How to Maintain Your Piano Properly

09-Jul-2017 By Guest Blogger

If you enjoy playing music or listening to others play, owning a piano can be a great privilege. Proper maintenance will help make the instrument last and keep it sounding good for years.

On the other hand, neglect could considerably shorten the lifespan of the instrument. How can you keep your piano looking and sounding great? Here are some piano maintenance tips for artists. Let’s explore now!

Choose an ideal location

Pianos are sensitive to extreme temperatures and high humidity. Since it is mainly made from wood, the instrument is highly susceptible to humidity changes. The wood expands and shrinks with fluctuations in humidity.

This, in turn, changes the tension on the strings and could make the device go out of tune. In extreme cases of humidity changes, the soundboard can warp. This makes the entire instrument collapse calling for a major rebuilding or even replacement.

Keeping the instrument in a controlled environment is necessary. Ensure that you maintain consistent levels of temperature and humidity in the room where you store the device. Humidity can be controlled using a humidifier during winter and a dehumidifier during summer.

The ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ideal humidity is 42%. Avoid placing the instrument next to high traffic doors, fireplaces, heaters and air conditioning units. Such areas tend to have inconsistent temperature and humidity levels.

Proper storage

When not in use, it is advisable to keep the piano covered. Covering the instrument prevents accumulation of dirt on the keys. Some pianos come complete with a cover. However, if you don’t have a ready-made cover, you can always source one from a local store or online.

It is advisable to uncover the piano at times to enhance air circulation. This will help prevent the growth of mold, as this could have detrimental effects. Pianos with ivory keys need some exposure to light to prevent the keys from turning yellow.

Ensure that you keep liquids very far from the instrument. Spillages are a leading cause of piano damages. Damages resulting from liquid spillages tend to be irreversible. Abstain from drinking while playing music. You may accidentally spill your drink and ruin your treasured music box!

Proper handling

While in use, a piano should be properly handled. Avoid leaning too heavily on it; this could exert undue pressure on the keys. Do not use the instrument as a shelf by placing too many items on it.

Avoid putting books and other stationery on the piano. Don’t allow your pets to climb on the instrument. This could leave some unpleasant claw marks ruining the natural appeal of the device. Pet hair and fur could also adversely affect the device’s sensors and other components.

Always ensure that the piano is properly plugged into a power source. Often, many electronics malfunction due to improper plugging and faulty electrical outlets. Musical instruments are no exception.

Avoid plugging the device into an overloaded power outlet alongside other gadgets. This could interfere with the overall performance of the piano and also result in its destruction.

Regular cleaning

You may not be able to completely prevent dust from accumulating on the piano. It is, therefore, necessary to clean the instrument regularly. Instead of using water, use a clean, dry cloth. If you happen to use a damp cloth, ensure that the piano is dried immediately.

Aerosol cleaners and other cleaners that contain silicone and solvents should not be used. Check the manufacturer’s notes to learn about the acceptable cleaning methods. Always wash and dry your hands before touching the piano. This helps curb transfer of dirt from your hands to the instrument.

Frequent tuning

A piano’s international pitch standard is A-440 cycles per second. The instrument gets out of tune especially when it is not in use. This makes it unpleasant to play and listen to.

Regular tuning will help you reap the best sound from the piano. It is recommended to have domestic pianos tuned at least once every six months. Tuning is also recommended right before the instrument is played.

Avoid do-it-yourself tuning; instead, get a professional technician to tune the instrument. It takes skill and expertise to restore the device to its proper pitch. Technicians may either use electronic tuning devices or aural techniques.

Identify the right technician

A piano is a lifetime investment. Your objective should be to make it last as long as possible. Regular maintenance by a qualified technician will enhance the life of the instrument.

Besides tuning, other necessary maintenance procedures include voicing and regulation. In the case of significant damages, you will need restoration and rebuilding services. A good technician will walk with you all the way.

Conclusion

Above all, as an independent musician, keep playing your piano! This will help keep all the moving parts in good condition. It will also help you identify any problem that may arise at an earlier stage.

What do you think about this guide? Please leave your comment below.

Author Bio

I’m Alex Frank who has worked sound technology industry for ten years now. Today, I am an affiliate blogger who likes to educate my audience more about audio technology. Visit Music Instruments Center to find all information about music that you need.

