Upper Valley Uprights

How often should a piano be tuned?  Whenever you want it to be in tune!

If a piano is mostly inanimate, once a year is adequate for maintenance.  If played regularly, twice a year is recommended.  Should a piano reside with passionate players, seasonal tunings are appreciated.  If playing with others, recording or performing, tuning just before playing may be ideal.

Why does a piano go out of tune?

Humidity changes the dimensions of the of the soundboard, bridges rims, and beams, causing the piano to go sharp in the summer and flat in the winter here.  If not tuned for some years, these humidity swings contort the piano, making it impossible to tune without first returning it to its proper tension—usually a pitch raise is called for.  

Taking a piano apart and cleaning is how to make acquaintance before tuning or adjusting.  It’s astounding how much detritus find its way through the spaces between the keys, under the lid, behind the knee panel.  A sticking key may simply need its bed vacuumed to free it.  How lively or delicate can the action be when laden with years of deferred dusting? Then it can be determined if adjustments or repairs are necessary so that everything functions perfectly.  Now, the tension may be measured, the tuning considered. 

How does a piano sound so wonderful and play so nicely?  All things being equal, bigger is better in this regard.  A concert grand isn’t needed, but a piano of a certain size and quality is for a music student to develop their ear and touch.  For dedicated students I have Yamaha P22s for lease.  Or, there are thousands of pianos around—perhaps you can find a good one.  A Piano isn’t a piccolo in more than 12,000 ways, and Upper Valley Uprights is dedicated to making them work.

Piano Service (Grands too!)

Tuning $90

Cleaning, Adjusting, Repairing $30/hour

Yamaha P22 Leases (Currently Available)

$45/month beginning with one year, including delivery, tuning & service 

For Sale 

Yamaha U1 Ebony 1971

$3500 including ground floor local delivery and 1 year tuning & service

Adam Patridge

Upper Valley Uprights LLC

Lyme, NH

adampatridge@icloud.com  email

(603) 440-0035  mobile