Hello Hello We have around 250 practice rooms and the same problems as the rest of you with drinks on pianos. We (Piano Technicians) tried to have the vending machines removed but that never got anywhere. We used to kick people out of the rooms and lock the doors but the Dean did not like that and they later had the locks removed from all practice rooms anyway. My attitude is now this. I have not the time or the energy to get upset with people who insist on bringing drinks into practice rooms. If a student or faculty spills a drink in a piano they will suffer but I will not. When I check practice rooms I simply say that drinks are not allowed in practice rooms and ask politely if they would be kind enough to take the drink out of the room. I also say that if they insist on bringing the drink into the room to at least put it on the floor so it cannot spill in the piano. Most of the time people will do as I ask. If they refuse I ask again. If they still refuse I leave. If that person ever has a problem with the piano in there practice room I don't fix it. I don't go out of my way to help them with their recital either. One solution we have tried with good success involves the new pianos we have. We had 15 practice rooms fitted with locks and the new pianos were put in those rooms. Doctoral piano and graduate piano majors have first chance to get a key to those rooms. Before they got a key they were interviewed and given a speech about how they would loose their key and have to practice on the regular junk if they broke any rules in the agreement. They also must pay for any damage to pianos; either themselves if they are responsible or they all pay a portion of the damage if no one confesses. I am including the agreement below that they signed. It is also getting reviewed and will be changed for next semester. I will post the new one then. We inspect these rooms two or three times a day. So far we have had no problem with damage (knock on wood) and very few violation and no one has had there key taken away. ================================================================= PRACTICE PIANO AGREEMENT Name_______________Student ID# __________Phone__________________ Address ______________________Assigned Rm/Key Number____________ City ____________________State__________Zip Code________________ RULES: 1. The rooms will be checked daily. Rule violations will be noted on this contract. 2. No Food, No Drinks, NO SMOKING. Two violations and you loose your key. 3. No loaning key to a friend. One violation and you loose your key. 4. SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: If a piano is damaged, the person responsible must pay. BUT, if it can not be determined who actually did it, then all who have keys to the room will share the repair costs. The room will be unavailable for practice until the matter is settled. Those responsible will be check listed. Possible repair expenses are based on real costs. Coke or coffee spill in piano action $ 2000.00 Cigarette burn on keys or finish $ 500.00 Finish scratch or chipping $ 500.00 5. Report damage immediately to IU Piano Shop I have read this agreement and agree to all terms specified here. Signature__________________________________ Date_______________________________Approved By_________________________________________ ================================================================= Hope all of you have a nice turkey day. Phil Sloffer at IU Bloomington Indiana
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