The keys on your modern piano are covered with durable plastic. Both black and white are easily cleaned by using a damp cloth that has been moistened in water and mild soap, such as Liquid Organic Cleaner (L.O.C.) or liquid dish soap. Merely, wipe the key lengthwise toward the front of the piano, and then dry with a soft clean cloth. Do not use alcohol, detergents or other chemicals such as solvents. Sharp keys in older pianos were of ebony wood or of lacquered wood.

The best way to clean dust and finger marks off the piano is with a soft, lintless cloth slightly dampened with water and wrung out. Follow that with a soft dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture. Most piano manufacturers recommend against the use of furniture polish. The keys can be cleaned the same way. Cleaning the soundboard or piano action requires special tools and training and should only be done by a qualified piano technician. This should be done every 5 to 10 years. See similar questions...

Well, the piano started out with only about 60 keys, same as the harpsichord--in fact it WAS a harpsichord, except that the harpsichord maker Bartolomeo Cristofori (try saying that 10 times fast!) got the bright idea of putting hammers on one (to HIT the strings) instead of plectra (to PLUCK the strings). So the piano was invented--this was around 1700, or maybe a little before that. See similar questions...

Not at all. We make the stickers on special, high quality, removable paper and when worn out, or perhaps when you don't need them anymore, you can easily remove them from your keys without any marks left on your piano keys. See similar questions...

soon as you feel like it. While practicing one day and playing one song after another fluently ( and it will happen sooner than you think), you will realize that you don't look at your hands anymore, and you know every key on your piano like your own name. I recommend that after the removal of the stickers, you play the Guess Key game again. If you can finish the game in 20-25 minutes, you won't have any problems playing your instrument without stickers. See similar questions...

Anyone can clean or dust their own piano if they remember a few common sense guidelines. Most of the piano is easily accessible to clean, but the action and in grand pianos the area under the piano wires are best left for a technicians special tools and expertise. A general rule of thumb to remember is that moisture and pianos don't really mix well. The key tops- A mild soap and a cloth that is barely damp ( the drier the better ). Make certain that no moisture gets on the key sides. See similar questions...

Often this question is asked by the person who owns an ebony satin finish piano and can't figure out how to get the fingerprints off. A satin finish piano has minute burnishing scratches on the finish's surface that give it that matte or rubbed look. Both ebony (black) and clear (wood grain) finishes come in satin but the ebony satin ones seem to show the fingerprints the most. Grease and oils from fingers get trapped down in those miniscule furrows and are difficult to get out. See similar questions...

A thorough cleaning of the inside of your piano, including the areas under the strings and plate, is really best left to a qualified tuner or technician. There are still a number of things you can do yourself, however, to keep the dust from piling up so thick. On a grand, you can use the brush attachment on a hose-type vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the area under the lid: the tuning pins, strings, plate (the big gold harp), and the portions of the soundboard that are not covered by strings. See similar questions...

Piano tuning is the process of pulling each string into the right pitch. In fact, piano tuning has nothing to do with the playing mechanism of a piano. Piano tuning is the last step (besides voicing) in piano repair, and should only be performed when the instrument is in good working order. If there are cracks in the bridge, tuning will worsen and spread the cracks, as the pressure from the strings to the bridge rises when the piano is being tuned. See similar questions...

Refinishing takes care of the piano furniture or cabinet. A piano is much more than a fine piece of furniture. The keys, albeit beautiful, do not determine the condition of the mechanical part of the instrument. As for estimating an asking price, you would be wise to consult local experts. See similar questions...

All requests for keys should be sent by fax or campus mail only with the building coordinator or dean's signature. Include the amount of keys, room/s the keys are for, account number, and any other pertinent information. Note: key requests cannot be sent through e-mail. See similar questions...

Yes. Every contestant will have ten minutes to try the competition piano. It will be scheduled when you check in at the competition office. You may get additional time if available but you will never be allowed to play on the competition piano without specific office authorization, at all times. Failure to do so may result in cancellation from the competition. See similar questions...

The mechanical genius Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano around 1700. The name piano is actually a shortened version of the Italian term pianoforte, meaning soft-loud, and referring to the fact that the pianoforte could produce sound volume covering a much larger range than its predecessors, the harpsichord and clavichord. See similar questions...

There are two basic types: Grand pianos have their strings and soundboard parallel to the floor, and Verticals (or Uprights) have their strings and soundboard turned up perpendicular to the floor. Both kinds come in different sizes and styles. Grands can be anywhere from 4 and a half to 9 and a half feet long. Uprights can be 52 or more inches high; around 45 inches ("studio uprights"); about 40-42 inches ("consoles"); and as low as 36-38 inches ("spinets"). See similar questions...

Unless you are an experienced, professional mover, DO NOT try it yourself. Instead, read this article we have written for you on this matter. See similar questions...

The keys will be given to you by us on the day before your departure or just take them from the cleaner. See similar questions...