<HTML>In a message dated 8/4/01 10:30:38 PM Central Daylight Time, doepke@fwi.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I have been lucky enough to have a new piano store agree to host a Basic Piano Care Seminar.  Invitations will go out into the area.  To music teachers, churches, and the general public.  I have ordered some pamphlets from the PTG to hand out to folks when they arrive. Without going overboard with too technical information,  what topics do you think should be included in a Basic Piano Care presentation lasting about 45 minutes..maybe an hour? Thank you.  I am constantly amazed at the wealth of knowledge this group has..and is willing to share. Brian P. Doepke </BLOCKQUOTE> Brian In less than an hour, I think the most important information you should present is why a piano goes out of tune. I have an article explaining this, if you want to have it available to pass out to the "students'.  I think most people know that a piano needs to be tuned one or twice a year, but I don't think they really understand why it goes out of tune. Most of my clients think that moving a piano will cause it to go out of tune a lot more than if it just sat there. Although moving does cause a piano to go out of tune, it is the changes in environment that causes the piano to go out of tune. That, I think is what needs to be explained. Along with that, the other thing you can stress is the importance of keeping a piano in a stable environment. If you are into Damp Chasers, this is the time you can sell them on the idea. And lastly, make sure you explain that Pledge and other such "polishes" are extremely dangerous for pianos, especially grands. Unless you are asked, I would stay away from the technical aspects, such as how an action works, or why strings vibrate. I would think that this information would not be retained. But information on taking care of the instrument will be remembered. I hope this helps. Willem </HTML>