Useful things to know about the Piano

The accuracy of piano response is of enormous importance for the great concert pianist, but an even greater importance for the beginner. The professional concert pianist has already learnt the technique of piano playing, and that technique can never be taken away from him. The beginner can only learn the technique if the piano responds accurately to what is being asked of it. Often it is common for the student to think they are at fault when in fact it is the piano.

For a piano to play properly the technician setting up the action must have a deep understanding of the technique of piano playing, interwoven with a combined deep understanding of the geometry and engineering of a piano.

I was with a friend’s son recently. He seemed to be the happiest boy in the world. He had on his wrist a beautiful gold Rolex watch. Having impressed his friends he whispered to me “I got it for £5. It’s made in China". Buying a piano can be the same; it may be a perfect copy but is it really the same?

The example of the watch can be seen in all of the parts in a piano. As an example you can have six pieces of felt purchased from six different suppliers. One supplier may have been developing felt structure with piano makers for 150 years. Another supplier may only have five years experience. Six pieces of felt may all look the same, the problem can be that after a short time one piece may compress in thickness. If it compresses the thickness of a piece of writing paper, the piano will not respond correctly to what you are telling it to do. The next piece of felt may cause a pivoting pin to quickly wear through the felt, and cause knocking noises. Another piece of felt may remain good for a hundred years.

These are some of the reasons why I use the very finest materials and component parts. These components are used in Europe’s most expensive pianos such as Steinway, Bechstein, Bluthner, Bosendorfer and Faziol. Some of these upright pianos are priced at as much as £25,000.

There are approximately 5,700 parts in just the Piano Action, and there is a wealth of detailed knowledge to know about each and every one of those parts. Without that knowledge a poor quality part looks the same as a good quality part.

Each little part becomes a detailed subject on it own.

The piano will only play as well as the mechanism is set up and adjusted.

The accuracy of this process will depend on the detailed knowledge of piano playing technique, in relationship to the engineering and geometry of the piano.

It will also depend on the technician’s dedication and eye for detail.

The knowledge of different technicians in different piano factories will vary and is the reason why a piano with the same Action can play in ten thousand different ways.

It also does not automatically follow that a standard in the past by a famous maker will be maintained by a maker in the future.

It is important to be aware that the adjustments to the mechanism is not piano tuning, and those adjustments need to be regularly checked if the piano is to always perform well.