The Piano Doctor. (June 6th)

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I think that regular piano tuning might be like a "regular checkup" for us humans.

Unlike instruments like the violin or harp, where the player can vibrate and resonate the same strings themselves, a piano cannot be tuned by the player, so we must ask a tuner to come and perform maintenance, right?

Since Japan has a rainy season and hot, humid summers, the timing for adjustments is generally determined by those factors.
I secretly call the tuner the "piano doctor"♪

🌟Tuning
　/ Saya Misaki

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If you play the piano, you may already know this well, but

the piano is quite complex beyond the black and white keys—parts that are usually hidden inside the instrument—and its main materials are wood and felt.

Looking at it from the outside, its large frame seems very sturdy, but even if you maintain a comfortable air-conditioned environment year-round, its mechanics are extremely delicate and very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

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Also, the number of strings stretched across a piano is a staggering 230 in total. Compared to the 4 strings of a violin or the 6 strings of a guitar, you might be surprised by how many there are.

The breakdown for a standard 88-key piano is 1 to 2 strings for each note in the bass range, and 3 strings for each note from the mid-range to the high range.

Perhaps you have also heard that slightly out-of-tune, metallic, and poignant sound coming from "station pianos" or "street pianos" that are placed in locations almost exposed to the outdoors.

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So, even just taking tuning as an example, the piano is an instrument you cannot tune yourself like your fellow violin or guitar players. But this need for extra care is also what makes it endearing.

Regular maintenance is essential for a piano. My 🇩🇪 partner, which I practice on every single day without fail, is visited by a tuner about four times a year, and if there are no problems, they spend about two hours carefully adjusting it.

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By the way, for those of you who play the piano as a hobby, how often do you have your instrument tuned?

I can't beat the keen ears of a violinist who creates their own sound from scratch, but pitch is also very important for the piano.

So, just as you go for regular checkups for your own well-being, please show your piano some gentle care as well.

I hope you have a wonderful day today, too.

(🎹MIYABI)

🌟Special thanks:
　　　/ Saya Misaki