Tuning

Superior tuning requires exceptional hearing and the understanding  of design function to ensure stable and long lasting performance

I tune aurally without the aid of a tuning meter and this means that  I am always listening carefully, not only for adjusting pitch but also for non tuning related sound. This enables me to  get an over all impression of the sound and to detect any extraneous mechanical noise.

Tuning is the adjustment of a piano’s strings till the correct musical pitch is achieved.

It plays a crucial part in  achieving the best performance from the  instrument.

No matter how well a piano is tuned, environmental conditions can cause it to go out of tune.

Under normal use and conditions, a piano should only need tuning periodically, perhaps twice a year. For reference,

a concert piano is tuned before every performance and

a piano in a professional recording studio is tuned several times per week.

Music school pianos are tuned at least three times a year

Tuning is a skill obtained through years of training and practice,

For best results, only a professionally trained technician should tune your piano.

I tune for concerts and recordings as well as for private customers

Voicing

Because of the greater demand for tuning some technicians are trained only in this area and have limited experience in voicing pianos. I have considerable expertise in both areas.

Some pianists prefer “bright” voicing while others prefer a more mellow sound.

Toning determines if the sound is mellow or bright even throughout the dynamic range and balanced between treble and bass.

A wide  range of tonal colour is essential to the pianist.

Voicing is the adjustment of the piano’s hammers and keyboard mechanism.This involves softening or hardening the hammers and making various fine adjustments .

Regardless of its original voicing, every piano will become brighter in tone over time. The hammer felts become compacted and hardened as they are struck against the strings.

Voicing plays a crucial part in  achieving the best performance from the  instrument.

Under normal usage conditions, your piano should be voiced every two to three years.

Voicing is a skill obtained by years of training and practice, for the best results, only a professionally trained technician should voice your piano.

Regulation

Regulation is the adjustment of the action mechanism which affects the feel or touch of the piano.

Good regulation is key to responsiveness and fast repetition. It ensures an even and consistent feel.

Adjustments include key weight, spring tension, damper pickup, the timing of jack escapement and balancer, setoff, drop, key spacing depth of touch.

Over a period of two to three years, the action of your piano will vary somewhat from the evenness established at the factory and will need regulation by a trained technician. The need for regulation is a reflection of the way that the piano is used. For reference, the action of a concert grand is regulated before every performance.

Each key on a piano moves a small, felt-covered wooden hammer which strikes one, two or three strings when the note is played. The hammers are evenly aligned and have the ability to reset quickly and repeat any note rapidly.

700 screws and springs are repeatedly regulated until over 1200 parts function in perfect coordination.

Unreliable stiff or over heavy actions can cause over repetition without serious care this can cause physical tension for the pianist.