Security-was Dead Bass Strings

[Joel A. Jones]

>Happy Monday All,
>
>Well, while we're still assessing the damage done by vandals to nine of our
>pianos last week and getting the ball rolling toward all the repairs( Boy,
>Mapes is going to LOVE hearing from me!!), we are turning our attention
>toward,hopefully, not letting it happen again. My Chair and Dean asked me to
>get a feel, via this group ,what other schools are doing or have done that
>has been successful towards protecting instruments at your schools.
>
>They are going to investigate some sort of keyless entry system similar to
>what is found in a lot of hotels these days. I personally don't know about
>this one, High tech generally is high priced, but this is an option they want
>to explore.
>
>In any event, I would appriciate hearing from all you CAUT's with your
>thoughts and ideas about this and what has worked or not worked at your
>institutions.
>
>I realize some of this may have  been talked about before( and I'm going to
>check out the archives) so it may not be appropriate for a pianotech
>discussion. If so, feel free to contact me direct.
>Thanks
>
>Paul Dempsey
>Marshall University
>wippen@aol.com


Paul,

We have locks on all the concert pianos.  Most of the time they are locked
when faculty or students a finished using them.  Our classrooms are locked
and the pianos are supposed to be locked also.  Classroom pianos are not
locked very often except for one of the grands located in our classrooms.
All practice rooms are locked and students need a key from a central desk
to get in and out.
        We have gone round and round on this subject.  We are  more secure
now than in the past. Street people have been invading our building and
this has helped bring security up. I have not had many vandalism problems
these past 2 years since the lock-up policy went into affect ( knock on
wood).
         There are still plenty of gaps in security and I doubt we will
ever get the full cooperation of the faculty and students in keeping our
equipment from being vandalized. Some hard-heads whine that they have to
open and close pianos and rooms. We also know that they will be the first
to whine when the equipment doesn't work. We would love to respond
according, but that doesn't make things happen or give the right message.
        Wish you well in tightening up security. You'll need the full
support from EVERYBODY.