Mick, We have a NO Food or Drink policy in all of the rooms with pianos. Of course it's a very new building and signs were put everywhere the new building. I believe it's the mindset of the students that needs to be addressed and that IS the challenge. We also have the Steinway "Basic Guidelines for Proper Care" signs in every practice room. I move them around from time to time to provide a different look to the room. Don't know if it helps but I figure it's like changing the display in a department store. Anything to make it more noticeable. We have recently had a rash of music stands (the Manhasset's) being moved from room to room. There was one put in every room at the start of the year. Since the students were the ones to begin the complaints (and also the ones causing the issue) we asked the advisor's and subsequently put the music frats, Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota, in charge of patrolling and music stand control in the practice rooms. I'll let you know how long the initiative lasts. grin Gerry Cousins,RPT Musical Instrument Technical Services West Chester University gcousins at wcupa.edu 610.436.2634 To: caut at ptg.org From: pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:55:55 -0600 Subject: Re: [CAUT] Practice room policy Hi Mick, Same problem here. I put signs on the pianos, but the students think it serves well as a coaster for their drinks! :>( I noticed at Oberlin last summer there being a sign on every practice room and classroom $50 fine for bringing food or drink into this room! I don't know if UNL can do this...Oberlin is private. They also lock all the rooms and one has to reserve times, get keys, etc for access.....another thing; I'm not sure if a state owned college can do this kind of thing. Non majors come in to play the pianos all the time, and they're part of all of us taxpayers who pay for them. I've thought of getting some sort of quilted covers for the lids, but haven't looked into costs for some 25-30 practice rooms. Probably more than I have to spend. We have extra benches in all the rooms, supposidly for setting stuff on them, but that really doesn't help much either. Good luck with the coffee wars Paul Mick J Johnson <johnsonmj1 at unk.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org 11/12/2008 12:14 AM Please respond to caut at ptg.org To caut at ptg.org cc Subject [CAUT] Practice room policy Hello all. I have subscribed for some time now but this is my first post. Here is my question: What kind of policy do any of you have concerning food/drink on the pianos and liability for any resulting damage? Some of our students seem to think that the practice rooms are for their personal use and the grand pianos are coffee tables. I cringe with every soft drink and latte I rescue from edge of the lid. Signs on the pianos and friendly reminders have not worked (of course). Has anyone found an effective deterrent? Damage deposits? Key cards? Coffee sniffing guard dogs? Thanks for any input. Mick Johnson, R.P.T. Staff Piano Technician University of Nebraska, Kearney (308) 865-8119 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut_ptg.org/attachments/20081112/767691fc/attachment.html>
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