The Piano
The piano is made substantially of precious and delicate wood, of very tightly strung
strings and of various soft and delicate pieces of felt which make it very sensitive
to every minimal climatic variation.
Maintenance
1) Tuning:
Why is tuning the piano necessary at least once a year? The piano has about 220
strings which exert a tension that exceeds 8 tons on the cast-iron framework.
The action of the hammers and even the minimum variations of climatic conditions,
continually modify the precision of the tonality of the strings. Thus the great
producers of pianos recommend that the piano be tuned at least once a year,
if possible in spring or in autumn.
2) Registration:
The mechanical action of a piano’s functions is thanks to a perfect and delicate
equilibrium between the various mechanical components. This equilibrium is
constantly compromised by wear and tear and by climatic factors. To re-establish this
equilibrium, the piano technician needs an accurate registration which is able to
decide the programming of such an operation, in collaboration with the pianist.
3) Intonation:
The hammer which strikes the string, is composed of a special kind of felt whose compactness
and form directly contributes to the quality and the homogeneity of the sound. Adjusting the
intonation of the piano is effected by modifying or renewing the compactness of the hammer by
means of a specific instrument made of needles, in order to personalize the sound of a piano
or to recreate the homogeneous sound of the entire keyboard.
4) Cleaning internally:
Cleaning the piano internally is a fundamental operation for conserving the
felt parts as well as other mechanical components of the piano. Dust which
accumulates over time, creates an ideal habitat for the proliferation of moths
which feed on the abundant soft precious felt inside the piano. A thorough internal
cleaning done by the piano tuner, is an indispensable operation for avoiding the
complete disappearance of certain pieces of felt which these insects find very
tasty indeed.
After the cleaning has been done, it is advisable to put one of the many available
anti-moth products in a soft little bag and delicately position it inside the piano.
5) The proper environment:
The ideal environment for a good conservation of the piano, includes a temperature
not exceeding 22° C and a level of humidity in the air between 45% and 65%. Thus
it in not advisable to position the piano against a wall which is humid, subject
to high temperature variations or near to sources of heat or any other position which
doesn't guarantee optimal climatic conditions.
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