The Difference Between Toning and Piano Tuning
The difference between toning and tuning a piano is often mistaken or commonly misunderstood. At Steinway Hall we pride ourselves on providing a quality and informative service. Piano toning or voicing is a service which improves the sound quality of the piano. In comparison piano tuning is a service that corrects the piano’s pitch. Here at Steinway Hall we understand the importance of maintaining your piano to receive the full benefits of owning a piano.
Toning
Toning or voicing a piano is designed to improve the tonal quality of a piano and is usually needed as a result of felt hardening. Felt hardening occurs when the hammer makes contact with the felt. After a while the felt will be become compressed due to the impact and will harden. As a result the sound produced by the piano will be altered.
Piano Tuning
In comparison, piano tuning focuses upon the harmony produced by the piano. This involves a piano technician making intricate changes to the pitch of the piano, making sure that the strings vibrate at a certain frequency to produce the correct sound.
A piano should ideally be tuned four times a year, mainly because the core material in a piano, the wood, regularly adjusts depending on the weather it is exposed to. For instance, cold, hot, dry and wet weather will all affect the temperament of the piano’s wood, which may result in swelling.
The movement of the wood affects the tone of the sound produced. Regular maintenance and tuning of your piano ensures that the sound of your piano is not compromised and any serious repairs are avoided.
Steinway Hall’s highly skilled technicians can provide quality piano tuning and toning services. We maintain that our services will optimise the performance of your piano, producing a sound that is superior to other pianos, and which will make playing your piano even more of a joyous pastime.