The Washington times., 1925-01-16
81 ELSIE WEST.


you take to the dentist every six
months Is essential to the care
81 your teeth. IL you have q
decidedly sensitive ear It Is best
to call the plano tuner every
three months. Just because
your piano Is not used a great
deal Is no sign that It does not
need tuning at regular intervals.
because q piano, like any other
StFinged instrument that is tuned
regularly, is always in good con.
ditiOn, while one that is not
seems to be TOUT Of whack' all
the time This tuning Is abso-
Jntely necessary to retain the
tone quality and keep the me !
chanical workings OF the piano
flinctioning properly.
The manufacturer before send
ing out the piano sees that ii Is
In pc. .ect tune. In order to in,
sure this perfection, 1t has been
tuned many timeS-at intervals
varying from twenty-four hours
to ten days. But this timing
will not last forever. IL your
piano is neglected II suffers ttO
say nothing of those who listen
to III and the effect Of the care
ful tuning by the manufacturer
Is lost.
Great Strain on Piano.
Do you know that there are
about $50 highly tempered strings
which when drawn to standard |
pitch exert strain on the piano |
Of approximately fifteen tons?
These strings bear upon the sound
ing board, which Is a piece of
spruce pine constructed so that
even pressure win bear on the
strings. Like any other piece OF
wOud this board Is influenced by
atmospheric conditions. In that
way IT is no different from the
window frame that insists uDonI
sticking in rainy weather or the
dresser drawer that closed last
night with ease and this morning
cannot be cajoled into opening.
Every movement OF the sounding
board Its shrinking or expanding
---regis ers its effect at once on1
the tension Of the strings. This L
greater or less tension OF the
strings upsets the designed pres
SURE on the board, the fine balancei
+, Is upset, and your piano Is out OF
tune. II this condition Is exag-
gerated ii may lead to a split
sounding board, q broken string,
or a cracked plate. So the tuning
tB Of two-fold purpose-to balance
The fifteen or sixteen tons pres
sure and to keep the piano at the
proper pitch and make 1t agree
Able to the ear.
Neglect Ruins Pane.
Penny wise is pound foolish"
surely when it comes to neglect
ing to have your piano tuned.
The neglect may ruin your piano.
and your own ear for music. tor
Il = impossible to appreciate the
true tones in music when one Is
constantly associated with "off
tones. Don't say why send for
q piano tuner? This sounds gOodI
enough to me-" Be sure to get the
advice and service Of the music
merchant from whom you bought
your piano or send for, a piano
tuner whom you know to be re-
anOn0ible-such as q member OF
the National Association Of Music
Merchants or the National As
ISOLATION of Piano Tuners. II
A piano, you know, will remain
IN good condition only as long as
it is given the proper care. Il
Placing Is Important. |,
This care consists not only Of
having the piano tuned but OF
placing it in q correct position.
It should not be near heat nor
where it will be subjected to std
den changes in temperature.
For instance, near a door, a win
dow, or heater Is a bad place.
II there is excessive moisture in
the room, small cloth bags OF un-
Stacked lime may be hung inside
at each end Of the piano, to alb
sorb the moisture. When NOV
ing, do not permit the piano to
be moved from a cold atmosphere
into q warm room. The sudden
change is bad for It. Open the
windows SO that the room is
cooled thoroughly. Then, after
the pian Is installed, allow the
temperature to rise slowly.
Care should be taken with the |
surface OF the piano as well. Do |
not use a polish unless it is |
recommended by lone who |
knOws'-such as your music |
merchant or a piano manufaS- |
turer. The blooming" an ac-
emulation Of the. dust ami
moisture from the air. may be
washed off with a damp cloth Of
soft material wrung out Of luke
warm water in which a little
pure, SOC may be dissolved. A
few drops OF olive Oil may he
put on The cloth. Wipe off with
q soft y cloth or channels. :.
Bys WIN DiscOlor. .
All piano keys are liable to be-