Piano and Music Videos

So, are pianos from California really better? Often times, yes! The reason that used pianos from parts of California are generally in better condition is because of the stable climate.

You might hear about companies that climatize their pianos for certain regions and while this might sound like a good idea, this is not always possible. Let’s take California for example. There are a multitude of climates within different geographical areas. No two places are exactly the same. Right here, 10 miles from the beach, the climate is moderate year round. But there are dramatically different climates not far from here.

So what weather is best for pianos? Moderate humidity and a consistent temperature create the best environment for a piano. You don’t want them to go through drastic swings of cold and hot and you certainly don’t want your piano to have to endure extremely humid or dry environments.

California generally provides a gentle environment for pianos, but not everywhere. For example, I live about 10 miles from the beach and the weather is semi-arid and the temperature remains fairly consistent year round. Down by the beach the salt air can damage pianos in just a few years. Likewise, travel inland to the high desert not far away, and the dry climate can play havoc with soundboards and other wood parts of your piano.

In a gentle California climate a piano can reside in a home for decades without experiencing any damage to the soundboard, case or action particularly if it is kept closed most of the time and maintained on a regular basis. I have personally run across countless pianos from this region which can be well preserved gems. This is not possible in most other places in the United States – in New York a vintage piano can suffer soundboard and other damage from the wild swings from the humid summers to the dry heat of the winter – particularly pianos manufactured before the advent of air conditioning.

But beyond whether or not California is a good place for pianos the care you provide for your instrument is critical. You may be able to provide a suitable environment for a piano in any region as long as you keep it in a consistent environment. For example, you may live in a high rise in Chicago with climate control of temperate and humidity and have a great environment for your piano. People at the beach can try to mitigate the moist air by simply closing the piano at night and possibly installing a Dampp-Chaser System. This applies to pianos in the desert as well. Ideally you treat the room. When this isn’t possible, there are technologies that can help to stabilize your piano.

Like most things when it comes to the piano, this question does not have a simple answer. There is no absolute standard for how many strings are on a piano but there are some general guidelines that can shed some light on this question.

Some people might assume that since there are 88 keys on a piano, there would be 88 strings; but this isn’t the case. Most keys on the piano actually strike 3 strings when depressed. They are steel strings that run from the highest treble all the way to the bass section. Once you hit the bass section of the piano, the strings become copper wound and there are less of them per note (2 and eventually 1 on the lowest notes).

Now the problem in figuring out how many strings are on a piano depends on something called scale design. Scale design is a complex topic which I’ve covered in the past:

But basically what you need to know is that all pianos have unique scale designs with different numbers of strings in each section. Each piano switches from the triple steel strings to copper strings with different numbers of dual and single copper bass strings!

So the simple answer is you can’t say how many strings are on a piano exactly, but it ranges generally from about 220 to 240 strings.

Now this really should give you a renewed respect for your piano tuner if it hasn’t already! They have to tune every single one of those strings making sure they are all in proper pitch with each other. The octaves and intervals have to sound as pure as possible; their are also overtones to deal with – the process is actually quite complex.

This past year has brought many people and pianos together. But there is one that is set apart from the rest – my father’s Steinway. When my sister Coren and I were in high school, my father bought a new Baldwin 7-foot grand piano. So, my father’s Steinway baby grand (model S) went upstairs for us to practice on. This instrument had great sentimental attachment for my father. His father bought it for him in 1939 for $900 on credit. There were many times the struggle to make those payments cast in doubt keeping the piano.

When I moved from New York to study piano with Ruth Slenczynska in the Midwest, my father let me take the piano with me. Eventually, I lived in a home that had a piano. So, the piano went to my sister. My father gave the piano to my sister with the stipulation that one day she would have it restored to its original glory.

Flash forward several decades, this year that day came. Little did I know all those years ago that I would be the one responsible for the rebuilding of the piano! I got to live with this little gem of a piano for some time while working closely with our technicians refining it to a high level.

Just before it left, something motivated me to sit down and play my father’s Steinway. It was an unplanned, spontaneous inspiration that is recorded as a tribute for the honor of having been entrusted with this awesome responsibility. This is for you Dad – and Coren!

Player systems have become incredibly advanced – many can be programmed using a tablet or phone. They can play historic performances of some of the greatest pianists of all time preserved digitally from the original expressive player piano rolls from over 100 years ago! They can download new music over your home wireless network. Some have speakers that can play music to accompany the piano, and some will even record your performance for playback. It is a very exciting technology.

If you’ve considered getting one of these units for your piano you might wonder whether or not it will do any damage to the piano or if it will it play differently? These are good questions which require something more than a simple yes or no answers. The truth is, it can hurt the piano, but it doesn’t have to.

Many people are initially surprised when they find out how much it costs to install a player system on their piano. Typically it will cost thousands of dollars. The process to install a player system is quite complex and you will want to make sure you work with a technician who is experienced in installing them.

In order to install the system, the technician must cut into the key bed where the player system actuators come through to operate the keys from the bottom. Under the hands of a skilled technician, there is virtually no risk involved with installing a player system.

With the right technician, you will not be able to tell a difference in the action if a player system is installed. My technician has been installing player systems for over 30 years and I’ve played many pianos he has installed them on and can’t tell any difference in the feel or response of the pianos in any way.

Now, there is another side to player system installation that you should be aware of. If a technician is not skilled in installing player systems, there is some risk of damage to your piano. Incidentally, a large piano moving company started training its truck drivers to install player systems in pianos in response to a decline in piano sales and deliveries after the crash of the housing market. Many dealers are taking advantage of the low labor costs. So, when you consider having a player system installed in your piano, be sure to inquire who is doing the work.

Chickering & Sons pianos are one of the oldest, American piano companies going back to 1823. In 1850, Henry Steinway attended a concert featuring performance on a Chickering grand piano. He was entranced by the experience and it provided inspiration to start Steinway & Sons pianos.

In the mid-1800’s Chickering was the largest piano manufacturer in the United States. There have been Chickering pianos in the White House. Abraham Lincoln owned a Chickering piano.

Technically, Chickering was responsible for developing the one-piece, cast iron plate which became a standard for all pianos up until this day. Unlike the vast majority of American piano companies, Chickering survived the advent of radio and the phonograph, the Great Depression, and WWII. However, the influx of cheap Asian pianos finally dealt a death blow to the esteemed, American company in the early 1980’s.