10 June 2016 7 Things Piano Restoration Companies Look At

7 Things Piano Restoration Companies Look At

posted by

Pianos have a lot of moving parts. No matter if you play your piano every day, or if it sits quietly in the corner for weeks at a time, parts wear out. Strings lose their tightness; felts begin to wear down; wood can warp.7 Things Piano Restoration Companies Look At

Even with the best of care, pianos need regular maintenance to help them survive from year to year. And even with regular tunings, eventually, a piano needs even more work. That’s when restoration becomes necessary to keep your piano in good, working condition.

Yet handing over your piano to a restoration company isn’t as easy as it seems. There are a lot of companies that make promises, but who should you trust? Before you sign on the dotted line, there are some legitimate questions you should ask to determine if the rebuilder you choose is the right choice.

You would be surprised at the different levels of service offered by different restoration companies. Some collect a handful of pianos at a time, offering cut-rate pricing to get you in. Then when they have several in place, they ship them off to wholesale rebuilders who do a less than a quality job. Your family heirloom is now worth very little. The sound will be destroyed. The parts will be anything but quality. And there’s very little you can do.

Which is why it’s important to ask questions before the process begins.

1. How long have you been in business? Longevity provides you with assurances that the restoration company is a part of the community and cares about its reputation.

2. Where is the work performed? This will ensure quality workmanship.

3. Can we see work in progress? This will tell you if the company has something to hide.

4. Is the process documented? If you can see photos or have a running document of the process, you’re ensured quality work is being performed.

5. Who will be working on the restoration process? Quality work isn’t performed in assembly line manner.

6. What organizations are you a part of? The longer a restoration company is in business, the more they will be a part of the community.

7. Can you furnish references? A reputable dealer will never be afraid to pass along happy customers’ information.

Are you in the market for finding a reputable piano restoration company? What is your most important question?

Filed Under: Piano Renovation, Piano Restoration Tagged With:
6 June 2016 A Guide To Buying A Used Steinway Piano

A Guide To Buying A Used Steinway Piano

posted by

Are you shopping for a used Steinway piano?

Not every used Steinway is the same. Just because a Craigslist ad says it’s a Steinway doesn’t mean it truly is. There are a lot of factors that go into consideration to determine a genuine Steinway. And every seller, dealer and technician will classify it in a different way.A Guide To Buying A Used Steinway Piano

Typically, used Steinways are broken down into several categories

Original – a used Steinway that has never had any parts replaced since the manufacturing process. They are typically less than 20 years old.

Repaired – the piano has been repaired over time without replacing any of the major components. It has been maintained and is still playable.

Rebuilt – all of the components have been built to original specifications. Soundboards, bridges, and action parts are the most common items to be rebuilt.

Shell – the piano has never been restored and is not in playable condition. It has been neglected, damaged or compromised.

Factory Restored – if a Steinway was restored at the Steinway Restoration Center, it has original parts replaced with genuine Steinway parts.

Stein-Was – a piano that has had one or more parts replaced with non=Steinway parts.

To determine the authenticity of a Steinway, find the serial number. On a grand, it is found on a cast iron plate between the tuning pins above the keyboard. On an upright, it is located on a cast iron plate when you open the top lid. A search will show you the date of your piano. You can request the history depending on its age.

Used, vintage and restored Steinway pianos are often prized for their beauty and value. However, there is a great deal of confusion in the piano industry about what constitutes a Steinway. Because many rebuilders use non-Steinway parts in the process, they often claim it doesn’t matter. But using inferior products and workmanship will compromise the instrument’s quality. If it doesn’t have the parts that give it its unique, rich quality, the performance will be forever lost.

Have additional questions about Steinway pianos? We’d be happy to answer.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano Tagged With:
1 June 2016 Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

posted by

One of the main pieces of a piano is the soundboard. The soundboard’s function is to take and repeat the vibrational movements of the strings, creating air sound waves that are vastly greater than could be produced by strings alone.Does A Cracked Soundboard Ruin A Piano?

The better the soundboard performs this function, the better the soundboard is. And the better the sound becomes.

More than two hundred strings are stretched at high tensions over wooden supports that are rigidly fastened to the surface of the soundboard. Every time a key is pressed, it sets in motion the strings, transmitting through the bridge to the soundboard, and reproduces the sound again and again across the surface. These tiny movements vibrate front to back. They are powerful waves which immediately register to anyone that is near.

This process continues again and again, faithfully, no matter how many strings are played at one time.

The strings create the sound; the soundboard amplifies it.

For this reason, a crack in the soundboard reduces the soundboard’s ability to amplify the vibrations of the strings only in relation to how much of the surface area the crack reduces the vibrating area of the board.

