Piano Tips

The piano is by far and away the most complex mechanical musical creation ever devised by mankind. To put things into relative terms, a new BMW automobile consists of around 4,000 individual parts, while a new Steinway grand piano has in excess of 12,000!  That is over 3 times as many parts! To make things even more difficult, while an automobile’s parts are cast from metal and plastic, a piano’s pieces are 90% wood (up to over a dozen different species of tree can be used in one piano) and they are often crafted by hand. Also take into account that a piano’s parts expand and contract with changes of environmental temperature and humidity! Being as complex as it is, a piano needs regular service to keep providing superior performance and a lifetime of expressive enjoyment to you and your family. Richard Cromwell is pleased to offer you these tips for keeping your piano properly maintained. Should you have any questions regarding care and maintenance, please call him at 248-894-6778 or click here. 

Do's:

Do play your piano regularly.  The more you play, the more you will enjoy the instrument and the faster you will reach your potential as a musician. You'll also have a reason to keep your piano in good playing condition. Regular service will help stop serious problems from developing as the instrument ages.

Do keep your piano in tune.  Every piano manufacturer suggests a minimum of two tunings per year. Some suggest as many as four tunings annually. Keeping your piano tuned to the pitch standard of A-440 cycles per second will make sure that it sounds its best and provides the highest ability to create art.

Do keep your piano's keyboard clean and covered when not in use to prevent dust accumulation. (Remember, ivory keys will turn yellow if they do not receive at least some exposure to light.) On occasion wipe the key-tops with a slightly damp cloth and dry them immediately. Sometimes, using a very little mild soap or dishwasher detergent on the cloth is okay.  If something is caught between the keys Richard, or your piano technician should be the one to remove it.

Only use a professional piano mover should you ever need to relocate your piano.  You don't want any damage to your instrument or your home. Hiring a professional piano mover will keep them – and you - safe from harm. Richard has many contacts in the piano moving industry, including a company that does door-to-door interstate moves, please feel free to contact him in order to discuss making arrangements to move your piano.

Do take time and care in selecting a piano technician. Make sure that it is someone who is not only competent to tune, regulate and repair your piano, but also someone you will feel comfortable calling with questions. Hiring a member of the Piano Technician’s Guild, affiliated with a reputable dealer is best.

Don'ts:

Don't place your piano near an outside door or window that is opened often, a heating register in winter, an air conditioning vent in the summer, a fireplace, or in direct sunlight.  Keeping a reasonably consistent temperature and humidity level will extend the life of your piano. 42% relative humidity at 72 degrees is optimum.

Don't leave drinks or standing liquid containers on or near your piano. Spilled liquids can do irreversible damage to the exterior finish and interior workings of your instrument. Should a spill reach the action mechanism, contact Richard immediately.

Don’t use silicone containing aerosol spray polishes on your piano's finish.  To safely remove fingerprints, simply wipe with a slightly damp non-abrasive cotton cloth (an old T-shirt works great). Or you can also use an emulsion-type, water-based solution according to the manufacturer's instructions. Ask Richard to recommend a specific brand based on your pianos finish. 

Don't dust or clean the inside of your piano, lubricate any of its moving parts, or use any moth or insect repellents in or near the instrument.  If you suspect an internal problem, contact Richard.

Don't attempt repairs or tuning yourself.  Simple problems may appear to be pretty easy to fix, but pianists who try to fix their pianos often manage to only make matters worse. Your botched repair attempt could cost exponentially more to fix than the initial problem could have. It might also depreciate the value of your piano. A qualified, trained and experienced technician has the expert knowledge, tools and parts needed to fix your piano right.

Have a comment to add to this page? Please send it to: info@cromwellspianoservice.com