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Tuning pianos
is an occupation that lead to lasting impressions, clichés, bad
jokes, and impressions that no one can or is able to forget. If you are
a new, first time or casual piano owner, what are you to make of piano
tuning? The tuner walks into your house, stands there for an hour or
two, leaning over and pinging at your piano the same notes over and
over and over again.
Perhaps it is
through the apparent repetitiveness and redundancy of his/her actions
that confuses many of us. Pianos are constructed of 80% wood and
withstand about 20 tons of tension on an ongoing basis. It is possible
that the best piano in the world tuned by the best piano tuner in the
world can at any moment, for many reasons go out of tune at any time.
Pianos are profoundly affected by humidity changes, direct exposure to
sunlight, temperature changes, and location changes. A piano, any piano is a
living breathing thing. You should EXPECT and plan for your piano going out of
tune and for its proper maintenance.
Your piano
tuner should and must try to help you understand what and why he is
doing what he is doing. In order to do this, your piano tuner should be
able to perform minor and major repairs, adjustments, regulate the
action, voice the hammers, make recommendations that optimize the
function and behavior of your instrument so that you can get the most
satisfaction from owning it.
In turn, as
the customer, you need to work hand in hand with your piano
tuner-technician to follow his or her recommendations. The truth about
piano tuning is that it is no joke. During the one or two hour or so
that your tuner is in your home, he should be able to make a very
comprehensive evaluation of the overall health of your instrument and
offer proactive recommendations for you to follow.
It takes the
beginner anywhere from 500 to 1000 attempts at tuning to even begin to
develop a facility and understanding of what he or she is doing. After
that, it can take years before that person can walk into your home, do
a quality job and satisfy most of his clientele.
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