Independent Musicians “Bloom” at youbloomDublin Music Summit & Festival

04-Jul-2017 By Marie Tobias

The youbloom Mission Achieved

In the words of The Key Regimes, who performed songs from their debut EP at youbloomDublin, “education and community” are the aspects of youbloom’s mission that they relate with most. “There is never enough of either”, they stated.

How does youbloom provide this through youbloomDublin? Just ask the artists who performed.

The Key Regimes, who were “blown away with the quality of the bands playing over the weekend”, relaxing before a set at youbloomDublin

Community and Education Fostered at youbloomDublin

“Having a sense of community is extremely important for musicians”, Pixie Saytar, a three member band who played a set at 4 Dame Lane, stated. The ability to form a connection rather than a competition allows artists to “feel a part of something bigger”. Pixie Saytar believes a community atmosphere is “vital to growth as both an artist and a person”.

To Pixie Saytar, the educational aspect of youbloom is also important in that it’s about “sharing your expertise with others”, and meeting industry figures removes some of the big bad scariness.

Pixie Saytar striking a pose at youbloomDublin

For others, such as Dandelion Tea, youbloom is about “building a community that supports artists” and learning from others in that community. They quoted Vaughan Williams who once said that “the composer must not shut himself up and think about art, he must live with his fellows and make his art an expression of the whole community.”

ELLYD, who returned to youbloomDublin this year as a solo artist, playing some tunes

Successes and Takeaways From youbloomDublin2017

CARRON is hoping to make it to youbloomLA this year. The two sisters are thankful for the advantageous music industry contacts they made who can offer valuable tips for artists such as themselves. They also look forward to possibly “performing [with them] in the near future”.

Dandelion Tea also saw success in that they were “booked for another gig straight after.” Overall, many artists felt as though their performances were well received by a nice crowd. In the words of ELLYD, “it’s always a pleasure to play at youbloom!”

The Music Industry: Artists’ Outlook

30-Jun-2017 By Marie Tobias

YoubloomDublin2017

At around noon on Thursday, June 1st, Dublin’s atmosphere became a bit more community-minded. More specifically, it became a bit more nurturing towards those who possess a love of music.

Sixty independent musicians based in multiple countries—from Portugal to Sweden—would play a unique gig during that weekend at the youbloomDublin Music Summit & Festival, an independent music conference and festival. Its uniqueness stems from the fact that youbloom caters specifically to unsigned artists with the intention of altering the current unsustainability of said artists.

How do they accomplish this? Well, just ask the artists themselves who performed at youbloomDublin three weeks ago.

But first, let’s take a step back.

The Music Industry Exposed

The music industry is extremely skewed: a few hundred artists make 75% of the revenue. Smaller artists usually remain unseen because they simply don’t have the support they need to grow their business. These music industry statistics and the monopoly effect lead artists like Oski Bravo, who performed at youbloom Dublin for the first time, to insist that the music industry is a “pigsty”.

Back to the Ocean, an alternative band who played twice at youbloomDublin, also attests to the demanding aspects of the music industry in that independent musicians basically must figure out how to get fans on their own. They’re “expected to have world class recordings, [a] big fanbase, professional videos and social media profiles, and [a] business orientation”.

Back to the Ocean rocking out at youbloomDublin for their first performance at the festival

A Love of Music

But for many, even though the odds seem insurmountable, the love for the craft is greater.

“It felt like a natural progression for both of us”, CARRON stated. For the two sisters who played at youbloomDublin in Phoenix Park on Saturday and The Globe on Sunday, it began with “leading roles in shows like ‘Annie’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, and ‘The Sound of Music’” along with violin and vocal lessons.

They believe the music industry standard is quite high, particularly in Ireland with artists such as Hozier attaining success. However, they are hopeful for what it means for them in that “[they] must always be progressing too, writing new music and taking part in as many live events as [they] can”.

CARRON striking a pose at youbloomDublin

For others, such as Dandelion Tea, who performed at 4 Dame Lane on Saturday, “Music is just something that always made sense. [It’s] an intangible form of art that can impact so many people in a big way. We felt we had something unique to say and music was the language we could best express it in.”

The music industry may receive complaints, but as Dandelion Tea said, pictured here feeling the music at youbloomDublin, “that’s the nature of monetizing art.”

The overwhelming nature of the music business may discourage artists to pursue music, but many still do simply because they couldn’t imagine themselves doing anything different. It’s this overwhelming love for music that fuels artists and youbloom members alike.

