Institutional Piano Service
Among the greatest investments an institution can make is to provide the best tools to support higher levels of achievement. The decision to invest in The Family of Steinway Designed Pianos and become an All-Steinway School confirms this commitment.
Inseparable from this goal is to insure that your piano inventory is always at optimum condition and ready to serve. The very best pianos cannot meet the long-term needs of a prestigious music program unless there exists a qualified technical piano staff with adequate resources to perform a proper service regimen. The consequences of not having an adequate replacement program or trying to educate with deteriorating equipment can be costly the schools reputation, student enrollments and the long-term investment.
This is only a brief guide since every situation is unique and requires careful review by each administrator.
Enviroment
Steinway & Sons recommends that the institutions pianos are not placed in the path of air conditioning, heating ducts or close to un-insulated outside walls. Pianos placed in unstable enviroments can expect tuning instability and frequent action adjustments.
It is best to situate a piano out of direct sunlight and in an enviroment where relative humidity ranges from 45%-50%. If this is not possible, it is important to try and keep these fluctuations within a fairly narrow range. The placement of a hygrometer near or on the piano will help monitor the enviroment and identify potential problems before they occur.
Storage & Equipment
Wherever possible concert and classroom pianos should be covered with a properly sized quilted piano cover and kept lacked (fallboard) to provide maximum protection. Pianos used for practive activities should be stationed in rooms with door locks and it is acceptable to leave their fallboards open to allow for maximum air circulation. Pianos not used regularly or those placed in a storage area should be covered and their fallboards closed to prevent dirt and dust build-up on the piano and action mechanism.
A piano dolly is acceptable for moving instruments. If possible and feasible it is recommended that the dolly beremoved for major concerts. For instruments with active concert schedules the purchase of a piano lifting dolly that is easily removable would be a wise investment. Pianos continually moved should have all legs and lyre inspected regularly for structural integrity. This is especially true for instruments moved without the use of a piano dolly.
Service Agenda
Piano Tuning & Overlook: This procedure includes solid stable tuning of the piano to a designated pitch. Pitch should be A-440. Concert Instruments may be tuned to A-441 to more easily address requests for pitch changes. Check the action and damper regulation, pedals for proper operation and function and piano voicing. Perform minor adjustments and chek the painos legs, lyre and bench.
Technical Overhaul: This includes complete action, damper and pedal regulation. Repair and/or replace parts if necessary. Clean strings, check and repair furniture and bench parts. Final tune and voice reading the piano for the subsequent school year.
Technical Restoration: As piano inventory ages component parts repairs and replacements will be necessary to maintain performance standards. This major work may include restringing, new hammers, action parts, key rebushing, damper felt replacement, restoration and/or replacement of hardware, legs, lyre and pedal system. The work should be planned during the Technical Overhaul.
Note: If piano replacement is not an option, piano restoration beyond re-stringing should be contracted with the Steinway & Sons Restoration Center. Steinway's extensive shop facilities and machinery required to perform this specialty work insures that your Steinway piano will be rebuilt to Steinway standards, using genuine Steinway parts and comes with a five year warranty.
Technical, Facilities and Support Requirements
Steinway & Sons recommens that one full-time concert piano level technician designated, as the Chief Staff Technician is responsible for the entire piano inventory and maintenance of the institutions pianos. Addition responsibilities include:
- Managing the business of piano service
- Manging the inventory
- Assisting with the selection of new inventory
- Teaching and educational development
The Chief Staff Technician should know and understand Steinway factory and service procedures, participate in Steinway technical programs and establish a close association with the local Steinway reprentative, Steinway Hall.
The technical workshop should be equipped with basic woodworking tools and benches. There should be adequate lighting, space enough to accomodate one or more Steinway 'D' concert grand piano(s), adequate storage facilities stocked with basic piano parts and service material. A computer would be an asset for inventory control, commucication and business management. A min/max system or re-order point program should be in place to insure that adequate supplies are always on hand and available.