To tune or not to tune? That is the question.

How often should I tune my piano? Should I get a pitch adjustment or just tune the piano where it is? Should I get my piano deep cleaned?

Maybe these are questions you have asked yourself about your piano. So, what’s the answer!? In the following collection of posts, I will do my best to address these questions.

The recommended interval for tuning your piano is 1 to 2 times a year depending on your home environment. Every piano is tuned to A440, I will explain this in a later post. That being said, if you sing with your piano or want to play instruments with your piano it is important to keep it in tune. During each season, your piano will tend to want to adjust in pitch just due to the temperature and humidity, so regularly tuning your piano will help keep your piano healthy and keep your family on pitch! This is very important for young musicians who are developing their inner ear for pitch. It's hard to develop perfect pitch if your piano isn’t tuned!

Pianos that are in schools, churches, or nursing homes will need to be tuned more often, upwards of 2 to 3 times a year depending on the usage. Why do you ask? Well, public buildings typically have regulations on air control which can be very hard on the piano. For optimal performance and longevity, your piano's perfect “ecosystem” is about 70 degrees and 42% humidity. Tuning and regular care will ensure that your piano will last through the ages. If your piano isn’t serviced regularly it will sadly start to decay and the farther out it goes the harder and more expensive it will be to bring it back if at all.

In the next article, I will talk about why your piano may need a pitch adjustment.