Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often should I tune my piano?
   A minimum of 1 time per year. Piano manufacturers recommend every 6 months for optimum performance from your piano.
2. What is the benefit of keeping my piano well 'maintained'?
   Pianos that are serviced at regular intervals each year become a joy to play and will last into a 2nd or 3rd generation of a family. Unlike most instruments such as guitars, violins, cellos and other orchestral instruments, pianos can maintain their tunings for longer durations of time because of the way they are structurally built. However, the string tension on a piano (aka tuning) should be kept at the musical standard of A 440 hertz to maintain its integrity. Changes in the seasons will affect the tuning because of the moisture wood content in the soundboard. Tuning should be performed accordingly.
3. What should I clean the cabinet of my piano with?
   Many piano owners make the common mistake of either applying too much of a wrong product and end up polishing a finish that shouldn't have been, or not doing anything for the piano finish and unfortunately watch it fade and dry out because of the lack of care. Many piano finishes differ enough that people don't know what to use. Most pianos will have one of the following finishes: Sealed High Polish Poly Resin, Satin/Matte, Lacquer, or Open Grain finish. There are several different products that can work for different types of finishes and one specific product that works with all called 'Shimmer'. 'Cory Piano Polist' is also a wonderful finish product. Both are available through Piano Tek.
4. Should piano placement be a concern?
   Pianos should be places in such a way that the piano temperature and relative humidity will remaind nearly constant. This would mean avoiding heat registers, radiated heat, fire places, swamp coolers, air conditioners, bay windows with direct sunlight, etc. Outside wall placement is fine as long as the wall is insulated well. Consider an inside wall whenever possible.