Basics of Piano Care [Grand Piano Repair Kingston] [Piano Restoration Kingston]

FIRST POST! Thanks for checking out this blog page. We will be adding content every week or so, as long as we keep coming up with interesting and informative things to say.

I’d like to start by talking about basic piano care… The aspect of piano care that everyone is familiar with is tuning. Pianos go out of tune due to changes in humidity, which swells and shrinks the wood of the soundboard, bridges, and action parts. This happens regardless of how much or how little the piano is played. We STRONGLY recommend having your piano tuned twice a year. This is in line with all manufacturer’s recommendations. If you put it in terms of car maintenance (the other big, complicated machine in your life), tunings are the oil changes of piano care. It’s important to note that your piano may be out of tune and still sound relatively ok, but not be at the correct pitch. More on this in a future post. Is your piano out of tune? Find out how to determine this here.

A piano is a very complex instrument, with up to 10,000 parts - many of which move and are subject to wear over time. This causes the piano to function at a sub-optimal level, lessening your enjoyment and making playing and learning more difficult. The good news is this is a relatively easy condition to combat. Every 3 years or so, the action should be serviced. To do this, we remove the action, clean it with compressed air, lubricate all action centers, and tighten all screws (over 200 in uprights!). This serves three purposes: it makes the piano play better, avoids problems due to contaminant buildup, and allows for the detection of small issues before they become big ones. If it were a car, this would be the inspection and basic tune up.

Read More About: Piano Tuning And Repair Service Upstate New York Piano Regulation Grand Piano Repair

Should you polish your piano or not?

 

Before using polish on your piano, be sure it is actually necessary and beneficial. In general, most manufacturers recommend using against polishes because of the potential for damage to the finish and contamination of other parts of the instrument.

Common household products such as "lemon oil" or inexpensive "furniture polish" should be avoided. Despite the labels' claims that they "protect" the finish or "feed" the wood, they offer no protection from scratching and can actually soften the finish if over-used. Worse, they often contain silicones and oils that contaminate the wood, complicating future refinishing or repairs. Silicone is especially dangerous because of its tendency to spread within the piano, sometimes causing extensive internal damage. Avoid aerosol products altogether since the over-spray can contaminate piano strings, tuning pins, and action parts.

An appropriate polish can help to restore luster to a dulled finish or reduce the tendency of some finishes to show fingerprints. However, it should be applied sparingly and infrequently, and all excess should be wiped clean with a soft dry cloth so no visible film remains. To prevent scratching, always dust before polishing. Specific recommendations follow.

Get detail info:

Piano Tuning And Repair Service
Piano Restoration

Basics of Piano Care | Grand Piano Repair

 FIRST POST! Thanks for checking out this blog page. We will be adding content every week or so, as long as we keep coming up with interesting and informative things to say.

I’d like to start by talking about basic piano care… The aspect of piano care that everyone is familiar with is tuning. Pianos go out of tune due to changes in humidity, which swells and shrinks the wood of the soundboard, bridges, and action parts. This happens regardless of how much or how little the piano is played. We STRONGLY recommend having your piano tuned twice a year. This is in line with all manufacturer’s recommendations. If you put it in terms of car maintenance (the other big, complicated machine in your life), tunings are the oil changes of piano care. It’s important to note that your piano may be out of tune and still sound relatively ok, but not be at the correct pitch. More on this in a future post. Is your piano out of tune? Find out how to determine this here.

A piano is a very complex instrument, with up to 10,000 parts - many of which move and are subject to wear over time. This causes the piano to function at a sub-optimal level, lessening your enjoyment and making playing and learning more difficult. The good news is this is a relatively easy condition to combat. Every 3 years or so, the action should be serviced. To do this, we remove the action, clean it with compressed air, lubricate all action centers, and tighten all screws (over 200 in uprights!). This serves three purposes: it makes the piano play better, avoids problems due to contaminant buildup, and allows for the detection of small issues before they become big ones. If it were a car, this would be the inspection and basic tune up.

