UPDATED May 23

Pianos are important to many of my clients, many of whom now have additional time to play. When pianos go out of tune, they stay out of tune so I'm helping my valued customers by cautiously and selectively accepting  appointments as things begin to approach the new normal.

What I understand and believe:

The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease it causes (Covid-19) are real and serious. Covid-19 is very contagious and while the majority of those infected recover, it is a nasty disease and especially dangerous for those with co-morbidity factors such as other chronic diseases and advanced age.

While Covid-19 is very contagious, following some simple steps and protocols will DRAMATICALLY reduce your chances of contracting it. These steps are very well known and include frequent hand washing, limiting human contact (and practicing social distancing when contact can't be avoided)  and wearing masks. 

I believe that if my clients are going to feel comfortable inviting me into their homes, they must feel confident that I am doing everything I possibly and reasonably can to reduce the chance that I am spreading the disease.

This also means I must be confident that my going into their home will not unreasonably expose me to the disease.

I have been taking this situation very seriously and have studied how the virus is spread. I have a number of clients and friends who are medical doctors and a close friend who is a PhD biologist for a pharmaceutical firm. I have pestered them all with questions and listened closely to their answers and comments.

While the virus is very contagious, the viral load is important. One single virus will get destroyed by your immune system but  at some higher concentration the Covid19 virus gains the upper edge.

This indicates that the virus is not that easy to catch if one keeps ones social interactions minimal and protected.  One can go to the grocery store and service pianos if the now standard social distancing, masks and hand washing protocol is followed.

The virus needs a human body to survive and decays quickly on other surfaces. There is evidence of the virus remaining on hard surfaces but the general understanding is that it does not retain viability for very long. 

**While I understand the desire to relax the restrictions on public gathering, we're not out of the woods yet!**

I am not changing my personal procedures of keeping human contact to an absolute minimum and then only with proper distancing, masking and hand cleaning.

MY PROTOCOL

I carry both alcohol and disinfectant wipes and use them every chance I have.

I do not use public transportation and only drive my own car. I haven't been in any kind of public transportation since late January.

I'm a bachelor and live alone (I know...sad) so nobody else is potentially bringing the virus into my home

I've trained myself to not  touch my eyes, nose or mouth without a disposable tissue.  I've been in remarkably good health for the last 2 years (not even the sniffles) and am playing close attention to any potential symptoms.

I stopped going to the gym in early March and am getting my exercise at home....well, I've stopped going to the gym.

Here is my specific protocol during the work day:

• I am trying to accept only one appointment per day. However if you are not the first appointment on your chosen day, I will inform you and help make another appointment if you choose.

• I spray 80% isopropyl alcohol on my hands before I come into your home and after I leave.

• I use a tissue to ring your doorbell and open your door.

• I'll put a clean mask on before I enter your home.

• I'll be wearing a pair of new latex gloves for the duration of my visit.

• If you prefer,  I can wash my hands with anti-bacterial soap as soon as I come in but the gloves should mitigate that need.

• I'm not wiping your keys with disinfectant because I'm concerned about possibly damaging the keys. Since I am wearing new gloves, I have not brought the virus in on my fingers and any virus I pickup from the keys will be disposed of with the gloves. You may disinfect them with 80% alcohol or other disinfectant if you want. Generally I have not heard of many issues with damaging the keytops but I don't want to be the one doing it.

• I do not wear the same clothes, including pants and shoes, 2 days in a row.

Here is what I ask of you.

If anybody in your household shows any symptoms that might indicate COVID-19 infection, please let me know and we can reschedule our appointment.

Please do not be in the room or ideally anywhere near where I am working or allow anyone else to be there.

I would prefer it if nobody was in the same room as the piano for at least an hour prior to my arrival, however I realize that may be difficult.

Let's maintain a minimum 8 foot distance and I would prefer you to leave a check for me on the piano or pay electronically through Venmo.

If we are going to be in contact during my visit I would greatly appreciate it if you would wear a mask.

If there is any additional protocol you wish me to follow please let me know.

My travel schedule is a little up in the air right now so my online system does not show specific times for the locations I service. I recommend you make an appointment through my online system for a time that makes sense to you. I will contact you to either confirm the appointment or adjust it as needed.

I use the Johns Hopkins Covid19 statistics site as a reference.

You will get email reminders before the actual date and there WILL NOT BE ANY CHARGE TO CANCEL OR CHANGE 24 hours or more in advance.

PS. I haven't had a haircut since early March so I look like an aging Chewbacca.

I'm an independent businessman and it would devastate my finances if my customers postponed getting their pianos tuned so please be reasonable and safe and get your piano tuned!