New Orleans Piano Works
Cell: 504-494-9937
Piano Care and FAQ
How often should my piano be tuned?
Pianos should be tuned at least twice a year if they are kept in a climate controlled environment.  Steinway, for example recommends 3-4 times per year.  To put this in perspective, a concert piano is tuned before every performance and at a recording studio where a piano is in constant use, the piano is tuned 3-4 times per week.

Pianos in rooms with dramatic temperature changes (churches, schools), they may need more frequent tunings.

Why does a piano need tuning?
Because a piano contains materials such as wood and felt, it subject to change with climate conditions.  Temperature swings from warm to cold, or dry to moist cause the materials to swell and contract.  Dryness causes the pitch to go flat, whereas moisture causes it to go sharp.  Temperature swings affect tone, pitch, action response and touch.  Repeated swings can cause soundboards to crack or distort.

Does a piano need to be tuned more often the first year?
Yes.  Because it takes some time for any new piano to become thoroughly settled and adjusted to the atmospheric conditions in the home, servicing is particularly important.  The recommendation varies by the company.  For example, Yamaha, Young Chang, Sohmer and Company and Steinway recommend that pianos are tune a minimum of 4 times the first year.

What is a Registered Piano Technician? 
A Registered Piano Technician has passed a series of rigorous examinations on the maintenance, repair and tuning of pianos.  Only RPTs are authorized by The Piano Technicians Guild to display the logo containing the words "Registered Piano Technician."

One of the strings has broken, now what?
A treble string (plain wire string) is fairly easy to replace.
A bass string is a different matter.  A bass string is steel over wound with copper wire.  They are custom made, which is a special order.  This requires a trip to measure, a trip to return and install.  Unfortunately for all, these new strings do not stay in tune, so they need another trip to be tuned again in a week or so.

Where is the best place to put my piano?
You can reduce the impact of temperature changes if you place your piano near a wall away from windows, or doors that are opened frequently.  Avoid heating and air conditioning vents, fireplaces and direct sunlight.

Enjoy your piano and play often!  It's good for your piano.

David Doremus
New Orleans Piano Works

504-263-2923 Office
504-494-9937 Cell