Striving for consistency: piano upkeep takes time, money
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
Music department students and faculty have been coping with out of tune pianos due to fluctuating weather this winter.
Regularly tuning and maintaining the 12 grand pianos, 20 upright pianos, harpsichord and organ in Howard Music Hall and the dormitories is one of the music department's priorities, Music Department Chairman James Holleman said.
"The reality is we live in a region of the country with major weather changes," Holleman said. "Last year it was cold and dry, this year we've had snow, rain, snow, rain and humidity."
Students who use a piano regularly notice when it has been tuned, or when it needs tuning.
"I can always tell when they've been tuned," sophomore Molly Doran said. "They have them tuned regularly, which I appreciate."
Doran, who practices at least 10 times per week, said the pianos tend to go out of tune quickly because they are played so often by so many people.
Holleman said each piano in the basement of Howard is typically used for two hours at a time, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., every day.
He described this as "extreme" wear and tear on the instruments.
"We're lucky that we have quality instruments," he said.
Freshman Derek Top also notices the instruments going out of tune fairly quickly.
"It gets to a point where you can't make the music you want to make," he said.
Top said if the instruments are too out of tune, he doesn't have the motivation to practice because he knows whatever he plays won't sound right.
Holleman said Bob Orr of Jackson, Mich., has been the college's music technician for over 20 years.
"He's real good about coming on short notice," Holleman said.
Holleman said the department tries to have every instrument tuned at least twice a semester. Additional tunings are needed before performances and after moving an instrument from one part of campus to another. All pianos are tuned at the beginning of the semester and before finals.
Piano tunings change depending on what the instrument is used for. Performance pianos can be tuned 12 times a semester, whereas a studio piano may only be tuned three times.
"It's an ongoing process," Holleman said. "It's a cost of doing business."
He said on average the music department spends $10,000 a semester on tuning and basic piano maintenance. Major repairs require additional funding.
In addition to tuning, Holleman said, the building's environmental control system can help keep the pianos in tune.
The system monitors humidity levels throughout Howard.
While it's a good system, Holleman said, it has a hard time keeping up with weather changes.
Some individual studios have small humidifiers and the department may purchase more.
The department is installing a humidity reading device in Conrad Recital Hall.
"We do the best we can and our best is pretty good," Holleman said.
Regularly tuning and maintaining the 12 grand pianos, 20 upright pianos, harpsichord and organ in Howard Music Hall and the dormitories is one of the music department's priorities, Music Department Chairman James Holleman said.
"The reality is we live in a region of the country with major weather changes," Holleman said. "Last year it was cold and dry, this year we've had snow, rain, snow, rain and humidity."
Students who use a piano regularly notice when it has been tuned, or when it needs tuning.
"I can always tell when they've been tuned," sophomore Molly Doran said. "They have them tuned regularly, which I appreciate."
Doran, who practices at least 10 times per week, said the pianos tend to go out of tune quickly because they are played so often by so many people.
Holleman said each piano in the basement of Howard is typically used for two hours at a time, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., every day.
He described this as "extreme" wear and tear on the instruments.
"We're lucky that we have quality instruments," he said.
Freshman Derek Top also notices the instruments going out of tune fairly quickly.
"It gets to a point where you can't make the music you want to make," he said.
Top said if the instruments are too out of tune, he doesn't have the motivation to practice because he knows whatever he plays won't sound right.
Holleman said Bob Orr of Jackson, Mich., has been the college's music technician for over 20 years.
"He's real good about coming on short notice," Holleman said.
Holleman said the department tries to have every instrument tuned at least twice a semester. Additional tunings are needed before performances and after moving an instrument from one part of campus to another. All pianos are tuned at the beginning of the semester and before finals.
Piano tunings change depending on what the instrument is used for. Performance pianos can be tuned 12 times a semester, whereas a studio piano may only be tuned three times.
"It's an ongoing process," Holleman said. "It's a cost of doing business."
He said on average the music department spends $10,000 a semester on tuning and basic piano maintenance. Major repairs require additional funding.
In addition to tuning, Holleman said, the building's environmental control system can help keep the pianos in tune.
The system monitors humidity levels throughout Howard.
While it's a good system, Holleman said, it has a hard time keeping up with weather changes.
Some individual studios have small humidifiers and the department may purchase more.
The department is installing a humidity reading device in Conrad Recital Hall.
"We do the best we can and our best is pretty good," Holleman said.
Be the first to comment on this story