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<DIV><FONT size=2>Finally! Some knowledge I can contribute! Two
basic rules:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>1. No metal-cutting tools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>2. No recording devices.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You'll need to fill out a form well in advance (a few weeks)
with a lot of personal identity info in order to get approved. You'll need
a government-issued picture ID (driver's license). They will inventory
your tools going in and coming out, so make it easy, and just carry the
minimum. On the other hand, it can be a big deal if you have to out
to the car and come back in again... Find out as much as you can about
what might be wrong with the pianos. Spare screws and other small parts
are helpful; parts tend to disappear. I had to MacGyver a broken key
repair once. You might bring a snack if you're doing a couple of
pianos.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Find out their schedule, and start early. You don't want
to get stuck past the lockdown time for the afternoon count (!). And it
also helps to find out the prisoner's dress code; my standard khaki slacks
blended in a little too well (at least I wasn't wearing the matching khaki
shirt!). There may be more guards some days than others, which make it
easier on them to follow you around.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The "recording device" rule killed me. I admitted that
my iPaq with TuneLab had a microphone, and could indeed record sound. So
they didn't let me bring it in. Not knowing aural tuning then, I struggled
for an hour and then begged for an exception. I got it, as long as a guard
was with me full-time (which I didn't mind).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The one I tuned for in WV preferred to pay by credit
card. PayPal allows this easily, for a small fee. Only you need to
join; the customer does not. Email me for details (see my site,
shusterpiano.com).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Let them know if any parts are missing, especially strings;
they're used for tattoo needles. Check the bottom cabinets of uprights for
missing or extra items. Curiously, they allow only acoustic pianos, and
not electric. I thought, hey, more people have been killed with piano wire
than with resistors. But I was told they can tell if an acoustic has been
tampered with or has had parts removed, while a digital is harder for them to
check out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>All in all, it was a comfortable experience. The
facility was large, clean, and pleasant, and I never felt threatened (I had a
guard full-time). (Unfortunately, it was much nicer than any high school I
was in!) Music is a privilege which can be taken away, so it's important
to the prisoners. They had an old spinet in the band room, a nicer Yamaha
upright in a separate room used for lessons, one in the chapel, and another in
an outbuilding. I felt good about helping with a positive aspect of their
lives.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy--</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>shusterpiano.com</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=michelle@cdaustin.com href="mailto:michelle@cdaustin.com">Michelle
Smith</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, July 16, 2006 10:38
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Tuning for Correctional
Institute</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I’m scheduled to tune a piano for
a federal correctional institute. (The Chaplin attends my church.)
Are there any restrictions on what tools I can bring onto the premises?
Any red flags my friend hasn’t thought about?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Michelle
Smith<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>