Rick's Piano Tuning
908-301-0293
Biography
My name is Rick Langmaack. I have been in the music industry for 41 years, starting as a professional musician and music teacher, and then becoming a professional piano tuner/technician. My initial interest in piano tuning began about 15 years ago. I then began to apprentice with a number of piano technicians in order to acquire and sharpen my piano tuning and repair skills. Soon after I started my own business and it became a full-time career within one year. I now service thousands of customers throughout New Jersey covering Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Essex, and Morris counties. I have tuned pianos at 5 Universities, and currently I am the associate Piano Tuner at Rutgers University. I am an associate member of the Piano Technicians Guild, and the owner of pianoscomplete.com, an online store for piano and music accessories.
My services include
- Tuning
- Repair
- Regulation
- Appraisals
- Consulting
- Inspecting
- Installing Humidity Control Systems
Piano FAQ's
How often should I tune my piano?
The Piano Technician's Guild and most manufacturers recommend tuning a piano twice a year. A new piano should be tuned 4 times in the first year as the piano goes through a break-in period, and then twice a year thereafter.
Why does my piano go out of tune?
The main reason why your piano goes out of tune is because seasonal changes bring about fluxuations in humidity. Winters are a very dry season both outdoors and indoors and summers are humid. This change back and forth between humidity levels affects all pianos whether new or old, played or un-played.
What is a pitch Raise?
When a piano has not been tuned for a while, or is exposed to dryness or high humidity, or is just an unstable instrument, it can be very far out of tune and may require a service called a pitch raise. A pitch raise is an extra service that is done before the initial tuning work whereby the tuner either raises or lowers the entire pitch of the piano, in order to help stabilize the instrument. A follow-up tuning is usually required, although in some cases pianos can be given a fine-tuning just after a pitch raise.
How can I best maintain my Piano?
- Tune your piano twice a year (or at least once)
- Take steps to control humidity levels
- Have a humidity control system installed.
- Have maintenance performed (repairs/cleaning/lubricating/regulation)
How can I control humidity levels in and around my piano?
- Do not place piano near a heat source
- Try to position your piano on an inside wall if possible.
- Control room humidity levels (40-50% is ideal)
- Have a humidity control system installed in your piano.
What is Piano Regulation?
Piano regulation is a mechanical fine-tuning of the moving parts in your piano action.
References
Dave Miller – Piano technician, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Bob Dowling – RPT
To answers a variety of questions concerning pianos and piano maintenance, please visit the following link: