Tuning should be done regularly, at least once every six months, however, the more a piano is played, the more often it needs to be tuned. A piano's surroundings can also determine how often it needs to be tuned. A piano in a humid environment with fluctuating temperatures needs to be tuned more often than a piano in a dry environment with a consistent temperature. For this reason, pianos near exits, kitchens, and bathrooms typically need to be tuned more frequently.
A pitch raise, or pitch adjustment, is a preliminary rough tuning to bring the piano back up to the proper pitch before the fine tuning begins. A pitch raise is needed when a piano has gone for a significant amount of time without being tuned, usually about a year to a year and a half. If a piano is tuned back to standard pitch without a pitch raise first, the tuning will be unstable and quickly return to its old, discordant state.
Voicing is the method of adjusting the felt on the piano hammers in order to provide specific qualities to the sound of the piano. Voicing can make the piano brighter or softer, and in turn louder or quieter, depending on what is needed for its environment.
Cleaning the inside of a piano is recommended to be done at the same time as each tuning. Cleaning keeps the action and other interior parts functioning properly. If a piano is not cleaned regularly, the buildup of dust and grime will wear parts out faster than they would otherwise, and attract moisture into the piano, which will be detrimental to the instrument over time.
Regulation is a term that covers many different procedures, however, simply put, regulation is the process of adjusting various parts of the action and keys in order to make playing the best experience possible. Regulation is not always needed on a regular basis and many times is only addressed when there is a noticeable problem with the way the piano plays.
Minor repairs include replacing or repairing broken strings, replacing or repairing broken action parts, and fixing various other small issues that may occur. Major repairs, such as refinishing, restringing the entire piano, and fixing a cracked soundboard or pinblock are currently outside of my area of specialization. If you do require these services, feel free to reach out at (352)-809-1734 or Ezra@PianoTuningCentralFlorida.com and I will be happy to recommend a reputable business that provides those services.
I also offer piano evaluation services for clients looking to purchase a piano, but who want a professional opinion on the instrument before committing to the purchase. I do not currently offer official financial appraisals for pianos.
Mon – Fri
8:00 am — 5:00 pm
Sat
9:00 am — 3:00 pm
Sun
Closed