In March we ran an article entitled COVID-19 and Consumer Piano Care. This detailed the advisory issued by the Piano Technicians Guild with respect to the current pandemic. Further advice on the subject has since been published by several authorities, so it seems apposite to highlight them here.
There is conflicting advice regarding the use of certain chemicals, so please be careful, especially if treating a piano that has ivory keys.
Manufacturers
Several major piano makers have released guidance bulletins.
Steinway and Sons has published How to Clean Your Piano which provides information on disinfecting piano keys and general cleaning guidelines. Incidentally the company is also currently donating a percentage of every current online sale (including Boston and Essex pianos) to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Fazioli has a detailed posting on their website – How to Clean and Sanitize the Keyboard on Fazioli Pianos. This includes a comprehensive video from one of their dealers along with a recipe for a sanitizing solution.
Yamaha Music Australia has produced a support webpage entitled Disinfecting and Cleaning Keys on your Yamaha Acoustic Piano. This also includes a YouTube video, albeit a very short one.
Steingraeber & Söhne’s Recommendations to Disinfect Piano Keyboards states that there is no way to guarantee your piano is totally virus-free. It also warns of the use of various chemicals and UV-C light. The company does, however, make suggestions to greatly reduce the risk of infection.
Further Information
The NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) in conjunction with NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) and NAfME (National Association for Music Education) have jointly published COVID-19 and Instrument Cleaning. This takes a detailed look at musical instrument hygene. The document also discussed the difference between sterilization and disinfection.
US-based online piano store Living Pianos has also produced a video entitled Do You Need to Disinfect the Keys on Your Piano?
If you are a piano teacher, you may insist that your students use hand sanitizer before starting their lesson. The Musicians Hand Sanitizer (from PianoSupplies.com) may be a useful product to keep handy. Of course countless other sanitizers are on the market, but the music-related design might just prompt usage.
And finally, in case you missed it, check out composer/arranger Jeff DePaoli’s excellent Coronavirus Etude — For Piano and Disinfecting Wipe. The sheet music is available for just $1.99 (£1.61) with all proceeds donated to Musicians Without Borders.
If you or your company has additional information on this subject, please email it to us at WorldPianoNews.com. Alternatively please use the Comments section at the bottom of this page.
