All posts by: Piano Gal

About Piano Gal
Marta is the owner of The Piano Gal Shop, a piano tuner, musician and artist, piano teacher, mom of 2 boys, and wife to an awesome guy.
March 16, 2023

The Science of Pianos

It can be challenging to explain the science of piano technology because it’s such a niche field of expertise. I’ve always reminded clients and potential clients that pianos need to be tuned at least annually. When I explain why, I have always talked about the “why” in terms of pitch itself and its relationship with […]

Uncategorized
August 26, 2022

Why do pianos need to be tuned? And how often?

I think one of the biggest surprises I come across, as a piano technician is how many piano owners don’t understand how a piano goes out of tune. If someone doesn’t understand how a piano works, how will they know how to take care of it? The short answer, is that they won’t. That’s why there […]

Uncategorized
June 18, 2022

Have an old piano? What are your options?

As a piano technician and music store owner, I get calls, emails, and messages on a weekly basis asking about what to do with an old piano. It’s a very common question. There are a wide variety of scenarios when it comes to older pianos, but the common denominator with folks contacting me, is that […]

Piano Owner Troubleshooting
June 9, 2022

5 Great Piano Teacher Gift Ideas

5 Great Piano Teacher Gift Ideas. Looking for a unique gift idea for your child’s piano teacher? The web is full of the typical music gift finds, such as, notepads, scarves with music notes, and tote bags. As a piano teacher myself, I can tell you, as much as I appreciate any thoughtful gift, I […]

Gift Lists
May 30, 2018

Upcycled Pianos Idea 2: What to do with an old piano

There are so many ways to upcycle an old piano. I’ve done so many different pieces of furniture with old pianos. Upcycled pianos are a great way to make use of something that is past its useful life with its original purpose. I’m sharing some of my work in this blog series, so that perhaps […]

General
May 21, 2018

Idea 1: What to do with an old piano

I’ve created a business out of creating new things from old pianos. I can’t save every piano that is about to head to the dump. I really wish I could. If I had a quarter for every call I get from someone telling me they have an old piano sitting in their Grandmother’s basement, I’d […]

General
May 16, 2018

Can Vinyl Records Melt?

Well, if you’ve been a Piano Gal follower for a while you know the answer is YES! The thing about vinyl records is that some are valuable, many are not. Just like a lot of products in circulation, we have an abundance of them collecting dust in our grandma’s basement. You will find them for […]

General
May 2, 2018

Piano Placement: Things to Consider

Pianos are big, no matter what type you get. Even an upright piano takes some consideration as to where you are going to place it in your home. Before you make a purchase, be sure to measure out a space with a few factors in mind. First: Avoid direct sunlight. This doesn’t necessarily mean that […]

General
April 11, 2018

What is a pinblock and why is it so important?

The pinblock is rather mysterious to many. The reason is that in a fully assembled piano, it can’t be seen. However, it is the most important structural element of a piano. It can’t be seen because the cast iron plate sits in front (upright pianos) or on top (grand pianos). The tuning pins are anchored […]

General
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