Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-06-21
MiseelIang.
The Piano-Forte, its Preservation, &c.

Inc flano-ForCe, lts freSerVatlon, &C.
As this delightful instrument has become
necessary article of parlor furniture, few re-
marks as to its use and preservation will not
be out Of place; particularly as at this time of
the year they are more likely to prove servic-
able from the numerous changes that occur
and the number of purchases made. Out of
thousand Piano-F Forte manufacturers, there are
not one hundred whose instruments are above
medriocity, and not fifty that combine the req
uisite qualities of tone, touch, finish and dura-
bility that characterize superior Piano. Ii
is advisable, therefore, when about to purchase
piano, TO be accompanied by competent
Judge, either a teacher, tuner-one who is
both is preferable-or manufacturer, as few
who rely upon their own judgment escape dis
appointment at the result. There are howev-
er, small number of manufacturers who re-
gard their well-earned reputation as well as
the pecuniary profits, upon whom We can de-
pend for good piano without the 'ipse dixit'
of Professor; but such is not the case with
the majority. The former are to be found
among those who for many years past, have
stood prominent in the business, not only from
the large capital thev have invested, but on
on account of the exc ent quality of their in
struments. For the latter class-vide the
daily papers. We will here remark that pi-
amos of European manufacture, with rare ex-
ceptions, fail TO stand the action of this eli
mate and also that the best of them, of the
horizontal form, are inferior 20 those of our
eminent makers. Few are aware of the i'm
por:ance of having their pianos regularly tun-
ed and kept in order. We speak advisedly,
when we say that not one piano in thousand
will remain in tune over a month. There are
some few which seem to require tuning but
once or twice year, but they are very scarce,
and where there is one such, there are fifty
that need it every month. No piano should
be allowed to remain untuned for more than
three months, and all new pianos, particularly
for the first year, should be tuned every month.
Very few are capable of resisting the injuri-
GUS action of the heat from the hot-air furnac-
es in general use now, and those of an inferior
quality are very soon rendered useless BY it.
Exposure to moisture is also another cause of
injury, especially to the action, keys, &c
As cloth is used to great extent in the ac
tion of piano, moths must be prevented from
obtainining access to it; this can be done by
two or three Jumps of camphor, wrapped in
cloth, being placed in each corner of the in
strument.
Young pianists, and not few old ones too,
would crafty their auditors more and injure
their pianos less if they were to exert less
strength of finger; as eight touch with a
judicious use of the pedal will yield far bet
ter quality of tone and equally as full one as
if they had exerted all the force at their COM
mand. Were this simple fact more generally
attended to, fewer strings would be broken,
one cause of the pianos not remaining in tune
would be removed, and far more pleasure to
the listener would be the desirable result.
The piano should always be closed when not
in use in order to prevent the collection of
dust, pins, &C., on the Sound board,' and al
so to preserve the strings from the i'll effects Of
sudden changes of temperature. A frequent
cause of the sticking of keys is moisture of
some kind or other, swelling the keys around
the pins placed underneath to keep them in
their places care should be taken to prevent
this when cleaning the keys. Any hard or
metallic substance placed on the cover of
piano will almost invariably cause jingling
noise, and if there is no cloth to protect it the
cover itself is liable to rattle from the great
vibration in the piano. These various annoy
ances are often attributed to defective make or
inferior tuning, when neither Of the latter is
in fault. When you first require tuner, pro-
cure enc from the mandatory where your
piano was made, or from frst-class music
store, as they are or ought to be, responsible
for the ability Of the person they send. AT
ways employ the same tuner unless, of course,
he is glaringly Incompetent; but should his
FIRST efforts not prove entirely satisfactory,