Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed the legendary “Jeunehomme” in January 1777. Officially known as Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K.271, it is believed the composition was written for pianist Victoire Jenamy in Salzburg, Austria. Only 21 years old at the time, Jeunehomme is one of Mozart’s very first mature compositions. The composition includes three [...]
Johann Sebastian Bach published The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, in 1741. Although it was the first and only of Bach’s works of this kind, it is considered today to be one of the best examples of variation in existence. Specifically written for the harpsichord, The Goldberg Variations consist of 30 variations and an aria. The composition was named [...]
The tuning fork is an instrument that was created to tune musical instruments. Its invention is credited to John Shore, a British musician, Sergeant Trumpeter, and Lutenist, in the year 1711. The tuning fork looks similar to a fork, with two prongs that extend from a U-shaped steel bar. When stricken, its vibrations emit a [...]
An Italian harpsichord marker, Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori was born on May 4, 1665, in the Republic of Venice. Cristofori earned fame, but not fortune, as the inventor of the piano, which was originally referred to as “ravicembalo col piano e forte,” which means a harpsichord that plays soft and loud. It was the inability [...]
History of Steinway and Sons and the Steinway Piano For piano lovers, Steinway is a household word and the hallmark of pianos across the world. We can credit Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg and his family for bringing it to homes and concert halls across America. Since 1825, Heinrich and his family lived in Seesen, Germany, where [...]
Most people see a piano as one instrument, but it is one that has many components, such as the keys, pedals, and strings. With each component comes many small parts. The average piano has approximately 9,000 parts, each which must function properly for it to play well and sound great. Just as your piano must [...]
Whether it sits in a concert hall where Bach and Beethoven’s masterpieces are skillfully mastered or a living room where beginners learn to play their first song, the piano we enjoy today would not be possible without the harpsichord. It was 1709 when Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori began the process of inventing [...]
As an investment, pianos are built to last—sometimes for generations. Like any other piece of fine furniture, a piano will age over time. It can suffer damage from moving, spills, neglect, accidents, and normal wear and tear. Aging and other elements can affect the beauty, sound, and quality of your instrument’s exterior, as well as [...]
The sound created by the piano would not be possible without the hammers. Piano hammers are engineered to meet stringent requirements, and their density, weight, shape, and texture are vital to producing a good tone. Over time, though, these hammers lose the shape that is critical to good tone. When that happens, the hammer must [...]
Learn Good Habits for Cleaning Your Piano, and Keep It Looking Its Best Cleaning and proper maintenance of your piano will preserve its performance and beauty and prevent costly repairs or the need for rebuilding or restoration in the future. Your piano is not only a complex musical instrument, but it is also a focal [...]
What is Piano Tuning? Your piano is an investment that will bring joy to your family for decades. To maintain and preserve it so it produces the highest-quality sound, it should be tuned on a regular basis, depending on usage, weather, vibrations, and other factors. Piano tuning involves adjusting the tension of the stretch of [...]
Professionally servicing and tuning your piano will not only provide you with the best and highest-quality sound, but it will also protect your piano, extend its life, and prevent costly repairs in the future. How often you should tune and service your piano depends on many factors, including your piano’s and its sensitivity to the [...]
If you are looking to find a piano tuner in San Jose, California, look no further. Robert's Piano service offers RobertsPianoService.com/services professional piano tuning, repair, and regulation. A fine-quality piano is a major investment, and to ensure maintaining its optimal tone and touch, it should be tuned and regulated regularly, at least once per year. [...]
Why Do Pianos Need to be Tuned? A piano is a precision instrument—proper acoustics and best harmony requires routine tuning by an expert technician. Pianos need to be tuned, even if they are not played regularly, for several reasons: Each piano has about 250 strings, all of which will stretch over time and use. Each [...]
