Hi Paul,
Welcome to university life. I have 23 systems on all our concert,
rehearsal, and newer pianos and I have a work study student who keeps them
watered. I check them myself when I make my rounds in the morning and email
him with pianos that need attention. With 23 units we hardly go a week
without a few needing water. In the Summer, we go about a month, but fall
and spring it is about two weeks per piano and in the winter months, some
get watered every week and none of them last more than 10 days. I have some
with undercovers and back covers but have no string covers so I can¹t speak
on that issue. I used to take care of them myself, but in the winter it
takes up way too much of my tuning/regulating time.
Richard
On 9/17/09 2:00 AM, "Paul Milesi" <paul at pmpiano.com> wrote:
> Greetings. I am the new staff technician for the Howard University Department
> of Music in Washington, DC.
>
> I am working hard to overcome or at least slow the deleterious effects of an
> HVAC system that is pumping air of all extremes into recital halls,
> classrooms, practice rooms, and teaching studios -- all in combination with
> windows that open and close. Since the building opened in 1961, significant
> damage (mostly pinblock and soundboard damage from excessive dryness, but also
> string rust/corrosion from our humid summers here in DC) has been done to what
> used to be some very beautiful pianos, including several Baldwin Ls and Rs and
> 4 or 5 Steinways.
>
> For starters, I have obtained funds for 10 Life Saver systems, to be
> distributed among the recital hall, piano teaching studios, and practice
> rooms. I have installed a couple already, and thought it would also be a good
> idea to combine the systems with string covers to maximize tuning stability.
> I purchased several yards of string cover felt from Schaff, and placed a cover
> on a Yamaha C5 in the recital hall. I currently have no plans to install
> undercovers.
>
> Can a string cover be left on the piano during recitals? The first person to
> play with it on last week thought it was damping the tone. I¹m sure it is to
> some extent, but was thinking it¹s tonal effects are nominal, and are far
> outweighed by gains in tuning stability and rust prevention. What are your
> thoughts on this? Is the sensatin of damped tone anything more than
> psychological? If any of you use string covers, do you leave them on for
> recitals? Are the Edwards covers any different than the Schaff felt? Does
> anyone use them in practice rooms, classrooms, or teaching studios? Do you
> meet with any resistance from faculty or students? Do you experience
> significant benefits for the trouble? Is there any advantage to a string
> cover on a piano in a teaching studio that has the lid closed all the time
> (I¹m thinking yes, there is, because it will cover the pinblock area)?
>
> Also, for any who have Life Saver Systems, who has the responsibility for
> maintaining them (i.e., filling humidifier)? Faculty at Howard seem willing
> to pitch in, since they are already seeing significant benefits from a little
> more attention to their pianos, but I¹m wondering about the long term ‹ would
> it be better for me to simply look in on 10-15 systems every couple of weeks?
>
> I will sincerely appreciate all suggestions and feedback on these topics, as
> well as pointers to any online information, books, etc. I really want to turn
> things around at this school ‹ is that possible without a new building?
>
> Sincerely,
> Paul
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