touch, feel, and reliability of the playing mechanism, which is called the action. There are approximately 37 steps to regulating a piano, each step must be performed on every note. Some of the first signs that your piano is due for regulation are; a lack of control, the keys are not level, the touch differs from note to note, the inability of notes to repeat quickly, and/or you no longer have the ability to play softly. Even with new pianos, the thousands of parts which make up your action go through a process of settling and compacting, therefor the regulation of the piano will need some adjustments after your instrument is approximately one year old.
Q. What is rebuilding or piano restoration?
A. A wide range of functions are covered in piano rebuilding. Though a piano is an item that is build to be passed down generations, they are made of wood, steel, and felt, which are prone to various ware and tare by the climate and the pianist. The most common part of the piano that needs to be rebuilt is the action. This could consist of something as straight forward as replacing hammers that are deeply grooved or key tops that are worn or chipped, or a more complex matter where all action parts are worn out and need to be replaced. Other aspects of complete rebuilding include a need to restring (wire is rusted, the bass strings are dead or tubby), replacing the pin block (the tuning pins are loose and will not hold, making the instrument untunable), or replacing a damaged or flat sound board (buzzing or rattling sound when the piano is played, or a lack of sustain and volume). Refinishing a piano is also considered a part of piano rebuilding.
Q. What are some things I should look for when buying a used piano?
A. You should always consult a Registered Piano Technician in the Piano Technicians Guild if you are planning on buying a used piano. In the long run you could save your self a hassle and lots of money if you have the technician evaluate the piano's condition. Buying a used piano is a little like buying a used car. You can find good bargains, but there are risks involved if you don't know what to look for.
Q. What is an RPT?
A. A Registered Piano Technician (RPT) has passed a series of rigorous examinations on the maintenance, repair, and tuning of pianos. Only RPTs are authorized by The Piano Technicians Guild to display the logo containing the words "Registered Piano Technician".
Q. Do you offer written appraisals?
A. Yes, I would be happy to evaluate your piano and provide you with a written appraisal.
Q. How long does it take you to tune a piano?
A. On average about one hour, or one and a half hours if a pitch raise is needed.
Q. Is there anything I should do to prepare for a visit from the piano tuner?
A. Please clear the piano of all books, lamps, exc., be at home during the pre scheduled time, pay the agreed amount upon the completion of work, and try to keep excess noise to a minimum.
Q. What are your hours of operation?
A. Typically I schedule appointments between 10 am - 6pm Monday through Saturday, however if prearranged I can show up at any time you need.
Q. Where did you learn to tune, service, and rebuild pianos?
A. I apprenticed with master technician Nevin Essex, RPT, and after chose to attend The Emil Fries School of Piano Technology in Vancouver, WA.
Q. Who are some of the people or institutions you have worked for?
A. I have had the pleasure of working for many great artists, organizations, and institutions such as Billy Joel, Elton John, Amy Lee, Michael Allen Harrison, various Symphony Orchestras, The Cincinnati Opera, The World Piano Competition, various night clubs, casinos, recording studios, Churches, and Universities.
Phone: (702) 271-6330
E-mail: shawn@shawnbrock.com
© 2009 Shawn Brock