How often
should my piano be serviced?
How Should I
Take Care of My Piano?
The
Special Care and Maintenance of the Teaching Piano
Buying A Piano
List of Cincinnati Area Piano Technicians by Zip Code
What is a Registered Piano Technician (RPT)?
The field of Piano technology is an unregulated trade. Therefore the Piano
Technicians Guild has set its own standards of quality for piano technicians. The Guild
has two types of members: Registered Piano Technicians and Associates. Associate
membership is open to anyone with a "professional or avocational interest in piano
technology." On the other hand, the title of "Registered Piano Technician"
must be earned by passing a series of examinations.
The RPT examinations are in three parts. There is a written exam, testing
basic knowledge of piano design, tuning theory, repair and general piano technology. Next,
a technician takes a standardized tuning exam. At least three examiners, set up a
"master tuning" by tuning a test piano until they are convinced as a group that
every note is in the best possible place. This "master tuning" is then used as
the standard against which the examinee is measured. Using sensitive electronic measuring
equipment, the examinee's tuning is compared against the "master tuning." This
system gives a fair and standardized test for all chapters of the Piano Technicians Guild.
The next phase of the examinations is a "technical test." This test involves
regulation of a grand action model and a vertical action model. On the test for the
vertical action, the examinee is given a bag of parts, and must assemble it into an action
model and make it function correctly. This method keeps the exam a reasonable length but
still tests for the necessary skills. Then there is a repair test, covering all the basic
in-home type repairs, such as broken strings, key repairs, and broken action parts.
The rating of RPT is not meant to be a rating for a rebuilder; it is meant
to show that the technician is ready to handle normal piano service and repair. The Piano
Technicians Guild has put a lot of time and effort into its examinations to establish a
good set of standardized tests which will help insure quality service. The written test
takes about 1 hour. The tuning and technical tests take about 4 hours each.
Only Registered Piano Technicians can advertise with that title. The Piano
Technicians Guild does allow Associate members to advertise as "Associate"
members, but these members have not yet passed the exams. They are encouraged to take
advantage of PTG's educational offerings. When you are looking for service on your piano,
look for a Registered Piano Technician. The logo above designates that the member is an
RPT. Note the words Registered Piano Technician in the logo itself. Below is the logo that
Associate members are allowed to use.
©1993 Piano Technicians Guild
Your piano is an investment in your future. It can bring you and your family a lifetime of
music, adding immeasurable joy and beauty to your home. Because it also is such a large
investment, it should be maintained with the utmost care. Regular servicing by a qualified
tuner-technicians will preserve your instrument and help; you avoid costly repair in the
future.
Because your piano contains materials such as wood and felt, it is subject
to change with climatic conditions. Extreme swings from hot to cold or dry to wet cause
its materials to swell and contract, affecting tone, pitch and action response of touch.
You can reduce the severity of these effects by placing your piano near a wall away from
windows or doors which are opened frequently. Avoid heating and air conditioning vents,
fireplaces and areas which receive direct sunlight. Your piano will perform best under
consistent conditions neither too wet or dry, optimally at a temperature of 68 degrees F
and 42 percent relative humidity.
While pianos generally fall into vertical and grand model categories, each
manufacturer selects its own materials and utilizes its own unique scale and furniture
designs. Every piano requires a different level of maintenance, depending upon the quality
of materials used, the design and level of craftsmanship. Manufacturers can provide
general advice on tuning frequency but your technician can give specific recommendations
based upon your usage and locale.
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Here's
what some of the major piano manufacturers recommended.
Your piano, like those in homes and on stages throughout the world, is an
instrument of extraordinary promise which can bring you and your family a lifetime of
enjoyment. To ensure its performance over that lifetime, it is important to have your
piano serviced regularly by a qualified professional. Complete piano service should
include periodic regulation and voicing in addition to tuning. Your technician can consult
with you to recommend a maintenance schedule customized for your instrument.
Resources currently available to help you buy a piano are:
The Piano Book: Buying
& Owning A New Or Used Piano, by Larry Fine.
America Net:
Classified Ad- Musical Instruments
The Music Trader - Information
about violin and other musical instrument builders and information about all kinds of
instruments for sale including pianos.
The Piano Broker, Carl Radford, RPT
(Illinois)
The Piano Mart, Joe Ross, RPT
The Pierce Piano Atlas which gives
dates of manufacture from the Brand name and the serial number. This book is great for
determining the age of a used piano.
Sanko Industries, Exporting used
items from Japan
Wayne's Guide To Pianos
, Helpful advice for looking at pianos.
Everything You
Ever Needed To Know About Buying A Piano
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Piano Technicians Guild - Cincinnati Chapter
Comments and Suggestions to Marnie Squire marn@voyager.net
Bad links and technical problems to petersnd@one.net
12/01
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