You are here: Home / Archives for Information

Tips to Buy a Piano

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you’re planning to purchase a new piano- whether it’s your first or a replacement for an existing piano- you need to know how to choose the right one. Every instrument purchase should be done carefully but since a piano is such a large investment, it requires even more research to make sure you get the right one.

A new, quality piano can easily cost from $2,000-$3,000 or more. While this may sound like a lot, a piano is actually an investment so it’s a bit like buying a car or any other high-end purchase. If you take care of it properly, a good piano can last you up to 50 years, sometimes more.

Here are some tips to help you when buying a piano:

• Do your research first
• Shop around- online and off
• If you’re on a tight budget, consider purchasing a used piano
• Look at local donation shops, Goodwill and other locations for discount or auction pianos
• Remember that longer strings usually produce a better sound – with a grand, longer is better (but takes up more space) and with an upright, taller is better
• Ask for advice- get opinions from other people in the industry or those who have purchased a piano before
• Know how to properly inspect a used piano
• Know what to look for inside the piano on inspection

When you follow these tips, it takes some of the mystery out of shopping for a piano. Since it is such a big purchase, you want to feel confident in your ability to make a purchase of the right piano.

If you’re buying for a child or someone just starting to take lessons, a used piano might be the best choice until you know for sure if the person will keep playing for years to come. If you do stick with it, you can always purchase a better piano later and sell your used one.

When buying a used piano, it’s also a good idea to have a professional inspect it first so you can be certain you know any and everything that might be wrong with it and what type of work you might have to do to it if you buy it. If you’re not willing or able to make these improvements, you may not want to buy that particular piano.

When you take care of a piano, it stays good for a very long time. This means that it is very commonplace for people to sell used pianos for a variety of reasons. If you’re in the market to buy a piano, you can use this to your advantage to help you find a great piano in your price range.

Filed Under: Information Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How to Clean Your Piano Keys

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to your piano, proper care is vital to the life and performance of your instrument. If you take good care of your piano, it can last up to 50 years before needing to be rebuilt. Compared to the many other types of instruments out there, the piano is not as easy to play nor as easy to care for. However, some people enjoy the challenge and others are just passionate about the piano.

Whatever category you fall into, it’s important that you take care of your piano and one of the basic care tips will be to clean your piano keys regularly. You don’t need a professional cleaner or service to help you care for your piano keys. There are some simple things you can do for yourself to keep your keys looking great.

Here are some tips on how to clean your piano keys properly:

• Wipe gently with a soft, clean cloth
• Remove stubborn marks or fingerprints
• Use only chemicals or objects approved for cleaning ivory piano keys
• Fresh milk can be used to gently rinse ivory keys
• Mild, non-colored toothpaste can be used (rub gently!) for removing stubborn marks from the keys

It’s also helpful to make a habit of always washing your hands before playing the piano and make sure others do the same.

Here are some things you should avoid doing when cleaning your piano keys:

• Never immerse in water
• Never use air freshener nearby
• Don’t spray furniture polish on the keys
• Don’t scrub with a brush or pad
• Never use chemicals or cleaning liquids

If you have plastic keys, most of the above guidelines still apply. You should also avoid leaving the piano open for long periods of time because this can discolor the keys. You should dust them regularly and use a soft solution of warm water and vinegar when needed to clean the keys.

All of these things can damage the delicate surface of the keys and ruin your piano. This can be a very expensive repair to have to make. It will also make the keys look older and more worn than they really are which can damage the visual appeal of your piano.

With these tips, you now know how to clean your piano keys. You can take the proper steps to make sure your piano lasts you for many more years to come and that it always stays looking and sounding great for you.

Filed Under: Information Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Store Your Piano Properly

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to piano care, there are several things you should know. If you own a piano, you may already know that with proper care, they can last for many years. Maybe you’ve even had yours for years, taking care of it as best you can each and every day but now you have a dilemma- you have to store your piano for a period of time.

If you need to store your piano, it’s important that you do so properly so that when you come back for it, it’s still in great working condition. You will hear from experts that you should try to avoid storing your piano at all, if possible. You can try asking if there is someone you can trust to keep it for you and maintain it until you are able to come back for it. However, since this is not always possible, you should learn how to properly store your piano.

The best choice is always a climate controlled storage facility, especially if you’re unsure how long you’re going to have it in storage. This way your piano will not face big temperature changes and humidity which can easily damage a piano.

Pianos, as you may know, are really sensitive to changes in humidity and temperate. This can affect the piano case, cause warping and cracking and more. It can also cause the piano to go out of tune quicker than it would usually.

Another thing to keep in mind about your piano is if you have to move and it’s been kept in one location for a long time. For example, if your piano has been in a hot and humid location for years, moving it to a cool, dry place can cause problems. Often pianos will quickly self-destruct when they are moved from one extreme in environment to another.

Now that you have these tips for properly storing your piano, you can be sure it’s taken care of if you need to go on vacation for awhile, go away to college, in between moving to a new town, on business training or whatever else you’re doing. You know that when you come back, your piano will be waiting for you in good condition.

Also remember that whenever you are moving your piano from one location to another, such as to a storage facility, it should be done safely and professionally. Hire movers if you need to so that you can be sure your piano isn’t damaged in the move.

Filed Under: Information Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,