The beginning of a new era

It was the end of 1972. I was 18 and I had just decided that majoring in Commercial Art and accumulating a bigger student loan debt than I already had, wasn’t for me. I got a job as a roofer with my friend Rocky and we were working on the then new Hunts Point Market in the South Bronx. December quickly turned into January 1973 and working outside in the wind, cold and snow had me begging my Dad to get me a job at Steinway & Sons. He had been reluctant to do so earlier as this is where he spent his whole working life and wanted something better than that for his son. At this point, any job was better than no job and he knew I was never setting foot on those windy rooftops again. 

   The job he got me: Lumber Marker. I to this day am not sure it was his way of attempting to discourage me. Basically the job consisted of greeting the stacks of lumber that had been sitting in the outside yard for 5 years. These piles of wood were left outside to age so that they would split, crack, bend and warp. After inspecting each piece for defects and marking them up with a crayon; denoting specific widths and lengths. This was done as a way to avoid having the pieces of wood that would not be fit to withstand the ability to be used as part of a Steinway.  It was dirty and hard on the hands, but it was warm and I learned a lot about wood. That was my job for the first year and a half at the Steinway factory.

Tips for the care of your piano

Your piano is basically a machine like a car or a computer, but with the capability of allowing someone to create music. All machines need to be properly maintained or they will eventually break down.

Importance of proper maintenance

We recommend tuning at least twice a year (due to climatic changes) and regulating ever 3-10 years based on use. Pianos such as old Steinways, Mason & Hamlins and Baldwins are worth the time and money to completely rebuild and refinish as these instruments are of much richer sound than new pianos.

"Tuning" and "pitch raising" as opposed to "regulation"

"Tuning" is the turning of the tuning pins and thereby tightening of the strings, to raise or lower the pitch of the piano. When the wood of the piano shrinks or expands, the pitch will rise or drop. Therefore tuning corrects these changes. If the tuning pins of the piano are lose, the pins will shift quicker and the piano will go out of tune drastically. A "pitch raise" is when the piano has dropped in pitch significantly or when the piano has not been tuned in quite some time and has dropped in pitch from tension above. There is an extra charge beyond simple tuning for a pitch raise since it involves more work.

"Regulation" involves adjusting the many moving "action" parts (keys, hammers, etc.) inside the piano so that they work properly with each other to give you the best tune and feel possible. This procedure can sometimes take many hours to complete but is only necessary every 2-10 years, based on the piano and the amount of playing. Minor action regulation can be done more frequently for the more seasoned pianists.

If you're now wondering if your piano needs some work, contact us today!