Home 

1. How often should I have my piano serviced?

 A: Piano manufacturers recommend pianos to be tuned at minimum every 6 months. Pianos in recording studios, schools, and concert venues are tuned weekly, or even daily for discerning pianists. 

2. My piano doesn’t get played much. Do I still need to tune it? 

 A: Yes. Pianos go out of tune whether they are played or not. In order to avoid a costly pitch raise, resulting in a unstable piano, service it regularly.

3. What is tuning stability?

 A: Pianos are considered “stable” when the strings move very little before, during, and after tunings. When you adjust the tension on a string, the atoms become excited and start to move about. The more extreme an adjustment is, the more excited the atoms become, and the longer it takes them to settle back down. Our goal as piano technicians is to tune pianos in a way that doesn’t over-stress the strings, ensuring the piano tuning lasts as long as possible. This can only happen when a piano is serviced bi-annually and temperature/humidity swings are minor.

4. How do I know if I need a pitch raise?

 A: If your piano hasn’t been serviced every year, it will most likely need a pitch raise. Once your piano is brought back up to it’s designed pitch, it will take several tunings to stabilize it again. 

5. I just bought a new piano. Why does it need so many tunings?

 A: New strings on pianos are wildly flexible and take tunings and time to settle. How many times it was tuned at the factory will determine how long the piano will take to become stable, usually between 7-10 tunings. Your piano should be tuned 3-4 times the first year, then switched to twice a year for the remainder of it’s life. After a few years, your piano will be nice and stable, ensuring decades of enjoyment. This also applies to newly restrung pianos and newly replaced strings.

6. Why does my piano go out of tune?

 A: There can be many reasons a piano might go out of tune. A change in weather, unstable environment, loose tuning pins, new strings, piano placement, piano age, and infrequent servicing are all common reasons for tuning instability. If you have your piano regularly serviced and still have stability problems, talk to me and we can figure out a solution.

7. How can I best maintain my piano in between services?

 A: Before playing the piano, always wash your hands. Keep food and drink away from the piano, as well as candles, vases filled with water, or anything else that could potentially spill into the piano. Keep the piano tidy and clean, and close the lid and fallboard after playing. If you have a felt key cover, place it on the keys after playing. This keeps moisture out and prevents sticky keys. If your piano has a humidity system, check the water light and inspect the pads regularly. 

8. How do I clean/disinfect my keys?

 A: Prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands before playing. If the keys get dirty or dusty, simply use a cotton cloth lightly dampened with diluted soapy water. Ivory can be cleaned with soap and water or witch hazel. Avoid using solvents. If you must use disinfectant wipes, know that alcohol-based solutions can cause damage over time. 

9. How should I dust and clean my piano?

 A: Always use 100% cotton cloth to wipe and dust the piano cabinet. Only use soapy water for dirt and grime. Cory Piano Care products are also available to clean and polish your piano finish. www.corycare.com

10. I just moved my piano. How long should I wait before I schedule an appointment?

 A: You should allow your piano 2-3 weeks to settle before scheduling an appointment. This also applies to new pianos. 

11. Where is the best placement for my piano?

 A: If possible, pianos should be placed on an inside wall away from doorways and windows. A piano should never sit near heater vents or in direct sunlight. A piano is happiest in a stable environment with 50-60% relative humidity and in temperatures that don’t exceed 85F. If your environment experiences big fluctuations, or you live in the mountains, high desert, or by the ocean, your piano would benefit from a humidity control system. 

12. I found a cheaper tuner. Can you give me a discount?

 A: Running a piano servicing business comes with lots of unseen costs: vehicle wear and tear, license and insurance, specialty tools, parts inventory, continuing education, scheduling software, website maintenance, etc... There will always be someone who will do a cheaper job, but I know my worth and hope my clients do too. 

AQ’sA: 

1.How often should I have my piano serviced?

2.What is a pitch raise and how do I know if I need one?

3.I bought a new piano. Why does it need so many tunings?

4.Why do pianos go out of tune?

5.What is humidity control?

6.What is piano regulation and how do I know if I need it?

7.What is the different between tuning and voicing?

8.What else can I do to maintain my piano in between services?

9.How do I clean/disinfect my piano keys?

10.I just moved. How long should I wait to have my piano tuned and