Tuning Etiquette
• Should I tip my piano tuner?
Tipping any person is a voluntary demonstration of appreciation for services offered above or beyond what was expected. Piano tuners do get tipped, but do not anticipate generosity. Although I cannot imagine anyone to refuse such a gift, you might instead offer some coffee or tea (depending upon the weather?)
• Do I need to be home during the tuning?
No – unless you truly enjoy listening to a couple hours of tedious pounding of notes. If you are comfortable leaving your tuner this may be a great time to get out of the house.
• Do I need to keep the house quiet for tuning?
Yes! Remember that tuning involves very focused listening, breaking down sound into its beat-waves and then making each one beat faster or slower. A good tuning then cannot possibly be ensured along with a noisy environment. I will list from my experience some of the most common audible disturbances, which you should consider limiting during the tuning:
→ Running water: washing & clanking dishes → Running the clothes washer & drier
→ House cleaners: please don’t schedule the vacuuming at same time
→ Lawn maintenance: mowers, weed-eaters, leaf blowers…
→ TV, radio, movies or microwave running
→ Roofers & basement finishers
→ People whistling, humming or singing the notes we are tuning
→ Barking or howling dogs & screeching pet birds
→ falling water from waterfalls and aquariums
→ Overly loud kids and phone conversations
J And yes, we even hear you talking about us on the phone…J