Read More About Click Here : Piano Tuner Upstate New York

Websites : https://www.newyorkpianoworks.com/

Action Regulation | Piano Regulation

What is regulation and how does it affect my piano's performance?

Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical aspects of the pianos to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood and wool parts due to changes in humidity. 

The three systems involved in regulation are the action, trapwork, and damper system. The action is the mechanical part of the piano that transfers the motion of the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings. It is comprised of over 9,000 parts which require adjustment to critical tolerances to be able to respond to a pianist's every command. The trapwork is the assemblage of levers, dowels, and springs that connects the pedals to the action affecting sustain and dynamics. The damper system is the mechanical part of the piano that stops the vibration of the string when you release the key and is controlled by the key and pedal systems.

Read More About Click Here :  Piano Regulation

Piano Restoration Upstate New York 

Is Your Piano Out of Tune? | Grand Piano Repair

 For the piano owner who wants to maintain his / her piano but doesn't want to throw good money

away on work that's unnecessary, the question of whether or not the piano needs to be tuned is an
important one. As a responsible owner you would like your piano to sound its best, especially if
children are taking lessons on it. A piano that is in tune will invite one to play, even when the
music is on a beginner's level. A piano that is out of tune will discourage even an avid student
from sitting down to practice. So, as a non-technician, how do you know if your piano is out of
tune and needs the attention of a tuner? Fortunately, you don't need to be a technician or an
accomplished piano player to be able to decide whether or not your instrument need to be tuned.
Apply the following 4 basic tests to your own piano and you will know whether it is in tune or out
of tune. If it is out of tune, it's time to call your tuner / technician to schedule a service
appointment.
Test I: Is your piano at the correct pitch? Whether or not a piano is at the correct pitch
depends on the vibration rate of test notes and how they compare to a standard rate of vibration.
One commonly used test note is that ofA-440 (known as A4) which refers to the A in octave above
middle C. When in tune, this note vibrates at a rate of 440 times per second. This is an important
measure of whether your piano is in tune and is something you can easily check first.
(The reason this is important is because a piano that is either noticeably flat or sharp will not
be as pleasant to play as a piano that is set at the correct pitch.
The further flat a piano is, the less musical it will sound. If the tension on the strings is too
low, the vibrancy of the strings will have decreased along with the pitch. A piano that is
noticeably sharp is no better, in that it will not match other instruments, and will sound off to
people trying to sing or play along with it.)
Test: To see if your piano is at standard pitch you need to compare it to an accurate refer- ence,
such as the tuning fork shown at left. If you don't have a tuning fork handy for use but you do
have a computer with attached speakers try going online at www.onlinetuningforKcom . The middle
tuning fork in the online picture is A-440. Click it
for the correct tone, then compare that to A4 on your piano.
Helpful hint: If your computer is in one room and your piano in another, try humming the tone in
between the two locations. Strike the A in the center of keyboard (photo) to see if the tones
match. If your piano is either noticeably flat or sharp, it's not as musical as it should be.

Get detail info: Grand Piano Repair

Also Visit:
Piano Restoration Albany
Grand Piano Regulation

What is Piano Regulation and how does it affect your piano's performance?

Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical aspects of the pianos to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood and wool parts due to changes in humidity. 

The three systems involved in regulation are the action, trapwork, and damper system. The action is the mechanical part of the piano that transfers the motion of the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings. It is comprised of over 9,000 parts which require adjustment to critical tolerances to be able to respond to a pianist's every command. The trapwork is the assemblage of levers, dowels, and springs that connects the pedals to the action affecting sustain and dynamics. The damper system is the mechanical part of the piano that stops the vibration of the string when you release the key and is controlled by the key and pedal systems.

Get detail info: Grand Piano Regulation

Piano Tuning And Repair Service Albany

If a piano hasn't been tuned in a long time, a piano tuner may attempt to correct the problem by raising the piano's pitch. This involves pulling all of the strings, resulting in a sharp pitch. When the strings naturally stretch over time, causing the pitch to go flat, this overcompensation should keep the piano in tune.

