A standard tuning should last an hour.

It depends on the humidity, age of the piano and condition - but generally after 2 years without a tuning, a piano can fall far out of tune enough to need a pitch raise. 

A piano will go out of tune on its own even without playing it (sad). The main factors in pianos going out of tune are humidity, temperature, and structural condition. A piano likes to live in 40-45% humidity and a stable temperature. Try your best to keep your piano out of the way of doorways, vents, and windows that get sun during the day, as those will be pretty big factors in tuning stability. I am happy to consult with you to set up a plan for taking care of your piano!

Absolutely, I do all of the above! Ask me about my special rates for studios, piano teachers and schools ♥️

• Evidence of mice or mold

• Missing keys & hammers, or notes that ring out when you stop playing.

• Big cracks in the structure

• The pedals are all there even if they don’t work

• Rusty strings or missing strings. Rust  can cause issues with tuning stability and give an overall honky sound. It can be a big endeavor to restring a piano if thats what it needs

• Worn down hammers. Hammers can be worn down past the point of repair.  They may look like they have a squared off end instead of a round teardrop shape. If the felt on the hammers is squared off more than a half-inch, they may need replacing which is another big endeavor

• Pitch of the strings. You can download a free app PanoTuner. If middle A is less than 436 Hz, it will need a pitch raise but is probably acceptable. If it’s any lower than 421 Hz, it will likely need a serious amount of work - over $400 for the tuning alone

When new strings are put on a piano, they are very flexible and need training to know where to stay. If your brand new (out the factory) piano is falling out of tune super fast, it’s probable that the manufacturer didn’t stretch the strings enough. The piano will most likely need a pitch raise and a few follow up tunings, and eventually it will settle down.