Learning Piano First Aid

Saturday, April 07, 2007

People who are serious about learning to play the piano will probably buy a piano, if they do not already have one at home. When it comes to real, old-fashioned pianos rather than electronic keyboards, we are talking about a large investment on your part.

Caring for your piano should be included in your learning program as people who are taught first aid to cope with any eventuality. A piano may look imposing when is sitting in a room, but pianos are delicate musical instruments which wood pieces and strings are susceptible to climate and abrupt movements, especially during their "young days".

Pianos go out of tune very easily if you move them from one location to another without delicacy. Even without moving them your piano needs tuning at least once a year during its first five years although it is advisable to keep in tune your piano calling the expert twice a year regardless for how long your piano has been with you.

Your piano can go out of tune with humidity variations in the room where it rests, but if such condition does not prolong for days your piano will sound harmoniously again in just a few days if you do nothing else besides wait.

Consider the purchase of a hygrometer to measure humidity because pianos need a balanced amount of it to avoid hot temperature that can dry out the hammers and strings inside. Keep your piano clean and every time your music session is over pull its lid down to keep your piano in good shape.

Clean your piano keys with the aid of a soft dry cloth, but be careful wiping down their coverings. Avoid exceeding the pressure of your hand over and do not use water and soap for cleaning. If the keys are very dirty, try with a slightly damp cloth to clean them, and dry softly key by key.

Keep your piano in a room with good illumination, but never expose it to direct sunlight, never too close to a window, where it is exposed to rain and other climate alterations that can damage its acoustic soul and surface appearance.