You should have your piano checked every six months to a year to ensure that the strings last as long as possible. If the strings are damaged too much or the keys are not properly working, you should take a piano repair service. 

If you buy a new piano, you should tune it four times in the first year since the new strings stretch more and go out of tune more quickly. If you tune your piano regularly throughout the first few years of ownership, it will be more likely to stay in tune for longer periods of time and during the later years of its life.

Regular piano tuning can increase confidence in people beginning to play the piano, as it's exciting to play piano that's in tune and sounds nice. Standard tuning is for those pianos that have been tuned in the past 6 months to a year. It involves manipulating the tuning pins to bring all the strings to their proper and harmonious pitch. We use a combination of aural and electronic tuning to ensure your piano sounds great!

If you want to tune your piano, book your appointment today: Piano Tuning And Repair Service Albany

Important Link: Piano Tuning And Repair Service

Why It’s Important to Tune Your Piano | Piano Regulation

There are around 230 strings on the average piano. Each string on the piano has a unique pitch and frequency that must be tuned to the other strings. The sound quality of your piano is determined by these strings, so they must be maintained properly. Due to stress, these strings can stretch over time, causing the piano to become out of tune. Seasonal Changes in humidity also cause the piano to become out of tune.

When pianos are tuned regularly, they are easier to tune, stay in good condition, and maintain their value. Piano tuning regularly also avoids damage caused by overstretched strings. It will be more expensive and time-consuming to get a piano back into tune if it hasn't been tuned in a long time.

If a piano hasn't been tuned in a long time, a piano tuner may attempt to correct the problem by raising the piano's pitch. This involves pulling all of the strings, resulting in a sharp pitch. When the strings naturally stretch over time, causing the pitch to go flat, this overcompensation should keep the piano in tune.

You should have your piano checked every six months to a year to ensure that the strings last as long as possible. If the strings are damaged too much or the keys are not properly working, you should take a piano repair service. 

Get More Info : Piano Regulation

Contact us for Piano repair service 

Website : https://www.newyorkpianoworks.com/

Piano Tuning And Repair Service Hudson Valley

Pianos fluctuate in pitch with changes in humidity (and extreme changes in temperature). This is why all piano manufacturers recommend that your piano be tuned AT LEAST twice a year. It is normal for your piano to go out of tune with these seasonal changes. Here is a brief description of what happens:

In winter, the air is drier, and this is compounded by indoor heat, which further dries out the air. This causes the wood in the piano - and there is a LOT of wood - to release its moisture and shrink. This causes the piano to go flat, sometimes to a surprising degree. The reverse happens in the warmer months: the soundboard, ribs, and wooden action parts all swell with the increased humidity, which (among other things) increases the pressure of the bridge on the strings, forcing the piano sharp.

A standard tuning is for those pianos that have been tuned in the past 6 months to a year. It involves manipulating the tuning pins to bring all 240 strings to their proper and harmonious pitch. We use a combination of aural and electronic tuning to ensure your piano sounds great! We also tighten the plate bolts, check for problems, and tighten the bench.

New York Piano Works (www.newyorkpianoworks.com) is the top Piano Tuning and Repair company serving Albany, Upstate New York, and the Hudson Valley. Schedule your appointment today!

Grand Piano Regulation — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Grand Piano Regulation — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Welcome to NY Piano Works! Here to serve you and your piano. Book an Appointment Today. Expert Tuning and Repair.

Piano Regulation — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Piano Regulation — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Piano Regulation And Voicing — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Piano Regulation And Voicing — Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Welcome to NY Piano Works! Here to serve you and your piano. Book an Appointment Today. Expert Tuning and Repair.

Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works

Blog | Piano Rebuilding Hudson Valley | Piano Finish Repair | New York Piano Works: Here you can see New York Piano Works latest blogs information

Team | Piano Master Technician | Piano Restoration Albany | New York Piano Works

Team | Piano Master Technician | Piano Restoration Albany | New York Piano Works: Scott has trained at Steinway and Mason and Hamlin and is a Certified Dampp-Chaser Installer. Experienced in all aspects of tuning, repair, and restoration,

Rebuilding vs. Restoration | Piano Rebuilding Upstate New York

Every week, I speak with at least a couple of people who are interested in not giving up on their older piano, but rather bringing it back to a playable condition. There are two ways to do this: Rebuilding and Restoration. Both attempt to restore the piano to its former glory, but the philosophy behind them differs.

Rebuilding can involve anything from an action overhaul to replacement of soundboard, strings, and pin block. Where possible, new parts are used. I say where possible because while the industry became standardized around the 1920s, pianos prior to that often have parts for which it is impossible to find replacements.

For example, we are doing a rebuild right now for a client in Albany, a piano from 1909. The hammer butts and hammer assemblies are able to be replaced, but the whippens (the mechanism which transfers the energy from the key to the hammer assembly) are non-standard and must be reconditioned by cleaning and by replacing leather and felt where possible. 

Rebuilding often gives the best musical results, as newer parts are often superior. However, some people want their piano as true to the original as possible. That is where restoration comes in.

Restoration seeks to use the original parts and historically accurate materials. This will reproduce, as closely as possible, the aesthetic of the time in which the piano was built. This route is most often reserved for pianos which have great historical or sentimental value. It is often cheaper to replace parts than it is to recondition them, as reconditioning is extremely labor-intensive. Thus, the cost of historical restoration of a piano can exceed that of rebuilding by a fair amount.

Whether you are interested in rebuilding or restoring your piano, New York Piano Works is the primer facility for Upstate New York and the entire Hudson Valley. Make an appointment to have your piano evaluated today! www.newyorkpianoworks.com 

Click HERE or contact us for more information! For more information click here: Piano Humidity Control

Basics of Piano Care

FIRST POST! Thanks for checking out this blog page. We will be adding content every week or so, as long as we keep coming up with interesting and informative things to say.

I’d like to start by talking about basic piano care… The aspect of piano care that everyone is familiar with is tuning. Pianos go out of tune due to changes in humidity, which swells and shrinks the wood of the soundboard, bridges, and action parts. This happens regardless of how much or how little the piano is played. We STRONGLY recommend having your piano tuned twice a year. This is in line with all manufacturer’s recommendations. If you put it in terms of car maintenance (the other big, complicated machine in your life), tunings are the oil changes of piano care. It’s important to note that your piano may be out of tune and still sound relatively ok, but not be at the correct pitch. More on this in a future post. Is your piano out of tune? Find out how to determine this here.

A piano is a very complex instrument, with up to 10,000 parts - many of which move and are subject to wear over time. This causes the piano to function at a sub-optimal level, lessening your enjoyment and making playing and learning more difficult. The good news is this is a relatively easy condition to combat. Every 3 years or so, the action should be serviced. To do this, we remove the action, clean it with compressed air, lubricate all action centers, and tighten all screws (over 200 in uprights!). This serves three purposes: it makes the piano play better, avoids problems due to contaminant buildup, and allows for the detection of small issues before they become big ones. If it were a car, this would be the inspection and basic tune up.

As the piano ages, the parts deteriorate. Felt gets compressed, screws loosen, and gravity acts on the hammers. The result is poor performance - lack of dynamic range, the inability to play softly, and unevenness of touch. The solution to this is regulation. Regulation is the adjusting of numerous measurements and tolerances for each note, bringing the piano back to a level of playability it enjoyed when leaving the factory (or better). This takes several hours, but it is a normal and necessary part of caring for your instrument. In car terms, it’s like having the transmission serviced, and alignment done, and a thorough tune up - like a 50,000 mile service. This should be done every 5 years or so, but can also be done piecemeal at your six month appointments to spread out the expense. Vertical Regulation is explained in greater detail here, and Grand Regulation can be found here. 

For More information click here: Piano Tuning And Repair Service Upstate New York