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| Wilczynski Music technicians are members of the Piano Technicians Guild which recommends that all pianos be tuned to A440 standard pitch. Variations in humidity level as well as seasonal temperature changes, routine use of the piano, and inherent stretching of piano strings under pressure require a piano to be maintained on a regular basis. A piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year to optimize the feel and tonal quality of the instrument. Some pianos require tuning at more frequent intervals, especially pianos placed in buildings with a fluctuating environment such as churches, schools, and other public buildings. |
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| Just because a piano sounds "okay" doesn't mean it doesn't need to be tuned. This can be a costly misconception. Let's talk in terms of percent. As a general rule, if a piano has drifted more than 7% -10% off-pitch from A-440 the piano tuner will be unable to return your piano's pitch to A-440 in one tuning. Time is money, and it takes time to turn the 216 - 230 tuning pins on your average piano. Because of the amount of increased tension required to bring the piano up to pitch, strings pulled to pitch early in a tuning will go flat by the time the remaining strings are pulled to pitch if the piano has drifted 10% or more from A440. Therefore, the tuner will have to perform a minimum of TWO tunings on the piano to bring the piano to A440 standard pitch and you will be charged for TWO tunings. Why, you ask, should I care about A440 standard pitch? |
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| Let's say we have an organ and a piano that we play together in a church sanctuary on Sundays. Organs seldom go out of tune and are tuned to A440 standard pitch. The same song played in the same key out of similar hymn books will sound discordant when piano and organ are played simultaneously if the piano is not tuned to A440. Now let's say you are asked to sing a solo. You are handed some music. Your piano at home has not been tuned in a while but "sounds fine". You practice your music and it's in your voice range. You get to the Recital Hall where the piano has been properly tuned to A440 and you suddenly discover you can't hit the high notes. Now let's say you have been asked to play a duet with another instrument that has limited or no tuning flexibility...say a harmonica. I think your are beginning to see the picture. There are many reasons why you should keep your piano in tune. There's only one reason why you don't...you don't want to spend the money. |
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| Yes, a piano can be "tuned to itself" and it will "sound fine". And some tuners will perform only one tuning without bringing the piano up to A440 rather than miss the sale altogether. We at Wilczynski Music will do everything possible to convince you to allow us to tune your piano to A440 standard pitch. Not because we are trying to price-gouge you, but because that's where it was designed to be and needs to be. |
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