Vanguard Piano Service | Piano Repair Service Kansas city

  Why are the keytops blue? This piano is being rebuilt, but we want to refresh the action parts and key sticks rather than replacing them to allow us to keep the original ivory keys. Before Cleaning — Part 1 Before Cleaning — Part 2 Even though it may not dramatically improve the piano’s playing performance, it does impact how the technicians may physically handle the various action parts while rebuilding the action. Cleaning off dust and grime that is 50+ years old helps us work more efficiently and accurately, and contributes to the overall cleanliness of the instrument. After Cleaning — Part 1 After Cleaning — Part 2 To accomplish this, the keytops are covered with painters tape to protect them while being cleaned with a sandblaster. Once the sand blasting removes most of the bulk of the grime from the keys, sandpaper is used to gently clear any remaining dirt from the wood closest to the keytops. Read More :  Piano Technicians near me. Visit us :  Piano Technicians I...

  Stay tuned for photos, lessons and tales from the   2024 ANNUAL PTG CONVENTION & TECHNICAL INSTITUTE in Reno! Each year, Vanguard Piano Service sends our technicians to train with members of the Piano Technicians Guild from all over the country. This convention gives our team a chance to learn from other technicians and network with others who are just as nerdy about pianos as we are! Jonathan, Parker, Erik and Ty at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport awaiting departure for Reno Read More :  Piano Technicians near me. Visit us :  Piano Technicians In Saint Louis.

Pitch and volume  are fundamental aspects of sound that shape our auditory experiences, but they pertain to different properties. Pitch refers to the frequency of sound waves, determining how high or low a sound is perceived. It is measured in Hertz (Hz) and is influenced by the rate at which sound waves vibrate. High-pitched sounds, like a soprano’s high note or a whistle, have high frequencies, while low-pitched sounds, such as a bass drum or a deep male voice, have low frequencies. The ability to perceive pitch allows us to distinguish between different musical notes and recognize the melody in a piece of music. Volume, on the other hand, relates to the amplitude of sound waves, indicating how loud or soft a sound is. It is measured in decibels (dB) and is influenced by the energy and intensity of the sound waves. Higher amplitude sound waves produce louder sounds, like the roar of a jet engine or a rock concert, whereas lower amplitude waves result in softer sounds, such as a w...

I remember the specific day that it struck home to me how personal and personalized musical instruments have always been. The year was 2016, and I was visiting Germany on an internship through my university. Surrounded by about 70 different kinds of horn instruments, I pondered how ordinary people who also tilled fields, hunted for sustenance, or engaged in early trades, also built musical instruments that fit their lifestyles and their music. A carpenter might make early harps or violins, a farmer carve reed pipes or hollow out rams horns, a blacksmith might also make bells or drums. In archeological sites across the whole world we find musical instruments made of the most readily available materials, whether of reed or bone, brass or wood(1). The whole of human history has truly been full of music. The piano is a relatively modern invention (around the year 1700) and as an instrument too large to be strictly portable, and too demanding in its construction to be easily ac...

  In the world of piano   tuning and maintenance , one encounters a multitude of surprises. From antique treasures hidden in old instruments to mysterious sounds that defy explanation, each day brings something new. However, few experiences rival the perplexing discovery I recently encountered while servicing a client’s piano — a cache of dog food nestled beneath the keys. Picture this: a quaint suburban home with a slightly aged but good condition upright piano, positioned in a sunlit corner of the living room. As a professional piano tuner, I often find myself in such homes, entrusted with the task of ensuring these musical instruments sing with clarity and harmony. Little did I know that this routine appointment would unveil an unexpected twist. The appointment began fairly straightforward. I asked the client about when the piano was last serviced, performed my preliminary run of playing chromatically up the keys and then began taking off case part. The whole time I kept de...

  The piano is a remarkable instrument that has enchanted countless musicians and audiences for centuries. Its rich and complex sound is a result of various factors, including pitch and tone. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct aspects of the piano’s sonic character. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between pitch and tone in a piano, and how they contribute to the instrument’s unique musical qualities. Pitch: The Foundation of Sound Pitch is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of music. It refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a sound and is determined by the frequency of the vibrations that produce it. In the context of a piano, pitch is the parameter that allows us to distinguish between different keys or notes. Frequency: Each key on a piano corresponds to a specific pitch. For example, when you press the middle C key, it produces a specific frequency of sound waves that our ears perceive as the note C. Each key to t...

  The Piano Life Saver System, also known as a humidity control system for pianos, is a device designed to help maintain stable humidity levels inside a piano. This system is installed within the piano and consists of several components, including a humidifier and a dehumidifier, as well as a control unit. Its primary purpose is to prevent the negative effects of fluctuations in humidity on a piano’s structural components and tuning stability. Here’s how the Piano Life Saver System works and why it’s beneficial: Humidifier: The humidifier component adds moisture to the air inside the piano when the humidity levels are too low. Maintaining proper humidity is crucial because pianos are made of wood, and extreme variations in humidity can cause the wooden components to expand and contract. This can lead to problems such as cracked soundboards, warped keybeds, and sticky keys. Dehumidifier: The dehumidifier component removes excess moisture from the air inside the piano when humidity l...