I always do, and insist that everyone else do the same before they lay hands on the keys.

My teacher doesn't ask her students to wash up, but she does wipe down the keyboard after each one leaves and before the next one plays.

True story - I spent 20 years as a jazz pianist for a military big band. The piano in the rehearsal room was considered to be a 'public access' instrument (unlike the personal trumpets, saxes and trombones). Every day for those 20 years of rehearsals I would Windex the keys. I wouldn't dream of playing someone else's instrument but a piano is fair game.

I really hate oil or a film on any piano keys I play and always bring along Windex when I have to play an acoustic piano. If I'm using my own equipment, nobody touches it. I also have the same thing about the steering wheel on my car. I no longer care if anyone thinks this is compulsive or neurotic behavior. If you've ever used a public telephone or a computer keyboard at an internet café, you know what I'm talking about.

Aww, do I have[/b] to? My hands are already clean! Oh, man[/b]!!!!

Funny thing is that I almost always play just after I wash the dishes. My piano, however, is not in a publicly-accessible place.

Yes, I always wash my hands before I practice. And sometimes when I wasn't planning on practicing, I play just because I happened to wash my hands after doing something like washing dishes/cleaning house, scooping the litter box, etc.

Almost always. It's just that I rarely 'sit down and practice'. I'm doing several other things, and each time I pass by the piano, I plop down and run through my pieces once or twice, then get up and do something else.

My piano teacher insists that all of her students wash their hands before touching the piano. With up to ten different people a day playing it, a teacher's piano could very well become second-most active germ-exchange in town (after the day care center).

My teacher doesn't insist on any hand washing before playing and I wish she would. Like Matt G and Sleepingcats I usually play after washing the dishes. My son is supposed to wash before playing, but sometimes I'll sit down and see slime on the keys. I usually just wipe down with a chamois.
Jon

No.

i don't usually do unless my hands are not clean and dry. but, to me, the important thing is actually a clean keyboard to start with (just like computer keyboard). i don't like to play on dirty and sticky keys.

Same as signa but I do ask the boys to wash before they practice. They always have dirty hands and like Jon I know they sometimes slip by because I find the results. The teacher doesn't ask them to wash before lessons but if we are just coming from school I will make sure he takes a quick trip to the bathroom first when we arrive to wash up.
I hate dirty/sticky keys too.

Cathy

When I visit my mother for more than a weekend, I usually get piano withdrawal syndrome; the cure most readily available to me there is the Kawai grand in her club. But...the keys are absolutely filthy! They are dingy with whiter spots where fingers have been. I've been pretty desperate for a practice to play this instrument! I can't believe the piano isn't better maintained. And I immediately wash my hands after playing it, telling myself over and over "don't touch your face!"

But I have a much rosier future ahead for withdrawal fixes. Mom's moving to a retirement community in November that has three Steinway grands -- 2 Ls and a B. And they are spotless!

Nope. Too lazy. And my piano has developed immunites to that sort of thing anyways.

Yes!

I try to remember to wash my hands, but I often forget. It's not like my hands are very dirty, anyway. Plus, no one else uses my piano.

One thing I cannot[/b] stand is when people eat chips at the computer and grease up the keyboard and mouse.

Only if I've been ... oh, never mind.

Plays, you ought to take a little stash of moist wipes next time you go. Do them and yourself both a favor!

My teacher insists on his students washing their hands before they play. I do it just to warm up my hands.

Yes, and I hate it when the tuner comes!

To those who wash your hands, why do you do it? I can understand asking children to wash their hands before playing, but unless my hands are moist or sticky, I don't see the need. After 3 years, my piano does not seem the worse for wear. Is it a psychological aversion to germs or something? If anyone says it is because a sticky keyboard is a hinderance to playing, then I would say that their technique is probably questionable!

I do it every time out of respect for the instrument, basically. I'd like to keep the keyboard in as good a condition as possible. By the same token, I close the fall board after I'm done playing - I've got a bunch of cats and a dog, so pet hair is the one ubiquitous thing in my life.
You're saying a sticky keyboard is not[/b] a hinderance? WOW. I've never played on one, but if I did I think I would indeed find it a hinderance. How many recitals by professionals have I seen where they wipe the keyboard down with a cloth right before playing - maybe they've got an issue with sticky keyboards too.

If I know I have been doing somethng slimy or dirty - yes. Otherwise I just check them out. However, when new piano comes I think that will change. I will require the kids to wash their hands before playing piano when I take my spinet to my classroom this year. One of the rules! I also make them wash their hands quite often before reading groups! My hubbie says they are walking germ bags!

I'm with HermanM - out of respect for the instrument.

Maybe not sticky, but oily (from finger oils). Oily keyboards would be a problem since the fingers would have less grip but not sticky ones.

Has anyone seen the lysol commercial where the mom has two little kids playing her piano, then she takes a can of lysol and douses the entire keyboard. Yikes!

Oh, and to the question, no, it never occurred to me to do so. I'm the only one who plays and I have little kids who require multiple diaper changes so I wash my hands about 300 times a day anyhow.

I usually do only after playing with my dog , except for those few days a month when he's actually clean.

I wash my hands, and my keyboard, everytime before playing.

Always wash my hands first. Just an automatic habit.

Frank B.: I read somewhere that Arthur Rubinstein preferred to play unwashed piano keys because he felt it gave him a better grip on the keys. But I, like yourself, prefer washed keys. They just feel better to me that way. However, I find washing then about once a week is sufficient for my needs. (I'd guess regular hand washing helps in this regard.)

Yes.

But what is funny - for me - is I live in a shack (let's call it a studio) with holes in the walls. My computer keyboard and screen have layers of moon dust. I will stop there.

But the grand piano is cover with a beautiful piano cover that came with the piano, keys are exposed only when I play - else closed. The piano "lid" will remain closed until I can play Fur Else. And then only to play special pieces I have learned.

I keep the keys covered of the keyboards - and now that I have a piano I generally wash before playing the keyboards, too.

Fingerprints are created by oils released from the skin, but I don't need oil on the keys to move around!
So I like to key "it" clean.

I would hate to slip on a key, sharp or flat, of an otherwise perfect performance as a beginner ! ! ! - even though I never have an audience.

I play so badly, I wash my hands after I play.

No, not unless my hands feel dirty. But like signa, my hands are usually pretty clean and I can't stand any dirt on my piano keys.

That was funny
I wash my hands often before playing. I don't like a slippery keyboard...
How do you guys clean the keyboard? Can alcohol swipes be used or only water and soap ?