Soundboards vary in size depending on how large the piano is. They are contained in tight spaces, controlled by the many parts that make up the piano. Because the very nature of wood is to expand and contract as the environment changes, the wood changes all the time.

As long as the structure of the soundboard remains solid, with ribs and bridges adhering correctly to the surface of the soundboard, and all strings and other fasteners attached rigidly to the frame of the piano, cracks will have very little impact on the overall sound.

With proper maintenance and tuning, even a soundboard with cracks can be maintained for years.

Have additional questions? Just ask.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With:
24 May 2016 What To Look For In A Piano Stand

What To Look For In A Piano Stand

posted by

Most keyboards do not come supplied with a stand. However, purchasing a piano stand is essential for comfortable playing.

Spend a few minutes searching for piano stands and you’ll find a wide range to choose from. But which one is best for you? What are the differences? Is one better than the other?What To Look For In A Piano Stand

X Style Stand
An X Style stand is probably the most popular choice for keyboards, identified by its X appearance when open. One of the most important features of this stand is it is fully adjustable, so you avoid discomfort when playing in different positions. You can easily move it up and down, depending on the height of your stool or chair. You’ll find X Style stands in single and double braced, choose based on how heavy your keyboard is and how much wear and tear you expect.

Mixer Style Stand
Mixer Style piano stands are heavier and bulkier, perfect for bigger, heavier keyboards. They provide more support at the base, where connected to the piano. And the legs offer more space underneath. They provide more legroom, which is great if you spend most of your time sitting down while playing.

Custom Made Stands
Depending on what digital piano you purchase, some manufacturers create custom made stands for different styles of pianos. Because they are custom made, they will usually be more expensive. Yet they will also fit your piano perfectly, with little room for movement or slippage. This can be a preferred option if you are looking for a high quality stand that is unique to your instrument, and you’re ready to permanently fix your digital piano to.

Have questions? We can help you find the perfect piano stand for your keyboard. Just ask.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
21 May 2016 How To Keep Teens Playing The Piano

How To Keep Teens Playing The Piano

posted by

Trying to keep a young child practicing the piano on a regular basis may seem like a difficult task … until you have a teen in the house. Teens take on entirely new personalities. They become moody. They fight just to fight. They also become involved in many more activities, from more school work to an increased social life.How To Keep Teens Playing The Piano

Time for piano? It often gets pushed to the wayside.

Yet the teenager can benefit greatly from having a regular practice routine in place. Not only will it provide them with a lifelong talent they will always be able to use and enjoy, but it can also help relieve the stresses of teenage life.

As a parent or as a piano instructor, there are several things you can do that will help a teen retain their interest in the art of piano.

Accept honesty

With measurable demands comes the opportunity for stretching the truth. If you demand a teen practice twenty minutes every day of the week, you’ll often get the standard “yes” response when asked if it was completed. (Knowing full well it isn’t the case.) Demand honesty from both parties. If a teen doesn’t have time to practice because of lots of homework or an upcoming game, accept it and move on. Work together to come up with ideas on how to enjoy the process instead of using it to add more stress.

Play what’s fun

Teens can be opinionated in many ways. And what they play on the piano is no exception. Give them freedom in what they learn and what they play. While you can stretch to make sure they achieve new levels, it’s important that they enjoy the process too. Even at the risk of not challenging them to their fullest potential, it’s still equally important that they enjoy what they are doing more than pushing to learn more.

Use motivation

Usually, a teen has played piano for years. What is their ultimate goal? Do they want to play in a band? Showcase their talents in front of an audience? Move on to music in college? Talk with them and show them realistically where music can take them. If they have an interest, research and find out how to incorporate it into their lives. If they see the prize waiting for them, they are more likely to keep practicing.

Incorporate creativity 

It may be time to change up how they’ve always practiced and played. How about adding games into the mix? Or give them a composing app that lets them create their own music? Maybe it’s time to give them a digital piano they can bring into their bedrooms and play on their own. Any time at the piano bench is a good thing. It allows them to put together past lessons and strive for something new. And it can be just the thing they need to calm them down before a big test, or even release frustrations after a trying day at school.

What works for keeping your teen interested in playing the piano?

Filed Under: Piano Playing Tagged With:
18 May 2016 Piano Key Leveling

Piano Key Leveling

posted by

Have you ever started to play your piano, only to discover the keys feel a little off? As your fingers move from key to key, something appears to be not quite right.

