In this day of “internet problem solving”, it seems that Google is the go-to place for folks to find answers for all of their questions. Whether it is as mundane as checking the weather, searching how to replace a window or even fixing your own computer, Google has you covered! However, there are still things that require time, experience and training to diagnose and properly repair – not the least of which may be the musical partner in your life: Your Piano.
I was reminded of this a few months back when 2 clients called with a concern that their piano had developed a buzzing noise. In the first situation, the Piano Technician went to the home to look at the client’s new baby grand piano. He checked strings and pins and the possibility of any broken mechanical parts. What he discovered, was that between the factory and the various moves to its final destination of its new home, a couple screws had loosened on the rail holding the hammers. This is a part that most families would never see or know about, and it took an experienced technician to tease out and fix the problem.
In the next situation, there was again a mysterious buzzing noise. In this case, when the technician started looking and listening to the problem, he discovered that a chair behind the piano had inadvertently been pushed to within a hair’s width of the sound board on the back side of the piano. The vibration of the sound board was actually causing a buzzing vibration between itself and the chair. Because of the angle of piano to chair in the room, the cause was not apparent to any of the family members in the house. The technician had started by looking at the “usual suspects” of a buzz, but the sound lead his ear to the soundboard, then the back of the piano, and the culprit chair.
Neither of these situations were based in a serious problem, but each needed an experienced person who knew about the mechanics and foibles of an acoustic instrument. Their past experience allowed them to look and listen and consider all of the possibilities that Google may not know about!