“Music educators say the main reason students, whether children or adults, drop out of music lessons is out-of-tuness of the instrument. The second reason is poor performance of their instrument.” I recently read the the above statements in a music technology course. The more I thought about it, the more it concerned me.

If you are currently having your kids take lessons, think about this: if your child takes lessons during the school year, that’s 36 lessons a year. You can add or subtract for summer lessons or if you don’t take a lesson some weeks. The average price for lessons is between $20 and $25 per half hour. Add music in, and you are spending around $1000 per child per year.

If you are spending that much money to help your kid(s), why wouldn’t you try to eliminate the top two reasons why people quit? If your piano doesn’t sound the greatest, have it tuned. If your piano has notes that stick or continue ringing, have it fixed.

If your piano has problems, give me a call. Let me help you help your child be successful.

Have you ever wondered what good it does to have the top and bottom octave of your piano tuned? I’ve heard several people say, “Don’t bother tuning that those sections. Nobody ever plays those notes.” Although it maybe true that beginner and intermediate pianists don’t use the ends of the piano, there are still several reasons why it should be tuned.

First, pianos were designed to support several thousand pounds of pressure. If sections aren’t tuned, the unequal pull on the piano can cause the plate to warp. Although rare, this can ruin a piano.

Second, when the extremes of the piano are in tune, the strings will ring sympathetically with the notes that you do play giving your piano a much fuller, richer, and more pleasing sound.

(Information from Piano Technician Guild members and publications)

Grand? Upright? Upright Grand? What’s the right term for your piano? In general there are two kinds of pianos: verticals (also called uprights) and grands. These are then divided into 4 subcategories each based on size.

Uprights can be a spinet (34″-38″ measured from the floor to the top of the piano), a console (38″-43″), a studio upright (43″-46″), or a professional or full upright (46″-52″).

Grand pianos can be a baby grand (5’6″ and smaller), parlor or living room grand (5’8″-6’6″), a semi-concert or half-concert grand (6’7″-7’4″), or finally a concert grand (around 9′).

There is no such thing as a “grand upright.” Years ago some people tried to market uprights as “upright grands” because they thought it made them sound like a better piano. Also to add to the confusion, years ago there was a piano company called the “Grand Piano Company” that made uprights. Don’t get sucked into the jargon and become confused on what you have or are trying to buy.

What kind of piano do you have? Comment below on what you currently play or with on what type of piano you learned play.

(Information from the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology)

Did you know that pianos have over 7,500 parts in them? Most parts are made from wood (mainly spruce and maybe some maple, beech, or something else), but many other parts are made of metal or felt.

(Information from the Wurlitzer piano service manual)

No one wants an out-of-tune piano, but how often should a piano be tuned? Almost every major piano manufacturer (Steinway, Yamaha, Kawai, Young Chang, Samick, Baldwin, Wulitzer, etc.) agree that a piano should be tuned twice a year. It should also be tuned if it has been moved to a different room. It may require tuning more often if it is subject to major climate changes like being put in the garage or a room that doesn’t have heating or a/c. Keeping your piano in tune will help your piano stay in good condition and help you better enjoy your piano. Call (843) 647-9784 to schedule your piano tuning today!

“How can I help my piano?” – This is one of the most asked questions for a piano tuner.  There are many things that you can do to help your piano play better, hold a tuning longer, stay looking nice longer, etc.

Tip #2 – Cleaning your piano

Most people want their piano to stay looking great, but many don’t know how. Cleaning your piano can be very easy. If your keys are dirty or the tops feel sticky, use a slightly damp rag and gently wipe the dirt away. Remember to always dry whatever moisture remains on the keys.

For the piano case (the outside of the piano), use a dusting rag like you would on any other furniture. Avoid any waxes or solutions that contain silicon because it will seal the wood. Also, instead of spraying solutions directly onto the piano, spray it onto your rag first and then wipe down your piano.

Go for it! Keep your piano looking great!

Did you know that Boesendorfer imports only around 150 pianos into the United States every year? And that they airfreight them over the Atlantic to minimize travel wear and possible damage?

One of the most asked questions for a piano tuner is “how can I help my piano?”. There are many things that you can do to help your piano play better, hold a tuning longer, stay looking nice longer, etc. I’d like use the next couple posts to give some helpful tips on how you the pianist or piano owner can help your piano.

Tip #1 – Humidity
It’s been said that humidity causes 95% of all problems in pianos. Humidity causes the your piano to need to be tuned. Humidity can cause notes to not play well or even a sound board to crack. Ideally, a piano should be in 45% humidity.

Therefore, one of the best things you can do for you piano is try to keep it a constant humidity. A Dammp-Chaser or Piano Saver system is great if you can afford it, but if you’re not ready for the expense, here are a few tips:

1. Try to keep the temperature constant.
2. Avoid putting your piano by an air vent.
3. If your house has poor insulation, avoid locating your piano by an outside wall.
4. Avoid setting drinks, fish bowls, or potted plants on the piano because they can draw moisture or spill.
5. Avoid placing your piano in direct sun light because it causes portions of the piano to be much warmer than others thus changing the humidity.

If you found this post helpful or would like for me to post on some other piano topic, let me know by commenting on this post or contacting me directly.

Independence Day celebrations are right around the corner. Are you involved in any? Whether you’re part of a church event or just having friends over for a barbecue, make sure your piano sounds its best for our national anthem. Call now to schedule your piano tuning at (843) 647-9784. Also, try gifting a piano tuning to your local church or organization through our contact page.

Welcome to Felbertuning.com! I’m excited for the chance to help you with your piano needs. If there is any way I can help you, please feel free to contact me.