Tuning Your Piano with the Changing Seasons
What Time Of Year Should You Tune Your Piano?
People often ask me this question, and for good reason: it's frustrating when our pianos go out of tune each time the seasons change. So… what's the best timing?
Timing Your Tuning Around Seasonal Changes
Some clients strongly dislike tuning before the furnace comes on in late fall or early winter. There's logic to this: tuning stability depends on environmental stability. Turning on your heat will shift the environment and affect your piano's tuning. Some homes will be more drastic than others.
Since each home situation is different and it isn’t logistically possible for all of my clients to schedule their tuning at the same time of year, I recommend you trust your judgment. If you notice a significant difference, have your piano tuned a few weeks after you turn on the heat. This will give the piano time to adjust.
Another common approach is to schedule tuning before major events, such as Christmas, Easter, a recital, or a family gathering. This ensures your piano sounds its best when it matters most.
Keeping Your Piano in Tune Year-Round
If I'm your technician, you probably live in a climate with significant seasonal changes (like Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, or elsewhere on the Canadian prairies). The seasons will affect your piano's tuning. That's the reality of owning an acoustic instrument in a climate with temperature and humidity fluctuations.
If you’re not happy with how well your piano stays in tune, there are two steps you can take:
Do what you can to stabilize the environment. I recommend the Piano Life Saver System (installed by me).
Have your piano tuned more often. Piano manufacturers often recommend tuning your piano four times per year. The only reason your tech would suggest tuning less frequently is that they consider it unrealistic or unnecessary. It is necessary if you aren’t happy with the results you are getting.