What you may be feeling is a leveling issue.Piano Key Leveling

A properly regulated piano is one that has the keys perfectly level from one side of the keyboard to the other. When keys are correctly leveled, the pianist should find no noticeable difference in height as his or her fingers glide across the keytops. Also, no keys should stand out as being visibly higher or lower than the one next to it.

If the keys on your piano are not level, they need to be adjusted.

Keytops are leveled by the insertion of paper punchings of exact size between the wooden balance rail the keys rock on while being played, the felt balance rail punchings that cushion the keys.

Depending on the type of piano and the technician making the adjustments, one of several tools will be used to bring the keys up to level. Each note will be checked to determine how high or low it is compared to the desired height. Then punchings will be added or subtracted to bring it to a proper level.

After each addition, key height will be checked to determine if it’s at its proper height.

Sharp keys are leveled as well in a similar manner. Sharp keys, in general, are ½ inch higher than naturals. Fine paper punchings are used to ensure they are level from one end to another.

Think your keys may need leveling? Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Renovation Tagged With:
15 May 2016 Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

posted by

Considering a used piano? Depending on its age, there’s a good chance the piano will have a reconditioned piano action.

For some people, that might send up a few red flags. What is an action? Will a reconditioned action stand the test of time?Buying A Piano With A Reconditioned Piano Action

When you purchase a piano, it’s often with the thought that it will be in your home for generations. After all, pianos are known to be one of the most classic pieces of furniture we bring into our homes. But what many don’t know is that it takes more than regular tune-ups to keep a piano in good working condition.

Pianos are made from materials that wear down over time. They need repair, replacing, adjusting, cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis to keep them in optimal playing condition.

There are two kinds of piano actions: upright actions and grand actions.

Upright actions contain the hammers, the whippen assemblies, and the dampers. Each is mounted to a series of rails that holds them in proper alignment to the strings and the keys so that when a note is played, the energy is properly distributed throughout the mechanism and sound is produced. In general, upright actions are fairly easy to remove for repairs, the exception being with spinets or player pianos.

Upright actions are simpler than their grand action counterparts.

With grand piano actions, they also have action parts mounted to a series of rails that can be removed for service and reconditioning. The noticeable difference is that the hammers are oriented differently in the case. The grand action’s whippen assemble has a repetition lever which allows a note to fully reset before the key has risen back to its resting position. This allows for better repetition of the note than on an upright.

With years of playing and settling, these parts wear out. Leather and felt pieces lose their effectiveness, and allow alignment and adjustment to fall out of place. When the felt hammers strike the strings and aren’t in proper working condition, damage begins to occur. And as one part wears and falls apart, it impacts all around it.

Reconditioning the action simply brings it back into working order with the proper materials to match the piano’s needs. New leather, felt, wire and even wood is introduced to match what’s already there.

If a piano action has been reconditioned, the difference will be in having a clean, well-functioning action that will make your playing enjoyable for many years to come.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With: ,
10 May 2016 Choosing A Home Keyboard For A Student That Wants To Make Music

Choosing A Home Keyboard For A Student That Wants To Make Music

posted by

For many budding musicians, they move towards playing the piano in order to fulfill their desires of joining a band. With big dreams of a musical future, a keyboard gives them the ability to create music in a variety of ways, record it, even upload it for the world to hear all with the touch of a few buttons.Choosing A Home Keyboard For A Student That Wants To Make Music

Dating back hundreds of years, an acoustic piano is one of the most common musical instruments in history. A piano contains a series of strings stretched over a metal frame. As these strings are struck by felt-covered hammers, vibrations occur on the soundboard, creating the piano’s sound. A lot of factors go into creating proper sound: environment, temperature of the room, humidity, quality of the parts, quality of the design to name but a few.

A digital piano takes away these variables by replacing the strings with key-triggered samples. These are digital recordings of an acoustic piano, designed to replicate the sound when an appropriate key is pressed. Since there are no strings, action, or soundboards, it’s a more compact instrument. That makes them easier to carry, easier to store, easy to maneuver into the tightest of places.

The quality of a digital piano comes down to the quality of the action. Different manufacturers use different methods of applying weights to the keys to replicate an acoustic piano’s process. It’s up to you to decide if the feel of the keyboard is right for you.

If a student chooses to play songs with full accompaniment, then an arranger keyboard might be the ideal choice. These instruments combine features of synthesizers and sequencers, allowing the user to quickly change and select a style and song form based on their current desires. It allows you to choose to play in the style you want. That means choosing backing instrument sounds, like horns or drums, chord progressions, musical genres such as Latin or Jazz. Entry level arrangers offer dozens of styles, with more sophisticated choices growing in the upper levels.

