<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Paul,<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The best approach, IMO, is to develop a cordial relationship with faculty and students to the extent possible, to let them know your interest in making such use of pianos a positive for everyone involved (which does include other students and faculty using the same pianos in a more traditional manner). In my situation, I more or less DO have a veto "power" (that is, the chair would "defer to my judgment" which is more or less the same thing). But that only works if I know about it and am consulted in advance. And that will only happen if the lines of communication are wide open, which really means that the piano technician shouldn't be an invisible behind the scenes guy, but someone who takes the initiative in developing relationships. I ask people what they are up to, and take note of what is on programs. The comp faculty know I want to hear if there is inside the piano stuff going on, and they know that I will be supportive if no damage will be done to the instrument. And, of course, the stage manager is a vital ally.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The student was certainly out of line. Whether or not a faculty member was aware is an unknown, but rather than rant and rave, it is better to point out damage done and potential damage, and possibly suggest different ways of getting the same effect without causing damage. I figure we are educators in this situation, and if we don't step in and do it, who will? Who can do it better? What happens when that student becomes a prof?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>About the visiting guest artist, I'd say he was probably within bounds. Ie, not actually having observed it, I would be hard pressed to argue against pounding on cheekblock and/or rim with fist. If the screw came loose, that is a defect caused by the wood in the cheekblock being stripped, not his fault. This kind of percussive effect with hand slap or fist is quite common and to be expected. When you get to mallets and other implements, that becomes another matter, though as long as they are felt or leather covered, I see no particular harm.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It sounds like you already have an alternate, designated piano for things that are "pushing the limits" and policy understood by stage manager, and that this fell through the cracks - which is bound to happen from time to time. At which point, we clean up the spilt milk, politely make people aware, and go on about our business.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In Rochester a couple years ago, Alan Eder showed a great rap video he created at Cal Arts, called commUUNicate! I guess it is shown at some sort of opening assembly, and makes the point that the piano tech wants to hear from you. A great attitude, and a very amusing video.<br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Regards,</div><div>Fred Sturm</div><div>University of New Mexico</div><div><a href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu">fssturm@unm.edu</a></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br><div><html>On Apr 12, 2008, at 9:26 AM, Paul T Williams wrote:</html><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">Hi List,</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">In the last two weeks, our best Steinway D has been damaged by unauthorized "prepared" piano use twice! The first occurrance was three weeks ago during our "Clarifest Day" where a guest artist, without permission started banging on the right cheekblock and side of the rim with his fist. He pounded so hard it knocked loose the cheek screw and was causing a clicking in the upper regesters. I was called from home to come down to fix it, and fortunately it was indeed only the loose screw.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">The second time was this week; a student composer used a mallet and banged on the plate and severely bent up several bass damper heads AND strumming the strings with a wire brush. The stage manager, the professor of composition, and I were not told this was going to take place and this student beleives he is going to demonstrate it again in the same hall and in our smaller recital room that also has a "D". The assistant stage manager (in charge that evening) SHOULD have stopped the pre-performance rehersal and swapped out the Steinway for our semi- decent Yamaha C-3. I'm not sure how to prevent the abuse of prepared pianos. The faculty doesn't seem to care or think about it, except for the piano faculty, of course. </font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">Do I have a right to prevent such use/abuse? Could I actually step in and stop a performance? Should I? How do you all get faculty and students to get this in their fat heads that this behaviour is not OK? He could have cracked the plate!!!</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">Concerned</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif">Paul T. Williams </font></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>