Podcast #3: Wallis Bird

22-Apr-2017 By Michele Enoch

Donal Scannell speaks with Wallis Bird about life and music in this installment of his podcasts. Wallis Bird is a singer/songwriter from Ireland whose 5th and latest album came out in September of last year.

Podcast Host:

Donal Scannell co-founded Gigstarter as a crowdfunding tool for planning and funding tours. Described as the Kickstarter for gigs, the web tool is a way for concerts to be crowd funded by fans. Donal is also creative director at production company Scanarama.

Musician’s Guide to Getting to a Record Label Deal

18-Apr-2017 By Michele Enoch

One of the most important things that artists look for when starting out is a label. A label is very important to many artists and they always aspire to get one. It is a great thing to have, but is not always needed. This article will start with what labels help out with and then list ways to get a label and how to do things on your own.

Labels:

Labels help with so many things. They help you pay for things such as tours, merchandise, and recording. They also help with creating shows and other performers to work with. Labels also help with distribution and marketing. They do a lot of the business side so you don’t have to.

YouTube:

YouTube is a great way to get your music noticed. Labels go there looking for what’s new and making waves. It shows a lot about you and your music. Live videos will show them how fans and people react to you as well as show your stage presence. Music videos show your artistic side and even what your songs are about. They’re easy to link to and easy to find.

Good Music:

Having good music will intrigue them. You want something that will stick with them and they won’t forget you. The more you make unforgettable music, the more likely they’ll want to check you out. It can’t just be good to you. It has to be good to everyone. Have honest friends listen to your music and tell you what they think about it. Have music that stands out and doesn’t sound like everything else out there. There are popular sounds out there, but you still want to stand out amongst those sounds.

Live Shows:

You never know who’s going to show up to a live a show. Labels will sometimes send out their A&R people and sometimes they’ll just show up on their own terms. You can always go to music industry conferences, such as SXSW, or find a local venue that holds industry night shows. There will be some venues who have nights where people from the industry will show up to check out new artist. Most of the time you will have to bring a significant amount of people in order to just play there.

Contacting Labels:

When contacting labels, you want to make sure you are contacting the right label for you. You want to make sure the label is helping out other artists like yourself and working in the same genre. Always look over the website before sending anything in. It will show you a lot about the company. It will show you what kind of music they work with, who’s on their roster, and how to send your music to them. Every A&R person will have a way they want you to send in music. If it doesn’t say, send them a link to your Bandcamp or SoundCloud. It will be easier for them to stream it rather than download an mp3 or finding a CD player.

If a label doesn’t respond right away, don’t get give up hope. They are most likely busy with other artists sending in their music and plenty of other things their job requires them to do. After a week or two you can send in a follow up email to remind them that you are still out there. Be respectful and understanding when doing so.

Website:

Owning a website is always a great thing to have. It has everything in one place. Links to music, videos, social media, merchandise, and news. Labels will be able to go to one place to get everything they need. There are plenty of domain owning sites out there to help you, you just have to find the right one for you. Like everything, shop around before settling with just one.

Artwork:

Artwork can be anything, it just needs to catch the eye of the people you want. Come up with a logo that is pleasing, eye catching, and shows what your music is about. It can be very basic or very extravagant. Photos are the next things you need. It can be artsy and help show things about you. Shows how you look and describes the music you produce. Filters help show more than what a basic photograph can.

Independent:

Labels are now looking for artists who can handle things on their own. They will be there to help you out, but only after you are signed. They want you to be able to do things on your own before signing and even after signing. You have to know how to get fans on your own, have some music already recorded, and how to handle things that come to your music. Shows how passionate you are about your music and that you don’t have to rely on others to get things done.

Build Relationship:

Relationships are the most important thing in any business. It builds a connection between yourself and the other person. Try to build one with anyone at the label. Be genuine about it. Talk to them about themselves and get to know them. They will be more willing to help you with what you need. Don’t assume they are going to help just because you are being friendly. That should be left up to them. Do this before sending in music, otherwise it might not work out the right way. Follow them on social media accounts and strike up conversations with them about some of their posts. It may take awhile, but it will be worth it in the end. If the company is near you, go in and try talking to them face to face. Keep going in and trying to talk to their A&R person and become friendly with everyone in the office, including the receptionist. Sometimes connecting with the first person you see when walking in is the best.

Looking for the right label takes time and patience. Make sure you are ready before looking for one and have all the details about what you are looking for and what they are looking for. Build relationships and connect with them. Have followers and music to send them. You want to make sure they stay interested and won’t forget you.