Hi, all,
Here’s another take on the loaning of keyboards or any other instruments. David’s school, Pomona College, is a small private college, part of a larger consortium of small connected colleges in that city. Their classes went all on-line weeks ago, and their 1500 dorm students were sent home, including back to other countries. About 100 of them had no other place to go and were moved into a single dorm for ease of security, food service and so on. The dorm and the music students who went there asked to have a grand piano sent from the Music Department, since they were mostly sitting unused in classrooms. The President of the Consortium intervened, asking whether they planned to provide instruments to all who have been displaced, or only those few. The answer was obvious, and there will be no special treatment for a small percentage of students. It’s just another idea in play during this complicated time.
At Pomona, and also at my old situation at CSU Long Beach, all classes including private lessons are being done on any one of several platforms that work for that. Spring Break time was extended an extra week for faculty to get set up and experiment with the systems. Only a couple of pianos are being tuned, for use by faculty in rooms for on-line teaching, when they have no other option. Our shop work can carry on, even if it means bringing actions home for hammer filing, key bushings, cleaning and such work.
Also, in that same vein, our local PTG chapters have stopped meeting in person. Kayoko Forrest at LA Chapter has opened a chapter ZoomPro account, which can host up to 100 people at once, to “broadcast” meetings. The first experimental one is tomorrow night, Wednesday 3/25/20 at 5pm, and she sent an invitation to chapter officers here so they can try it out and get up to speed. LA Chapter will share the account for use by other local chapters, since the 7 local chapters from San Diego to Santa Barbara all meet on different nights. She went to an earlier time so that the meeting can be finished before dinner locally, and people across the country can tune in if they want to.
If you are interested in how it works, you can check with Kay, ask for an invitation (you need to register before the meeting and get the link) to an upcoming meeting.
Good luck everyone, this is trying our patience and our ingenuity and our faith in our communities. Stay safe and stay well,
Kathy
Original Message------
Rick and Fred- we too at SMU received a few requests as our building is essentially closed to students for practice and rehearsal. A few international students had no instrument, so a local dealer agreed to provide digitals to a few. We have none outside of lab pianos. One of our practice room DS 5.5 keyboard verticals was moved into a student apartment. Most internationals have returned to their home country. I am currently working remotely and our administration is wrestling with what to do regarding recitals, juries etc.
I 'm including a link to UNT that describes what has been done there.
https://music.unt.edu/alert-information
Everyone be safe. We will get through this and hope it never repeats itself.
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David Brown
Garland TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 17:04
From: Rick Florence
Subject: keyboard loans to students due corona virus shutdowns
Hello,
I am receiving inquiries from a faculty member regarding loaning our electronic keyboards to piano majors during the corona virus shut downs. We are not shut down as of today, but who knows. Most students are not coming to school right now.
Is your school doing this, or do you know anyone that is? I am curious how the logistics of moving, pre-sanitizing, cost, and insurance are handled. Roll of toilet paper for the best responses:)
Thanks
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Rick Florence
Gilbert AZ
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