CAUT Piano Cleaning and Usage Tips for Institutions
As we contemplate our collective return to the classroom, practice room, playing venues and faculty offices, there are many considerations in store for us. Safety is paramount not just the technicians, but also for the students, faculty and other coworkers at our institutions.
During the recent months, we have been able to narrow down the list of risks for transmission of the disease. We are reasonably sure of the following:
- The easiest way to transmit the disease is through close and continued contact with an infected person(s). The best transmission is through the air via talking, singing, strenuous exercise and breathing.
- An infected person is often indistinguishable from one who is not, since the virus often carries no symptoms.
- Transmission is also possible through contact with an infected surface, but more difficult.
- Survival of the virus on contaminated surfaces is anywhere between a few hours to a few days depending upon the surface and conditions.
General recommendations for limiting the spread of the virus include:
- "Social Distancing," which is loosely defined as maintaining six feet or more between individuals.
- Requiring masks in any public area, most especially indoors.
- Encouraging frequent hand washing.
- NOT touching your face!!!
- If you are a player, then DON'T lick your fingers to turn pages!!! Suggest each student bring their own moisture pad similar to what is used for moistening stamps.
- Cleaning surfaces (including piano keyboards) with an appropriate cleaner before and after use. Be sure to honor the manufacturer's recommendation for cleaning practices so as not to void any warranty remaining with the instrument.
- A sign-in/sign out log should also be considered to aid in contact tracing.
Many institutions are planning on a reopening in the fall with (likely) limited access to facilities. This means altered class schedules to minimize contact time, less time in practice rooms for students and for you the technician. Proper scheduling will help with the contact time. The concept of letting the room "rest" for three days will help as well if it's possible to schedule that way.
As dubious as the practice might be, we will likely rely upon students to clean their own spaces. Setting out proper cleaning materials (together with cleaning instructions) in the practice areas will help in the process and eliminate excuses for non-compliance.
Yamaha has blessed us with some practical guidelines for sanitizing.
Information is also available from Steinway.
The PTG has also provided information on general sanitation guidelines: https://www.ptg.org/covid-19. These are practical and easy to do with readily available materials.
Depending upon the will of the administration(s) at our institutions, various configurations of use may be in order. Suggestions have included not sharing practice space, i.e. one student to one practice room. Also, spacing out the usage times with a defined schedule, for instance a two hour block in the morning for room 101 with the next use in room 103 later in the day. Suggestions have also included limiting the use of practice rooms to 3-4 students with arrangements and training in proper cleaning with materials supplied. More space/time is needed between singers and wind instrument players for the virus to settle out of the room.
Social distancing practices are available by limiting the spacing between students in the classrooms. This brings the classroom populations down to about 1/3rd to1/4 of the normal capacity. Classes can be staggered throughout the day to minimize crowding in the halls.
Signage with policies that amend policies already in place to include the above cleaning practices could be included at the entrance to practice rooms. We still don't care to have drinks spilled inside the pianos on top of all this!!
HVAC systems are a wide swath. Some buildings are modern in design and some quite old often with correspondingly aging equipment. It is not possible to suggest how to handle ventilation with this document other than there should be consideration given to the above.
Wishing you the best as we look forward to this coming academic year!
The Piano Technicians Guild College and University Technicians Committee (7/2020)
Links:
Yamaha Piano Cleaning Recommendations
Steinway Piano Cleaning Recommendations
PTG Piano Cleaning Recommendations