Three Approaches to Piano Restoration

When rebuilding a piano, the restorer is presented at every turn with questions concerning the extent to which the piano’s original design, parts, and materials should be preserved, or conversely, altered or replaced. The philosophies that guide these decisions fall roughly into three camps, which might be called respectively: Conservative, Modern, and Innovative. Of course, this division is to some degree a generalization; a particular restorer may combine elements of more than one approach in his or her work.