Piano Technician
Jacob Presazyen, piano technician, has more than 25 years of experience as a piano tuner, and has served as technician for such international artists as Oxana Yablonskaya of Julliard School of Music, Antonio Pompa-Baldy (2001 Cliburn Competition Winner) and Katia Skanavi of Moscow Conservatory. Jacob is currently doing work for M. Steinert & Sons in Boston as well as the Celebrity Series at UNH. He received his training at St. Petersburg Conservatory Russia, and has a background in choir conducting. He is presently the Music Director and Organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Haverhill. Jacob may be contacted at 978-372-9883 or by cell at 978-869-9650, or e-mailed at Pianoman2000194@yahoo.com.
How To Extend the Life of Your Piano
There is a charming song by Ray Charles and Billy Joel called “My Baby Grand”. The meaning of the lyrics of that song is: no matter of all the worries or troubles of life, even when we get older or weary, or if the ones who we love leave us - “My Baby Grand is always there for me”.
Please, take a moment, sit down at Your Baby Grand, and just play a melody you love, or a simple cord. On a well-tuned piano you would be able to hear all those overtones perfectly aligned and interacting in harmony, vibrating in many different combinations, creating The Sound. There is a scientific theory, which explains the substance of Life as Vibrations of Higher Energy. The Sound is the product of those Vibrations. The strings of The Piano create The Sound.
You may read all the above and stop me with a reasonable remark: “But, please, tell me about MY piano!” (Remember that beautiful book by George Mason “The Piano Tuner”, by the way? One of those “Not to be missed” books for anyone who loves pianos, music, and good quality literature). Even if I try very hard, I would not be able to tell you everything about your piano within the limits of this article. I hope we will be able to have those conversations from time to time in the future, as a result of which you would take a fresh look at Your Baby Grand and make it your trusted friend and emotional companion in life.
If you ask me a direct question: “How do I extend the life of my piano,” there are three basic things which you as a piano owner can do, (provided that your piano is regularly serviced), which would greatly improve the quality of performance (sound and touch), and most of all the reliability and long term health of your piano. They are: Humidity, Humidity, and Humidity. Surprised? If you are able to provide a 40-45 range of humidity throughout the year-you are in a great shape. Get a good humidity gage, first of all and depending on the readings you may have to get a humidifier for the heating season or dehumidifier for the summer.
Naturally, never place your Baby Grand near the fire place, or heater, central air vent, any drafts or direct sun light. Your Baby Grand likes stability, and don’t we all? There is an old saying: “Your piano can only be as good, as good as the last person, who worked on it.” There is a great deal of wisdom in those words.
Today’s pianos have evolved as sophisticated, complex mechanism, the action of which has nearly 9,000 parts, all intricately interwoven. Every piano has a personality, its own voice. As with any finely built object, regular and proper servicing of your piano is of vital importance if your want to extend its life. During the first few years of stretching, the piano needs to be tuned several times each year. After this period (except in situations of extremely heavy use), two tunings per year is usually adequate. With normal home use, the piano will require a complete (or partial) re-regulation every several years. That ensures that Your Baby Grand does precisely that which you demand of it.
Additionally, as your piano is used, the hammers will continuously change its original density (usually harden). Consequently, your piano requires periodic voicing to maintain its sound and its special voice, which actually makes it only Your Baby Grand, which is “always there for you”.
If you provide good care to your piano it will reward you greatly in many beautiful ways: with the logic of Bach’s fugues, or brilliant simplicity of Mozart sonatas, intimacy of Chopin’s nocturnes, or nostalgic sophistication of Brahms’s intermezzos. My best wishes to you in your musical endeavors and your new relationship with Your Baby Grand.
For additional questions and advice on piano care, you are welcomed to e-mail to me or call me at 978.372-9883 (home), 978.869-9650 (cell).
Jacob Presayzen
SSC Piano Technician