The piano is an extremely versatile musical instrument, but it is also one of the most complex and delicate. It is made out of a combination of natural materials- wood, felts, leathers, and metals, each of which can be affected either by changes in temperature or relative humidity. A Kemble piano is extraordinarily rugged- built by a combination of traditional craftsmanship and advanced acoustic technology, but ,like all fine instruments, needs proper care to give it long life and dependable service; so, please follow these guidelines and you will be rewarded with years of pleasure.

TREAT YOUR PIANO LIKE A PIECE OF VALUABLE FURNITURE:

Keep it clean and avoid risking the spillage of liquids over it. Dust the cabinet frequently with a soft cloth or feather duster, but never use a spray polish. The keyboard should also be wiped periodically with a soft dry cloth. Never use cleaners containing alcohol as this can crack the keys. If the keyboard is very dirty, wipe it with a cloth dipped in a solution of soap and water and wrung out well. A useful tip is never to play the piano with dirty hands.

DO NOT PLACE OBJECTS ON THE TOP OF THE PIANO:

These can vibrate, and,particularly,in the case of flower vases, risk leaking.

POSITION:

Keep the piano away from windows if possible. If you must, use a heavy curtain over the window for protection. Do not place the piano near a radiator or other sources of heat (especially underfloor hot air vents). The best location is against a wall which divides 2 rooms. If possible, avoid placing it next to an exterior wall, but,if there is no other choice, make sure that there is adequate ventilation.

AVOID EXCESSIVE CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE:

A piano does not like to be too hot or too cold. A constant 18 to 21°C (65-70°F) is ideal.

AVOID EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY OR DRYNESS:

Generally speaking , a relative humidity of between 50 and 60% is ideal, as felt, cloth , leather and the precision wood parts used in such critical parts of the piano as the action are extremely sensitive to humidity. Excessive dryness is even more serious as it can cause wooden and felt components to shrink, and , in extreme cases, joints may even come apart. Should you feel that your piano is in an unsuitable environment you should consider using either a humidifier or dehumidifier- your piano technician will be able to advise you. Be sure to close the fall each time after playing.

TUNING AND REGULATION:

Pianos are delicate instruments which need professional attention periodically. Tuning is the correction of the pitch of each note by re-tightening the strings which tend to gradually stretch. Regulation is the adjustment of the entire piano action, keyboard and pedal movements. The stability of its environment and the amount of use a piano gets will very much determine how often it needs to be tuned and regulated. Twice a year for tuning is a good rule of thumb for a piano in a domestic situation. However, your dealer can advise you both about this and about regulation.