[CAUT] Protecting pianos from student and faculty beverage spills

[Fred Sturm]

On Dec 2, 2009, at 12:11 PM, Newhouse,Larry R. wrote:

> The concert manager and I are trying to come up with suggestions to  
> try and
> change the culture since it is very hard to catch these accidents as  
> they
> happen.  Therefore, It would be helpful for me to know how other
> universities, colleges and conservatories handle this and what  
> systems they
> use, if any, to minimize the damage.


	I think the most effective way to change the culture is one on one,  
particularly with students. If you have a student you interact with  
(usually there are some who are interested in what you do), pointing  
out to that person what is involved can go a long way. Students talk  
to one another. Peer pressure of only a few students can go a long  
way. And if they have a personal connection - "this guy I like will  
have to do a lot more work if I screw up" - that makes it doubly  
effective.
	Faculty, again, one by one. If I see liquid in any container, I talk  
to them soberly and matter-of-factly about consequences. No hysteria,  
no big scene, just pointing out the dangers and the expense of time  
and money to remedy.
	I don't know that I can claim credit, but we have a pretty good  
culture here, next to no spills. I don't think a draconian police  
state is very effective in controlling private behavior.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu