Piano Tuning Before Grade Exams | Why It Matters | JP Piano Tuning

Grade exam season brings a familiar mix of nerves, practice schedules and last minute preparation. Most parents focus on ensuring their child has practiced enough — but one thing that's often overlooked is the condition of the piano they've been practicing on.

The Problem With an Out of Tune Piano

When a child practices daily on a piano that is even slightly out of tune, their ear gradually adjusts to it. The pitches they hear become their reference point. Then, on exam day, they sit down at a well tuned exam piano — and something feels subtly wrong. Notes sound different to what they're used to. Their confidence can waver at exactly the wrong moment.

This is not an imaginary problem. Musicians develop their sense of pitch through repetition and familiarity. Practicing on an out of tune instrument trains the ear in the wrong direction.

What ABRSM and Trinity Say

Both major examining boards recommend that candidates practice on a well maintained, properly tuned piano in the lead up to examinations. A piano that is significantly below or above concert pitch A440 can affect a candidate's intonation awareness — a skill that examiners actively assess.

When Should You Book a Tuning?

Ideally, book a tuning four to six weeks before your child's exam date. This gives:

- Enough time for the tuning to settle properly

- Enough practice time for your child to adjust to the corrected pitch

- Peace of mind that the instrument is in the best possible condition

How Often Should an Exam Student's Piano Be Tuned?

For a child actively preparing for grades, twice yearly tuning is the minimum recommendation. If the piano is being played for an hour or more every day, three times a year is better.

Don't leave it until the week before. Contact JP Piano Tuning today and we'll find a date that works around your child's exam schedule.

Call or text 07955 637736 or book online.