Inheriting a piano can be a truly special experience. Perhaps it’s a family heirloom, a cherished instrument passed down from a grandparent, or a generous gift from a friend. Suddenly, you have a magnificent piece of furniture that also happens to be a complex musical instrument. But if you’ve never owned a piano before, your first thought might be: “Now what?!”
Don’t worry! While a piano needs proper care, it’s not as daunting as it might seem. For new piano owners in St. Louis, understanding a few key steps can help you ensure your new treasure brings joy for years to come.
Step 1: Resist the Urge to DIY the Move
This is perhaps the most crucial first piece of advice. Pianos are incredibly heavy, awkwardly shaped, and surprisingly fragile. Attempting to move one yourself, even just across a room, can lead to:
- Serious Injury: To you or anyone helping.
- Damage to Your Home: Scratched floors, dinged walls, broken doors.
- Catastrophic Damage to the Piano: Broken legs, cracked soundboards, internal mechanisms thrown out of alignment.
Your best bet? Always hire professional piano movers. They have the right equipment, experience, and insurance to move your instrument safely to its new home.
Step 2: Finding the Perfect Spot in Your St. Louis Home
Once your piano is safely in place, where it sits matters a lot, especially with St. Louis’ distinct seasons and often humid climate.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Sunlight can cause the finish to fade, crack, and dry out the wood, leading to tuning instability. Keep your piano out of direct rays from windows.
- Stay Away from Vents and Radiators: Direct blasts of hot or cold air (or even just constant airflow) will rapidly dry out or humidify the wood, causing tuning issues and potential damage.
- Exterior Walls are Risky: Walls facing outside can fluctuate more in temperature than interior walls. Placing your piano against an interior wall is generally safer.
The goal is to find a spot with stable temperature and humidity.
Step 3: Schedule a Professional Piano Assessment & Tuning
This is your most important step! An inherited piano, especially if it’s been sitting unplayed for a while, almost certainly needs professional attention.
A qualified piano technician will:
- Assess its Condition: They’ll inspect the overall structure, soundboard, strings, keys, hammers, and pedals for any immediate issues or signs of wear. They can tell you if it’s in good shape or needs significant repairs.
- Tune It: Pianos naturally go out of tune due to environmental factors and playing. A tuning will restore its pitch and make it sound beautiful again. Don’t be surprised if it needs more than one tuning initially, especially if it’s been neglected for a long time. This is called a “pitch raise” and is common for pianos that are very flat.
- Recommend Care: Your technician can advise you on the best ongoing care for your specific piano and home environment, including discussing humidity control solutions specifically for the St. Louis climate, which can be quite humid in summer and dry in winter.
Step 4: Understand Ongoing Care for Your New Instrument
Pianos aren’t set-it-and-forget-it instruments, but routine care is simple:
- Regular Tuning: For pianos in St. Louis, at least two tunings per year are generally recommended due to our seasonal humidity and temperature swings. This helps stabilize the instrument.
- Humidity Control: Consider a dedicated in-piano humidity control system (like a Dampp-Chaser). These systems are highly effective at maintaining a stable internal environment for your piano, significantly reducing the impact of St. Louis’s weather.
- Gentle Cleaning: Dust the case regularly with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or furniture polishes that can damage the finish.
- Protect the Finish: Use coasters if you place anything on the piano. Be mindful of jewelry or belt buckles that could scratch the case when playing.
Inheriting a piano is a wonderful legacy. By taking these initial steps and committing to regular professional care, you’ll ensure this magnificent instrument continues to fill your St. Louis home with beautiful music for many years to come.
Ready to get your inherited piano assessed and brought back to life? Schedule a piano tuning with us today!