Thumpy, you never fail to elicit a smile from me. It's one of the delightful paradoxes and mysteries of the universe that a man in your state of being---unbelievably focused on clean surfaces, clean air, clean skin, clean tools, clean objects surrounding you---would be destined to work on objects that are usually not only dusty but caked- on dirty. You shoulda been a scientist or technician in a clean room somewhere, wearing a mask, clothes, and gloves at all times, being in perfect solidarity with other pathogen-averse brothers and sisters......keep on rockin', dude. You bring me a lotta pleasure.... David A. On Feb 3, 2009, at 8:45 AM, Euphonious Thumpe wrote: > Thanks, Paul, > I'm "with you" on this! BLECHHHH! And as the "let's all be > filthy so we have strong immune systems" argument. Pbbbbbthhhht! > There goes civilization!!! ( Ever stand behind a person who hasn't > had a bath in a month, in line at the coffee shop, or heard of > "Typhoid Mary" ??? ) > Hey! While we're at it, why not tell the surgeon about to do your > appendectomy "Don't bother scrubbimg up!" because you'll either "be > fine", > get a nasty, painful infection but recover, or "improve the gene > pool" by dying out as one of the "immunologically deficient"!!! > Phooey! Civilized culture relies on people being clean and > courteous, and NOT leaving a trail ( like a slug ) for others to > contend with !!!!!!! > > Euphonious Thumpe > > > P.S. It's also been confirmed that some of us have 500 times more > taste-buds per square inch than others, so are VASTLY more sensitive > to odors! > But I know a piano technician who opened his mouth to talk to > me, and the distinct stink of mouse-pee ( from instruments he'd been > working on ) wafted from his lungs!!! Whatever microbes were in > those pianos, were now a part of HIM! Increasingly, scientific > research is proving that micro-organisms getting into the > bloodstreams ( and brains ) of their "host" victims affect their > thinking, and actions, to the benefit of the microorganisms' > reproductive cycles. > > Thanks, but no thanks! > Or, to put it musically, "I wanna be meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!" > > > --- On Tue, 2/3/09, John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca> wrote: > >> From: John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca> >> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> To: pianotech at ptg.org >> Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 10:58 AM >> I just read a medical article, that said the reason so many >> children are allergic to so much is that they never built up >> a resistance to anything, they are so protected. >> I am 71, and I remember back when I was a kid, we did many >> things that would be considered unhygienic and harmful, but >> we survived fine. >> Are we perhaps making too much of this hygiene thing. >> They suggest giving peanuts for that allergy now. Mind you >> I can't remember if it was before or after. (the age >> thing again :-) ) >> John Ross >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Paul T Williams >> To: pianotech at ptg.org >> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:08 AM >> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> >> >> >> Yes, but I lysol wipe the keytops. How do you disinfect >> the wood? >> Paul >> >> >> >> "Joe And Penny Goss" >> <imatunr at srvinet.com> >> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >> 02/02/2009 04:54 PM Please respond to >> pianotech at ptg.org >> >> >> To <pianotech at ptg.org> >> cc >> Subject Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Hi, >> Isn't that work only cosmetic> The germs are still >> there! >> Joe Goss RPT >> Mother Goose Tools >> imatunr at srvinet.com >> www.mothergoosetools.com >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Paul T Williams >> To: pianotech at ptg.org >> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 3:28 PM >> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> >> >> You know, the black gunk on key sides takes a long time >> to build up. It's really gross! needs to be sanded >> off! I HATE doing it! But....I do....(A razor blade works >> great, but, ooooooh, very nasty to think of what it is!!!) >> I try to, once per semester, take some Lysol wipes and go >> over the keytops of our 110 pianosx88keys, but they all >> don't always get it for obvious reasons! I did do this >> during the winter break before Spring semester >> started.....I'm noticing a few less gagging students >> around here! maybe it really helps! (I still try not to >> grab the hand rails up and down the stairs when I'm >> able...) >> >> I play, for sure, but the thing I hate the most is >> playing slimy hand-lotion laden keys! Ugggh! >> >> Paul >> >> >> "Carl Teplitski" <koko99 at shaw.ca> >> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >> 02/02/2009 04:07 PM >> Please respond to >> pianotech at ptg.org >> >> >> >> To <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>, >> <pianotech at ptg.org> >> cc >> Subject Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Thank you. Great answers for sure. Two great opinions, >> and I suppose , >> if ten more players answered, they most likely would be >> similar, or >> somewhere