Myths about Piano Tuning & Servicing.
Melbourne Piano Tuning & Servicing
Myth - I Don't play my piano, so it Doesn't need Regular tuning or servicing.
This is a common myth people have with piano tuning & servicing. This simply isn’t true as the piano is a remarkably complex and precise instrument. In the long run, you can damage the tone of your piano if there are large gaps between service intervals. The biggest contributing factor for a piano going out of tune is climatic conditions the piano is exposed to. This is why manufacturers, (Like Yamaha Kawai Steinway), recommend pianos to be serviced a minimum, once every 12 months. I recommend to increase the service visits on brand new pianos to once every 6 months for the first couple of years. Strings on a new piano can take time to settle and stretch in. Likewise, heavily played pianos also benefit increased tuning intervals.
For most people, once every twelve months is sufficient to keep your piano in good working order.
Are all Piano tuners & repairers the same?
Myth - That All piano tuners & repairers are the same.
Sadly not all piano technicians are equal. To that end, the skill level and quality of piano repairs within our industry is quite varied. As the piano technician industry is not regulated, I find that there are some that feel they can simply pick up a basic tuning hammer and phone app to service a piano. Unfortunately time again I find that they are doing more harm than good to the instrument. Going for the cheapest price is not always a good indicator for great value and quality service or workmanship.
I was formally trained in Melbourne at the Australian School of Piano Technology. This was Yamaha Music Australia premier education centre for upcoming Piano Tuners. In addition, I am an Australian Registered Piano Technician (ARPT). Why is this important?, It is because that this is your only assurance that the piano tuner you are using is trained in the latest aural tuning and repair techniques.
The modern piano is an expensive and precisely calibrated instrument. In the right hands your piano will give you the the best tone, touch and responsiveness.
Are Free pianos worth fixing?
Myth - I can pick up a cheap or free piano to learn on
There are some rare cases that old worn out pianos are able to be restored. But is type of work is normally reserved or high end pianos like, steinway, bechsteins, bosedorfer, to name a few. For these pianos, it runs into many thousands of dollars to bring them back to their former glory.
From my experience, most pianos advertised free (or that have extremely low prices) are either not serviceable or require significant investment to get them into any kind of playing condition. Generally the repairs required will far exceed the value of the piano.
I understand that money can be tight for most people and therefore the best course of action I recommend is to complete a Pre-purchase piano inspection before committing to any private piano purchase. For a small outlay of money to you can save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars on piano moving and servicing costs.
The pre-purchase inspection I provide services a wide geographic area of Melbourne.
Are old pianos better than New pianos?
Myth - Old piano are better built and therefore better to learn on.
There is a common perception that the older the piano is, the more valuable it becomes. This is generally not the case. What people value in terms of design and performance can be highly subjective. But in general terms, the turn of the century pianos were built on old world piano technology, they just feel and sound different. The modern piano has better scale design, responsiveness, sound characteristics and this is important for someone wanting to learn the piano.
My experience has found that with old world pianos, a fair amount of investment is required to get the piano to a basic functional level. Players get frustrated on these pianos which leads to them giving up and having regrets later in life.
Learning to play the piano is worth investing in and there is nothing better than a new or refurbished modern piano to meet the demands of the modern piano player. There are some well built, old world pianos. I always recommend to buy these sorts of pianos through a reputable technician as generally they will come with a warranty,