Piano Tuning and Repair Services
Tuning Your Piano
To keep your piano in optimal playing condition, the instrument must be kept in tune. Tuning is the process of manipulating tuning pins and the tension of piano strings to make each note maintain the proper pitch according to conventional standards. I recommend tuning your piano twice a year (for private homes) and more often for pianos played regularly in schools, institutions, and concert settings.
Voicing Your Piano
Piano voicing is the process of altering the timbre (tone quality and color) of a piano by changing the density of the hammer's felt. Traditional techniques include hammer needling, filing, ironing, and the application of liquid hardeners or other custom formulated liquid solutions. Voicing can be extremely helpful in adaption a piano to its acoustical enviornment. For example, we can "quite down" a piano that's too loud for your living room, or we can make the articulation sharper if the room is "too alive" and all the sounds lack focus or clarity.
Regulating Your Piano
Piano regulation is adjustment of the control, touch and feel of a piano. It includes several kinds of mechanical manipulation. In a comprehensive piano regulation I set and adjust the keybed, key level, key travel and dip, key height and level, perform all major action alignments, space and travel the hammers, adjust letoff drop and spring tension. Although there are many finer refinements possible, these are the basic aspects of a good regulation.
Piano Repair
Routine maintenance includes tuning, regulation, and voicing (above). But routine playing also causes great wear and tear. After all, a grand piano experiences up to 30 tons of tension even before you sit down to play, so it's only natural that some of its over 10,000 parts and components will break, get worn down, or otherwise need attention. Among the repairs I provide: hammer shaping, voicing or replacement; complete action replacement; key leveling, regulation or rebushing; damper timing and regulation; Friction reduction and action optimization.
Pre-Concert Piano Preparation and Tuning
I specialize in fine-tuning pianos for concert venues. This includes pitch stabilization, tuning refinement, and finessing the action regulation to fulfill the stringent requirements of a wide range of pianists and match their person preferences.
To keep your piano in optimal playing condition, the instrument must be kept in tune. Tuning is the process of manipulating tuning pins and the tension of piano strings to make each note maintain the proper pitch according to conventional standards. I recommend tuning your piano twice a year (for private homes) and more often for pianos played regularly in schools, institutions, and concert settings.
Voicing Your Piano
Piano voicing is the process of altering the timbre (tone quality and color) of a piano by changing the density of the hammer's felt. Traditional techniques include hammer needling, filing, ironing, and the application of liquid hardeners or other custom formulated liquid solutions. Voicing can be extremely helpful in adaption a piano to its acoustical enviornment. For example, we can "quite down" a piano that's too loud for your living room, or we can make the articulation sharper if the room is "too alive" and all the sounds lack focus or clarity.
Regulating Your Piano
Piano regulation is adjustment of the control, touch and feel of a piano. It includes several kinds of mechanical manipulation. In a comprehensive piano regulation I set and adjust the keybed, key level, key travel and dip, key height and level, perform all major action alignments, space and travel the hammers, adjust letoff drop and spring tension. Although there are many finer refinements possible, these are the basic aspects of a good regulation.
Piano Repair
Routine maintenance includes tuning, regulation, and voicing (above). But routine playing also causes great wear and tear. After all, a grand piano experiences up to 30 tons of tension even before you sit down to play, so it's only natural that some of its over 10,000 parts and components will break, get worn down, or otherwise need attention. Among the repairs I provide: hammer shaping, voicing or replacement; complete action replacement; key leveling, regulation or rebushing; damper timing and regulation; Friction reduction and action optimization.
Pre-Concert Piano Preparation and Tuning
I specialize in fine-tuning pianos for concert venues. This includes pitch stabilization, tuning refinement, and finessing the action regulation to fulfill the stringent requirements of a wide range of pianists and match their person preferences.
Piano Care FAQ
How often should my piano be tuned?
I recomment that pianos in private homes be tuned twice a year. Seasonal changes in humidity and temperature cause wood to expand and contract, resulting in changes to the tension of the strings. In turn, the piano's pitch levels change, going either "sharp" or "flat" with these seasonal fluctuations.
How much does it cost to have a piano tuned?
Basic tuning services in my local area (Chicago west suburbs) are $95. This covers my expert, complete basic aural tuning. Additional fees apply for transportation and for upgraded tuning service such as pitch raise.
How far will you travel to tune a piano?
I am used to going just about anywhere in the Chicago metro area, including the entire city, suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. Other out-of-state assignments may be possible for special occasions.
Where did you learn how to tune pianos?
I studied piano technology while completing my master's degree in piano performance at Indiana University. Under the tutelage of Douglas Strong (RPT) I enjoyed years of individual attention and learned various piano technologies on a vast array of university instruments.
I recomment that pianos in private homes be tuned twice a year. Seasonal changes in humidity and temperature cause wood to expand and contract, resulting in changes to the tension of the strings. In turn, the piano's pitch levels change, going either "sharp" or "flat" with these seasonal fluctuations.
How much does it cost to have a piano tuned?
Basic tuning services in my local area (Chicago west suburbs) are $95. This covers my expert, complete basic aural tuning. Additional fees apply for transportation and for upgraded tuning service such as pitch raise.
How far will you travel to tune a piano?
I am used to going just about anywhere in the Chicago metro area, including the entire city, suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. Other out-of-state assignments may be possible for special occasions.
Where did you learn how to tune pianos?
I studied piano technology while completing my master's degree in piano performance at Indiana University. Under the tutelage of Douglas Strong (RPT) I enjoyed years of individual attention and learned various piano technologies on a vast array of university instruments.
