Greene Music News April Issue

Greene Music News Issue #16

April, 2011

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Greetings!

Hands Playing

Is this a good time to buy

your next (or last) piano?

Have you or your child outgrown the keyboard or electric piano?
Have you been dreaming about upgrading from an upright to a grand piano?
Does your older piano need expensive repair work?
Do you want to graduate to the "next level" and really improve your playing?
Does your new home have a spot that would be just perfect for a special style or color?

.....and finally,

Have you promised this to yourself for years?

Maybe now is the time - drop by and tickle some ivories! We are proud to be a resource to answer your questions and provide useful information in a "no pressure" atmosphere.

(858)586-7000 or send your questions to: ask@greenemusic.com

Why do pianos go out of tune?

Our readers enjoyed this article last spring,

and we hear this question every day, so here's a

second look:

Pianos stay in tune much better than most stringed instruments! A guitar can go out of tune within an hour, and a violin might need tuning after only 15 or 20 minutes of playing, but a piano only needs to be tuned about once every three to six months. This is because a piano has heavy, steel wires held by an iron frame.The steel wires are under a lot of tension, which keeps them stable even when they are struck by the hammers. However the wooden parts change shape with the seasons - in other words, the piano will go out of tune whether you play it or not (It's the weather!).

Both iron and steel expand and contract slightly in response to changes in heat and cold, but very little. Wood does respond to changes in both temperature and relative humidity. Wooden objects in a room absorb some of the moisture from the air, causing them to expand.

Although the frame of a piano is iron, the soundboard and bridge are made of wood. The strings all rest on top of a maple bridge. When a note is played, the bridge transfers their vibration to the soundboard, which amplifies it. When the relative humidity rises, the soundboard swells, pressing the bridge into the strings. This increases the tension in the strings, changing the pitch. When the relative humidity falls, the soundboard shrinks, lowering the tension in the strings and again changing the pitch.

As small changes in humidity cause the strings to raise and lower in pitch, they never settle back quite into the same place they were before. Slowly, they get more and more out of tune. Usually, the pitch will slowly drop as the piano gets more out of tune.

The strings are all under different amounts of pressure, which can cause them to go out of tune at different rates. When this happens, the piano goes out of tune with itself. That is what causes that sour, unpleasant sound that really out of tune pianos have.

Here are three top reasons to keep up a regular tuning schedule:

1. Pianos that are in tune get played a lot more!
2. Someone in your family will probably want the piano in the future, and you'll save them hundreds or thousands of dollars by keeping the piano in great shape.
3. Pianos with records of regular maintenance are very rare, and have terrific resale value!

How to buy a used piano.

Saturday, April 16,

11:00 am

Piano Tuning

You've checked out Craigslist, Ebay, and done a little internet surfing. Do you have enough information to make a good decision?

Join us for a fascinating workshop and learn what our buyers must know to pick out a bargain. You'll come away with useful information that could help you save time and money.

This is not a sale event - you can leave your checkbook at home!

Seating is limited - please call (858)586-7000 or

click to RSVP if you'd like to attend

Do you own a piano? Don't miss -

Care and Maintenance of a Piano

Saturday, April 23, 11am

You're invited to a small, informative workshop with piano

specialist Mike McGuire. Mike will show you how to protect your musical and financial investment!

Your piano can age gracefully, looking and

sounding beautiful for decades!