in between. >> >> Carl / Winnipeg >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Euphonious Thumpe" >> <lclgcnp at yahoo.com> >> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> >> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 11:00 AM >> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >> >> >> I also play professionally, and wouldn't dream of >> touching a piano >> ( or anything else that's not mine, outside of a >> doorknob ) without washing >> my hands, first. Besides its being inconsiderate ( in my >> considered >> opinion ) I've spent too many days scraping black goo >> off the sides of keys, >> from grimy fingers, and also seen how sweat can literally >> dissolve keys! I >> also don't like sitting to play a piano in a public >> place, and feel >> unidentified slimy scum on my fingertips, from whomever >> sat there last. ( >> NOT conducive to "artistic reveries"!) Also: I >> knew a music major who >> could rip through all the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies >> "in her sleep" but ate >> chicken in the University practice rooms, licked her >> fingers and then >> played!!! In "no time" THAT piano really STANK >> !!!!!!! ) >> >> That said, I like playing with just-washed hands, on >> very clean, cool, >> "silky" cellulose-type keytops. I find its >> "satiny" feel extremely >> comfortable. ( Much nicer than "plastic". Does >> anyone still make this stuff >> ? ) >> >> Euphonious Thumpe >> >> >> --- On Sun, 2/1/09, Steven Hopp >> <hoppsmusic at hotmail.com> wrote: >> >>> From: Steven Hopp <hoppsmusic at hotmail.com> >>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >>> To: pianotech at ptg.org >>> Date: Sunday, February 1, 2009, 9:30 PM >>> Carl, >>> >>> Having played the piano nearly 40 years and still >>> practicing 2-3 hours a day and performing regularly >>> throughout the year with at least one or two solo >> recitals I >>> feel qualified to answer giving my opinion. >>> >>> First, if I perform anywhere I do not wash my hands >> first. >>> Most soaps leave a residue on the skin that can be >> slippery >>> sometimes. A little natural dirt and oil provides a >> bit of >>> a grip that is desirable over slick clean hands. I >> prefer >>> pianos with as you call them rough keys. Ivory is a >> great >>> feel under the fingers as are ebony or flat black >> keys. >>> These types of keys give me a sense of security in >> most >>> rapid passage work and a nice grip for the fingers. >>> However, I think it would feel very strange to play >> on >>> plastic keys that had been steel wooled. Smooth >> plastic >>> would be much preferred over something not quite >> natural. >>> If the keys were sticky gross that would be bad but >> here >>> again smooth plastic keys with just a bit of natural >> residue >>> on them would grip a little better than highly >> polished >>> keys. These keys would push me into what I call the >>> "danger zone". >>> >>> If your clients piano keys are gross then by all >> means keep >>> teaching them to keep them clean. I have found that >> most >>> clients are more horrified when they learn of the >> garbage >>> that lurks underneath the keys that little Sally or >> Johnny >>> is playing over. (mice nests, bugs, cockroach eggs >> and the >>> like). This cleaning service can really make a >> satisfied >>> customer. Hope this helps and it is just my >> opinion. >>> >>> Steven Hopp >>> >>> >>> >>> From: koko99 at shaw.caTo: ;Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 >> 23:43:16 >>> -0600Subject: [pianotech] smooth or rough keys >>> >>> >>> Reading the posts re. washing your hands, led me to >> asking >>> this question. >>> Many times in a customers home I've encountered >> a >>> keyboard that was >>> slow and sticky. I don't mean sticky, like >> tacky, but >>> you can't run your fingures >>> along the keys without feeling drag. Hate the >> feeling, so >>> I suggest to the >>> person I'm dealing with that I show them >> something that >>> could help make playing >>> easier . First I have them drag their fingures >> along the >>> keys, and then I clean >>> an octave. When they run their fingures from the >> keys that >>> drag to the clean >>> part, the difference is quite obvious. Even if >> they >>> aren't the one playing, they >>> can see that it should be easier for little Johnny >> or Mary >>> to perform on clean >>> keys. Most of the time, on my next visit, the keys >> are >>> clean. >>> >>> My question is this: do most high skilled pianists >> prefer >>> a smooth shiny >>> keyboard, or one that has an ivory, sanded type >> surface? >>> Not sure if I've >>> asked the question properly. When I've >> steelwooled key >>> tops to get them >>> smooth , plastic or ivory, there is this feel >> I'm >>> trying to describe. If it's plastic >>> for sure, I will buff to high gloss. Should they be >> left >>> somewhere a little >>> before the gloss appears ?? Pretty hard to do, I >> think. >>> >>> Carl / Winnipeg >>> >> _________________________________________________________________ >>> Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways >> to >>> connect. >>> >> http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009 > > > >
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