[CAUT] Prepared pianos

[Jim Busby]

Fred,

Actually, I think that touching the strings was the problem. Crayon and dirty fingers? I can't see how else they could make the strings that dirty. You're right about the word usage though. It could be better. Thanks for the suggestions. And yes, I guess I was overreacting, as usual. But what I would have LIKED to have written would involve removing fingers and putting them up certain orifices.  :-)

Jim

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred Sturm
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 3:25 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Prepared pianos

On Jan 31, 2011, at 2:44 PM, Jim Busby wrote:


You might be interested to know what precipitated this "problem" we have at BYU. I have been finding sticky notes, and have noticed "coloring" on the strings. I came to find out that this was crayon someone was using to mark nodal points. (Anyone know how to clean that off?) So.... I put notes in every piano with the sticky notes that said "Please don't touch the strings or dampers of this or any BYU piano. If you want to do some "inside the piano" compositions please let us help you."  The teacher took umbrage with that note and wrote a nasty letter to the Director about "how dare we..." etc. so, now the debate and fight begins.

            Hmmm, I guess I'd have to say your note was a bit of an over-reaction. Not that the results of what the students were doing isn't annoying and at least cosmetically damaging, but better to address it as that: "What you have done has made this pristine looking piano look like crap" is the message to convey, and so I'd offer alternatives and suggest they come to you for additional suggestions and help. "Crayon is not a good way to mark nodes, it is hard to get off the strings. Please do X instead." "Please remove your sticky notes when done." That sort of thing. Prohibition is not an effective policy, it just causes resentment and tends to be ignored anyway. And "touching the strings or dampers" was not really the issue, was it?
Regards,
Fred Sturm
fssturm at unm.edu<mailto:fssturm at unm.edu>
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/FredSturm

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