How often should my piano be tuned? Most manufacturers recommend tuning a piano at least two to four times a year to keep it sounding good and working properly each time you sit down to play. This is especially important the first year of your piano's life. Some tuning instability should be anticipated during the first year due to the elasticity of the piano wire, combined with the piano's normal adjustment to the humidity changes in your home.
A piano which has gone a long time without tuning may require extra work in pitch raising.
What other maintenance is required? - From time to time on any piano, minor repairs may be required to address such problems as sticking or sluggish keys, broken strings, or a part that needs to be re-glued. Regulation of the Action will be needed after some years of use to adjust the moving parts of the action back to peak efficiency and to restore an even touch to the keys. Voicing: A piano also periodically requires a service called voicing. As the felt hammers wear, a voicing of the hammers is done so that your piano will have an even, full tone throughout the entire scale to produce the widest possible dynamic range.
What is regulation? - Regulation is the state of adjustment of the piano action. The process of regulating is the making of fine adjustments to the piano action to compensate for changes due to wear and other causes so that all the parts of the action work together properly and with maximum efficiency.
Where should I place the piano in my home?: To reduce the possibility of wide swings from hot to cold and from dry to wet, the piano should ideally be placed at an inside wall away from doors or windows that are opened frequently. Also do your best to avoid heating and air conditioning vents, fireplaces, and areas of direct sunlight.
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How should I care for my piano?: As with any piece of fine furniture, keep drinks and plants off finished wood surfaces. New piano finishes generally require only occasional cleaning with either a dry or damp cotton cloth. Older piano finishes may benefit from an occasional polishing with a good quality polish, but frequent polishing is not recommended. Keys: Plastic keytops can be cleaned with a soft cloth and a mild solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water. Wring the cloth out fully so it is only just slightly damp as you clean the keys. Ivory keys may be cleaned with a product such as Cory Key-Brite. DO NOT use vinegar, lemon juice or any other acidic products.
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Should I accept a free piano? - It may be tempting to take a piano that is being given away simply for the cost and effort of having it moved. But in a great many cases, such pianos can have serious problems that a lay person will not be aware of, which may be quite expensive to remedy. It is always a good idea to have a used piano (free or otherwise) examined by a piano technician before you decide to take it.