While it’s easy to get lost in the details of what an arranger keyboard has to offer, pay attention to the format as well. Microphone input, digital mixer, screen displays, weighted keys, amplifiers, speakers and more will all add to the final price, but will also give the user the flexibility to create the type of music they desire.

A keyboard should be able to:

  • Create convincing sounds
  • Produce high-quality music
  • Feel close to an acoustic piano
  • Provide ample resistance

An arranger keyboard should have:

  • Amplification system
  • Metronome
  • Auto-accompaniment
  • Effective percussion styles
  • USB or smart technology for saving and loading

Have additional questions on selecting the perfect keyboard for your budding musician? Ask us today.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With: ,
8 May 2016 The Future Of Piano

The Future Of Piano

posted by

Every industry changes. As we invent new, old things disappear. As technological advances are made, out of date technology goes away.

To expect anything different isn’t realistic.The Future Of Piano

What is the present and future of the piano as an instrument?

Since no major changes have been made to the overall construction of the piano in decades, it’s safe to say that the structure of the piano has stopped evolving.

But what hasn’t stopped is technology. That’s where the most growth and the most opportunity lie. It’s where electronic keyboards are pushing forward, offering more opportunity to an ever-changing field.

Does this mean digital will eventually replace acoustic pianos? Not at all. The television didn’t replace radio when it swept in; instead, it simply changed our perception of what is possible.

When it comes to training, a keyboard is a keyboard. You’ll learn in a similar manner on both an electronic piano as well as an acoustic. Up to a point. Electronic keyboards serve composers, pop musicians, and other artists in musical fields. Classical pianists will never reach their true potential without having access to the best acoustical pianos in the industry. The touch is different. The sound is different. And nothing will ever be able to connect the two in any way.

But clearly there is change in playing the piano, in the music industry as a whole. It stems from the way our current school system is structured.

When schools morphed and changed, cut arts programs due to budget cuts and beliefs that STEM subjects were more beneficial to our population than the arts, music programs began to disappear. And if children weren’t encouraged to choose a musical instrument in school and find joy in anything but what can be found on the radio or their iPod, the interest wanes.

But again, our society is in a constant ebb and flow. Already a movement is beginning to change the future course of education, realizing potential problems that are just beginning to appear. The concept of STEM schools – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is being changed to STEAM. Which of course adds back in the arts.

Adding back in liberal arts, which includes language arts, physical arts, fine arts, and music, sets the framework for teaching that is based on natural ways of learning. It creates interest and FUN for all.

How will piano morph and change in our future? Only time will tell. But it’s a safe bet that music was and will continue to be an important part of our lives. The only question is how involved you and your family choose to be.

Filed Under: Buying a Piano, Owning a Piano Tagged With:
5 May 2016 Regulating An Upright Piano

Regulating An Upright Piano

posted by

A piano’s touch is equally important as its tone.

Touch refers to the responsiveness of the mechanical action of the piano. It’s what is responsible for giving a piano a full range of power.

Regulating An Upright PianoWhen an upright piano begins losing its mechanical efficiency, it is known within the industry as having gone out of regulation. Putting it back in regulation requires exacting measurements and corresponding adjustments.

What causes a piano to go out of regulation? 

Pianos are regulated in the factory where they are built. But even a piano of the finest quality can go out of regulation over time. The action of a piano is a very complex mechanical process. When a note is played, the energy from your finger puts a balanced system of levers and springs into motion. Various pivot points are maneuvered, felt cushions are utilized to produce the appropriate sounds. Over time, these felt pieces compress, adjust, and wear out. As this happens, gradual loss of performance occurs. Although this process is gradual, there becomes a point in time where you can no longer ignore the obvious problems that are occurring.

What is the process for regulating a piano?

It begins with leveling natural keys. One of several measurement tools is used to determine the exact height of each key. They are adjusted with fine paper punches to gradually bring a key back into alignment with the other keytops. After all, keys have been leveled, the leveling papers and the balance rail felts will be flipped so that the felts are on top.

In addition to leveling, regulation also includes setting the hammer blow, taking up the lost motion, adjusting the hammer letoff, setting the key dip and checking the amount of aftertouch.

How extensive is the process?

In most cases, piano regulation is a job that can be done onsite. In some cases, the action may need to be taken in for related repair work, but the actual job of regulation is done at the piano. Extensive work is completed, as adjustments are made to every note on the piano. The longer it has been since the piano was previously regulated, the more time it will take to bring it back into adjustment.

How often should a piano be regulated?

For most pianos, regulation every 5 to 10 years should be sufficient. Since a piano goes out of regulation as a result of the amount of play, a piano may need more or less regulation depending on how often it is played.

Filed Under: Owning a Piano, Piano Playing Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »