All instruments need special care and regular attention to sound their best.  Here are a few tips to keep your instrument in top shape!

Cleaning

• Always clean the surface of instruments with a soft, dry cloth
• Never spray the surface with cleaning products
• Sticky surfaces can be wiped with a slightly dampened cloth and dried immediately
• Do not get them dripping wet
• Because surfaces pick up sweat and dirt from fingers, wash your hands and dry them before you play
• Never put drinks, flowers or anything wet on or near instruments (especially pianos) because it could spill and damage the wood

Heat and Humidity

• Humidity is a big problem for all wood instruments
• Wood shrinks in dry conditions and expands in humid weather
• Humidity can cause strings to go out of tune
• A humidifier can help in the winter, but not near instruments
• Do not keep instruments near radiators or heating vents

Warning Signs

• If you notice any problems, you should call a repairman if no one familiar with instrument is around
• Never try to fix a problem by yourself
• There are some very specific signs if there are problems with your piano:

1. The piano will not play soft notes, or the keys are hard to press down
2. The keys stay down when pressed
3. The keys go down to different levels when you play.  You can check this by playing a scale to see if it feels bumpy
4. There is a louder noise than usual when a key is released
5. Two notes sound when you press one key
6. The piano sounds different than usual.  The notes may be out of tune or the tone quality is poor

If you take good care of our instruments, they will sound good and last a long time.