"A piano is one of the most complex and beautiful instruments ever made. I often tell customers to treat it like a living organism, as it responds well to frequent care, a stable environment, and lots of attention."
Pianos are a part of everyday life for technicians, but for most people they are a source of pride, amusement, confusion, and sometimes frustration! I've laid out some of the most common questions that I hear in the field, with their respective answers below. If you have any additional questions about your particular piano, or have interest in scheduling a service, please contact me using the button at the top of the page.
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Q: "I just bought a new piano. How long should I wait to tune it, and how often should it be tuned?"
A:Pianos are primarily made of wood, and wood is very sensitive to temperature/humidity. Just like with hardwood flooring, you have to give the wood ample time to climatize to your home. Generally speaking, 1 month is the average recommended time a piano should be in its new environment before tuning. If you're a frequent player who just can't wait to have it tuned, at least give it 1 - 2 weeks, or be prepared to tune it again in a shorter interval the first time. In regards to the tuning frequency, this depends greatly on the environment and the piano you purchased. Even WITHIN a companies own line of products, the higher priced “Artist” models will come out of the box much more stable than the entry level products. I personally recommend tuning a new piano at least twice a year until it is more stable. I’ve seen this recommended number even go as high as 3-4 tunings in the first year…(recommended by tuners in various areas using a Google search on the subject). Artists or professional musicians who are actively recording should consider quarterly tunings, or tuning prior to recording.
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Q: "My piano hasn't been tuned in, I don't know HOW many years! What should I be expecting a service to cost?"
A:One of the most common scenario's in the piano business is a piano whose tuning has been ignored for years. First off, don't feel guilty. Well ok, feel a LITTLE guilty, but move on and get it fixed! As a general rule, the longer you wait, the worse it'll get. I normally tell people to expect a Pitchraise and a Basic Tuning at the minimum. The piano may or may not need some minor extra adjustments as well. $200-$210 is the estimate I almost always use for this scenario. Often it’s less, occasionally its more, but this is a great all purpose estimate. *Be aware that with piano neglect and age, strings can become rusty or deteriorate. Occasional string breakage can occur.*
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Q: "What is the proper etiquette when the tuner is here working?
A: This one will surely bring a smile to the face of technicians, while we think of all the times we’ve had to tune while customers loudly do dishes…or the maid vacuums in the same room as the piano…or contractors drill into floor joists directly below us! This can be summed up simply…once you hear us begin tuning, the quieter and less distracted, the better (within reason). This will allow us to fully get into “the zone”, which ends up getting you a better tuning overall. Personally, I’ve had to tune on stage while a bassist was doing sound check 15 feet away…so I can tune in any environment if I have to, but it’s a lot more stressful!
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Q: "I have an old piano that was passed down to me from my grandmother. She learned how to play on it, and so did my mother. Is it an antique? What is it worth? How much should I put into it?"
A: This scenario is very common, and many people have formed a strong mental bond with their piano. There's nothing wrong with this! Unfortunately in MOST cases pianos that are 60+ years old are worth almost nothing (marketwise), unless they happen to be an iconic brand, and very well cared for. Examples of this might be Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Shimmel etc. If it means a lot to you, that’s what matters. Unless of course you're trying to sell it, in which case “antique”....usually just means old.
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Q: "I see you charge $145 for a tuning… but I found another technician willing to do it for $100.. why would I choose you?
A: First, I will start out by saying there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the most for your dollar! I too was raised to be frugal, and to keep my eyes open for good deals... But I would ask you one simple question; Would you feel comfortable bargain hunting for your pets veterinarian, or perhaps for your next doctor? I can only hope your answer to this would be resounding NO! As piano technicians, we are in fact the doctors/surgeons of the piano world. The years I’ve spent going to school, getting supplemental training, and working on thousands of pianos, should be reflected in what I charge for my work. Piano tuning is not a straight forward trade such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC etc… because a piano tuner isn’t just a technician… he/she is also an artist. I’d even take it a step further and say that any technician charging well below the average current rates for services doesn’t have much pride in their work…and this should be a big red flag. At the risk of sounding a little cliche’… you get what you pay for!
