Every piano has its own unique sound.  One might be described as “glassy,” another as “warm.”  One might have a “full singing” tone, and yet another sounds “tinny” or “thin.”  Although the original design establishes the basic character of your piano’s tone, your technician can modify it to better suit your taste or restore its original tone if it has deteriorated with age through a highly technical process called voicing.

How often voicing is needed depends upon the piano’s usage and audience. Pianos in concert halls and recording studios often receive minor refinement of the voicing before each performance.  But these are exceptional circumstances.  A home piano may or may not need some initial voicing to customize it to the owner’s taste, then once every one to five years to maintain its tone.  But many people never feel a need to have their pianos voiced and enjoy them every bit as much.

A few do-it-yourself tone-modification techniques:

• ROOM  ACOUSTICS — Hard shiny surfaces such as windows and bare floors reflect high frequencies, making a piano sound bright and loud.  High ceilings or large adjoining rooms add resonance.  Rugs and upholstered furniture soften tone and add warmth.

• THE  LID — Both grands and verticals sound louder and brighter if the lid is opened.

• YOU — Your ears are sensitive, and will perceive sound differently if you have spent all day in a quiet office or at a loud construction site.