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Your Piano And How To Care For It All pianos are complex instruments made from nearly 12, 000 parts, include 8,000 parts that move. The majority of the parts in your piano are made from wood. Since wood is easily affected by changes in temperature and humidity, so is your piano. Contrary to popular beliefs, all pianos must be tuned and serviced regularly whether they are played or not. Temperature And Humidity Hot, cold, humid and dry conditions are not harmful to pianos, as long as they are constant. It is the change from one climate to another that can literally cause a piano to change dimensions. As a piano changes, the strings, and other parts will stretch or loosen and become out of tune. The best way to sustain tuning is to reduce changes in humidity. Place your piano away from windows, doors that lead outside, heating vents, fireplaces, and other sources of extreme and sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Avoid places where your piano could be exposed to direct sunlight. Tuning Your Piano According to the National Piano Foundation, your piano should be tuned at least three times during the first year after purchase, and one or two times every year thereafter. Your piano should be tuned to standard pitch, A 440 CPS. Because of the elasticity in piano wire, combined with the piano adjusting to the humidity of its new location, some tuning instability is to be expected. If a piano is allowed to stand for long periods of time without service, it will go further and further out of tune. There is a tremendous amount of tension strung across the frame of a piano – nearly twenty tons, or 40, 000 pounds of tension. Regular tuning equalizes this tension and puts the piano in an optimum state. The Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. is a good starting source to establish a relationship with a professional registered Piano Technician committed to comprehensive service for your piano. Make sure to consult with a Technician for the proper care and maintenance of your particular piano. If you have your piano tuned twice a year, your piano will stay in good shape for many years to come! Optional Piano Accessories Caster Cups Caster cups can help prevent unwanted movement of the piano and will help protect carpet, wood floors, or any other surface where the piano is placed. Piano Key Cover This handy cloth Piano Key Cover covers the keys when not in use and when you do not want fingerprints on the fall board. Cleaning Mitt The enclosed Cleaning Mitt may be used periodically for removing dust from the piano finish Piano Wax Use only a wax polish that is appropriate for your piano. Use a clean, soft 100% cotton cloth for cleaning and polishing the outside of your piano. Avoid spraying polishes directly on the piano. Important! CONSULT YOUR PIANO TECHNICIAN OR RETAILER FOR THE PROPER USE OF ANY PIANO ACCESSORY OR PIANO CARE PRODUCT! A Little Encouragement Your piano is an investment that can be the center of your home and a lasting creative outlet, as well as a source of beauty and entertainment. A piano that is properly maintained (serviced and tuned regularly) will bring you and your family a lifetime of beautiful music!
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