Piano Buying Tips - Piano Care & Maintenance

Regular maintenance is very important in keeping your piano operating at its full potential, and will serve to protect your long term investment.  Service should be performed by a qualified, experienced piano technician.  Please contact our stores for a recommended technician in your area. 

To maintain optimal performance, any piano should be tuned at least once a year.  Twice a year is preferable, once in the fall after your furnace is on permanently, and again in the spring, when your furnace has been shut off.  A good technician will inform you if other service work is required.  The more a piano is played, the sooner it may need adjustments like voicing and regulation.

Ear training is a very important aspect of music education.  A well tuned piano makes it much easier for the student to learn this important skill. 

The ideal environment for any piano is 40% relative humidity (RH) at 22'C.  Any of our staff will be happy to give you a full explanation of how temperature and humidity can critically affect the performance of your instrument.

Identify the exact place in your home where the piano will be located.  Direct sunlight will have an adverse affect on tuning stability and will cause finish problem.  Make sure that the instrument does not sit over a heat register, or can be affected by drafts from poorly sealed windows and doors.

When buying a new piano, always check to see what service is available in your area.  All pianos need competent service, so make sure you have a qualified technician taking care of your investment.  If you are shopping the used market, we can recommend technicians who are able to assess a piano before the purchase.  They will point out all potential problems, and give you an estimate of what is needed to put the instrument in premium working condition.