October 31, 2024
About the Author: Arwen
Nothing lasts forever, but surely some things are worth fighting for?
The piano is an extraordinary and delicate instrument. Just like any other instrument, it needs proper care and maintenance.
There is just something satisfying about having and playing on a well cared for instrument – as if you can feel the love and efforts radiating out of it.
Just by doing simple things every now and then, you are setting your piano up for the long run!
I believe mostly everyone wants their piano to last, but are you willing to do what it takes?
Maybe you still need more convincing as to why you should regularly care for your piano. Here are some reasons to help fight off that doubt:
To Maintain Sound Quality
A significant reason as to what professionals specifically look for in a piano, is the sound.
There is nothing greater than the cool and crisp sound a new and proper piano makes.
The mellow and enriching sound is enough to give any pianist goosebumps.
Although, as time passes, it may lose its crispness and delicate sound.
Thus slowly losing its ability to create a sweet and round sound.
You might think that you need a new piano, since your current one does not have that refreshing sound as it always had.
It also depreciates the instrument in value, lowering its market value significantly, because the majority of people who are pursuing the piano market mostly make their final decision based on the sound.
Thus maintaining the sound is not only beneficial towards the player, but can be a great investment if one were to sell it one day.
But fear not, for one can overcome and prevent this from happening.
Tuning your piano at least once or twice a year can be a game changer in maintaining the richness and tonal quality of your sound.
Regularly wiping the dust off of your keys is a great way of keeping them clean to prevent the keys from sticking to each other, keeping your keys sounding crisp and clear.
Extend Lifespan
The piano can be seen as an asset.
An asset appreciates over time, and thus with proper care, the piano too! Every pianist should want to care for their piano, since it is an instrument that can retain its value.
A well-maintained acoustic piano can last for up to a 100 years or even more, depending on the quality of the instrument.
Whereas pianos that do not experience the appropriate care age faster– lasting for about ten to thirty years.
What causes some pianos to last and others not to?
Considering the quality of the piano is decent, there are various factors that can influence the longevity of the instrument.
Some of these factors include poor humidity control, exposure to sunlight and lack of cleaning.
When I mean poor humidity control, I mean to say to make sure your piano is in a room or area where the humidity is between 40% and 60%.
Now of course one cannot control the weather, but placing your piano in a room that gets either very hot or very cold, is maybe not such a good idea.
It impacts the internal components of the instrument significantly.
This brings me to my next point of exposure to sunlight.
If your piano is constantly exposed to sunlight, it can fade the finish on your piano and cause the glue holding the instrument together to soften.
It can warp the wood and damage internal components, affecting the overall quality of the instrument.
Lack of cleaning can be referring to not wiping dust off of the keys regularly, or checking for pests that may be eating away at the wood.
With proper care, your piano can last for decades.
Improve Playability
Did you know that regularly playing your piano is also a way of maintaining it?
Almost like an athlete that needs to continuously practise to stay in shape, the piano also needs regular playing to help keep the keys responsive and the internal components ‘fit’.
Regularly playing your piano can help ensure the piano keys keep responding accordingly and prevent them from getting stiff.
Enhance Resale Value
As mentioned briefly before, some pianos can retain and even appreciate in value.
If ever needed to sell, you can receive more than what you paid for.
I was always told to look after my things when I was younger.
Looking back, I am extremely grateful for the things I have properly looked after, because preserving is cheaper than replacing.
Thus it is always a good principle to look after your piano, because you never know if you might one day choose to sell it.
It would be a bummer to sell your piano and lose out on extra money you could have received if you had just cared for it.
Emotional Connection And Personal Satisfaction
By investing more into your instrument, you are emotionally building a stronger connection and relationship with your piano, subconsciously motivating you to practise and play more.
Physiologically it is proven that the things you invest time and money into, will cause it to become a bigger priority.
This is a great way for pianists who have been struggling to keep up with practise to fall in love with the instrument all over again.
If you care for your instrument, you are exercising a deeper respect and as a result will want to practise and play more.
Having a well maintained piano also brings personal satisfaction – who does not like a pretty piano!
I would like to compare the piano to a car.
Whenever I am driving and my car is dirty, it feels less pleasant.
But whenever I am driving a properly cleaned car, driving has never been more attractive!
Just like that, a well maintained piano makes it extremely more pleasant, satisfying and appealing to play.
Conclusion
Like they say, prevention is better than cure.
Either you can just enjoy a season of a good piano, needing to replace it later on again or you can invest in the instrument and still be reaping its fruits decades later..
Which battle are you going to fight?
