Piano tuning, its importance in piano maintenance
Piano tuning is one of the most important services which piano shops provide throughout the world. When someone decides that owning a piano either for themselves, as a hobby or pursuit for a child is what they want to do they look at the web for their nearest retailer or two and load up the family and head off on the journey. In most cases the quest for a piano will be based around both "the look" and "the cost" as pianos are expensive in the normal scheme of domestic purchases and also are a piece of furniture.
One aspect which can fall short amongst some piano retailers is explaining the maintenance requirements for the piano in the future. Pianos are made from wood, felts and metal all of which can be affected by the environment in which they live. From extremes of heat to damp moist areas all these conditions will materially affect the pianos performance by going out of tune in hot locations or by becoming heavy to play as the keys become slow or begin to stick in areas of excessive moisture.
An experienced piano tuner who visits the piano in your home or other location at least once a year is then best placed to advise you as to how the conditions are hampering the pianos performance. Even when your piano is living and playing well the annual tuning ensures that the scale and pitch level are maintained at the correct standard. Any piano may need minor adjustments to individual notes or pedals throughout its life due to use so the tuning in tandem with any regulating helps to protect your piano.
Piano tuners are highly skilled people having undergone training either in a college or through a piano manufacturers training programme over a number of years. During this training they have been educated in the proper care and attention required in both upright and grand pianos and take this knowledge with them and hone it during their careers.
In conclusion while "making a sale" for those of us in the piano retail sector is crucial, providing the guidance on how to properly ensure the upkeep of your piano is equally important as this provides for the on going relationship between retailer and customer well into the future.