Andrea, Can You Tell Us What Happens To Pianos As They Age?

Andrea's Piano Strings

What can happen to pianos
after time?

Well,
you're asking the right question
as I am a piano
that is 142 years old!

Many, many things can happen,
even to the finest pianos,
when they age.

As pianos are made of wood,
well,
things can happen.
Some pianos can suffer many dents,dings and scratches
over the years.
Some pianos may need refinishing.
Pianos, such as myself,
can have many ornate moldings.
With time,
some of the moldings may have gotten chipped or damaged.
Some of the moldings
may even be missing.

I have a round stain.
At some point in time
one of my previous pianist owners
kept a house plant on me.
The plant got overwatered,
and,
unfortunately,
so did I.

Elderly pianos may have missing hammers or felts.
I have both of these problems.

Older pianos
may also have ivories
that have yellowed.
Sometimes the ivory
is chipped or cracked.
Some of my ivory is missing.
And some of my ivory
has actually fallen inside.

Now,
it's only older pianos
that actually have ivory keys.
Ivory hasn't been used on a piano keyboard
since 1972,
due to ivory laws.
Since 1972 pianos have plastic keys.

I, however,
have my original ivory keyboard.

And now,
let's talk about strings.
Most modern day pianos
have 88 keys,
though some square grand pianos before me
had 61 keys.
Eighty-eight keys is pretty standard now.
And each key has 3 strings.
The average life for strings and mechanisms
is about 50 years.
Sometimes a string will break
or there are other problems,
but for the most part
we can expect strings to last 50 years.

I have my original strings.
Though out of tune,
I am playable.
My pianist owner
doesn't want to have me tuned
for fear that the excess tension
will cause the strings to break.

Still,
my strings have lasted
almost 3 times longer
that what is normal.
This, indeed,
is yet another testament
as to what a fine instrument
a Steinway piano really is.

But,
alas,
my strings are old.
They need to be replaced,
as do my hammers, felts
and pin block.

I am a very special piano
with very special needs.
Please stop and take a few moments
to think of ways
you can help me
reach my goal
of a complete restoration.
In the weeks to come
I'll be offering several suggestions.
For now, though,
you have some idea
as to what can happen to pianos
as they age.

Historically yours,
Andrea,
The Piano.

What Are Some Of The Features Of A Steinway Piano?

Hello, World!

Andrea The Piano here
with another great Steinway Piano video.
This video details some of the reasons
that Steinway pianos
are the best pianos ever.

With this video,
I've included the transcript that youtube provides.
It's just that the information contained here
is so very important
that I don't want you to miss any of it.

Remember,
I am a Steinway,
albeit, a piano much older
than any in this video.
But I am Steinway!

Enjoy!

-Andrea, The Piano

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0:06

[music]

0:18

Since 1853, Steinway & Sons has been synonymous with musical

0:22

excellence in the building and the design of the Steinway Piano.

0:27

Our founder, Henry Engelhard Steinweg,

0:30

had one simple tenant that we subscribe to today,

0:34

simply build in the best piano possible. Period.

0:38

Today, over 1,500 pianists worldwide proudly bear the title

0:44

Steinway Artist.

0:45

What is so remarkable about this distinction, is that these are not paid

0:49

endorsers,

0:50

but they choose the Steinway piano because of the love of their craft.

0:54

As President of Steinway & Sons for the Americas, I am often asked,

0:59

"What components within a Steinway piano contribute to this unique and imitable

1:03

Steinway sound?"

1:04

Considering a piano is comprised of over 12,000 parts, it is a

1:07

little difficult to determine which ones are the most prominent.

1:11

But I think as we all know, the soundboard of the piano is perhaps the

1:14

heart and soul of any piano.

1:17

And Steinway & Sons, in 1936, had an innovative breakthrough.

1:21

We developed what is known as the diaphragmatic soundboard that

1:24

essentially allowed the piano

1:26

to vibrate more freely, creating a warmer, richer, more resonant sound for a

1:31

longer, sustained period of time.

1:35

The action in any piano is an extraordinarily important part of an

1:39

instrument,

1:40

and in 1936, Steinway & Sons patented the accelerated action.

1:44

This was a revolutionary breakthrough which enabled the performer to extract

1:48

whatever sounds, loud or soft,

1:50

they wished to get from the instrument.

1:58

Another exclusive feature of the Steinway piano, is the patented Hexagrip pinblock.

2:02

The pinblock is an integral part of the Steinway piano in that it holds

2:07

the tuning pins in place using hard rock maple construction angled at forty-five

2:12

degrees in laminations.

2:14

It is this particular Hexagrip design that enables the Steinway piano to

2:19

withstand any climatic conditions and maintain its tune for extended periods

2:24

of time.

2:29

The rim of a Steinway grand piano is comprised of hard rock maple,

2:35

continuously bent in one operation.

2:37

It is this process that enables the Steinway piano to endure for generations

2:42

to come.

2:48

The scale of each Steinway piano is this some of all of its components,

2:52

and one specific component which is extraordinarily important to every grand

2:56

piano, is the cast iron plate or frame.

2:59

This component is so important to Steinway & Sons that we own and operate our

3:04

own foundry, using bell quality castings to make the Steinway plate.

3:12

The duplex scale,

3:13

a Steinway invention, adds color to every Steinway piano

3:18

by enhancing the termination of each individual note.

3:24

[music]

3:31

It takes over a year to handcraft a Steinway grand piano from the finest

3:35

materials available,

3:37

and it is this painstaking process

3:39

that enables the Steinway piano to develop its own unique musical personality.

3:48

Whether you are an aspiring artist, or just want the joy of music in your home,

3:53

there is a Steinway built especially for you.