Checklist:

20 Effective Ways to Protect Your Keyboard

As an entertainment insurance brokerage with a specialty in creating
custom insurance packages for musicians, we have seen enough music
gear-related insurance claims to be able to speak with some authority
on what musicians can do to protect their gear.

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About
Front Row Insurance
Front Row is a specialty insurance brokerage providing insurance and risk
management services to the Film Industry with offices in Los Angeles, New York,
Nashville, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. One of our specialties is creating
custom insurance packages for musicians. This can include tour liability and coverage
for recording studios. We also provide insurance solutions for:

• Film & Television: Producers, Distributors & Broadcasters

• Producers of Documentaries, Commercials, Music Videos, Educational and
Industrial Videos
• Digital Content Producers & Animation Companies
• Live Theatre, Concerts, Special Events & Venues
• Equipment Rental companies, Sound & Lighting, Staging Companies, Sound &
Recording studios and services allied to the entertainment support industry

We are one of the largest specialty insurance brokerages in the world for the film &
television industry, insuring well over $3B in production budgets annually in Canada.

• We have a staff of 50+ with a combined 580 years of film insurance experience
• Front Row is licensed and registered in every Canadian province and US state
• Front Row maintains $25,000,000 of Errors & Omissions insurance

We are also routinely asked to participate in panel discussions and presentations to

universities, entertainment trade associations, guilds, government funding agencies
and broadcasters. Website: https://www.frontrowinsurance.com

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1. Where to keep your keyboard? According to Yamaha, a room with relative humidity between
40 and 45% is ideal for keyboards.

2. Do not place the keyboard outside or near an open window. Dust will coat the keyboard,
which could create issues with electronic parts inside.

3. Do not place the keyboard under a shelf with a lot of objects on it. Heavy falling objects from
shelves such as trophies can severely damage a keyboard.

4. Do not place the keyboard near a fireplace, where ash and dust would inevitably get into it
and likely damage the electronic components.

5. Do not allow pets to get on the keyboard. Cats, in particular, would likely enjoy climbing on
top of your keyboard, but their fur could get into the sensors and potentially damage the electronic
components.

6. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to pull out dust from your keyboard. Tiny parts and screws may
get loosened, compromising your keyboard over time.

7. Get a keyboard cover, ideally waterproof, to put over your keyboard when not in use to pro-
tect it from dust and water.

8. Get a solid, sturdy keyboard stand.

9. Keep the electrical cords out of the way where they won’t be tripped over.

10. Use a multimeter to check if the electrical outlet you’re plugging the
keyboard into is supplying the proper voltage recommended by your key-
board’s manufacturer. If it isn’t, try a different outlet. Multimeters can gener-
ally be purchased at Home Depot for about $30. Always turn the keyboard
off before you unplug it, and unplug it when you’re not playing it.

11. Don’t plug your keyboard into an outlet that is shared by a micro-
wave, AC, fridge or any other major electrical appliance. Interference from such devices can nega-
tively impact the sound of your keyboard.

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12. Check the keyboard’s instruction manual/manufacturer’s notes for specific and acceptable
cleaning methods.

13. Use a regular cotton cloth to clean the keyboard. Do not use a thinner, as that can remove the
printing and even damage the (usually plastic) body.

14. Any cleaning solution that you use on the keyboard should have an alcohol content of around
90%.

15. A cotton swab can be used to clean corners of the keyboard that a cloth cannot reach.

16. If you’re touring, always use a high-quality carrying case such as a hard-bodied, foam-lined,
locking Pelican case that protects against impact & moisture.

17. A seemingly innocuous action, like placing one’s drink atop a keyboard panel, can result in
said drink eventually spilling and short-circuiting the keyboard. Insurance claims often occur after
absent-minded actions such as this. So, put any nearby drinks on a side table, not on top of the key-
board panel.

18. Hiding a Tile or similar tracker in your cases results in a good recovery rate for stolen key-
boards and other music gear.

19. At least once a year, take your keyboard to your local music instrument technician for a once-
over. This annual investment in expert service will no doubt pay for itself over the long run by keep-
ing your keyboard in good shape.

20. Try to get into the habit of washing your hands before playing the keyboard. You may not re-
alize it, but your fingers and palms contain moisture and oils that can damage your keys. Finally: play
your keyboard with care and don’t pound those keys too hard!

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Consider Front Row for Keyboard Insurance

Front Row Insurance is a brokerage specializing in entertainment-related risks. We have a simple

online instrument insurance program available 24/7. Custom packages for musicians include tour
liability and coverage for recording studios. We have offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Halifax,
LA, NYC & Nashville and our staff of 50+ have a combined 510 years insurance experience.

Front Row provides fast, affordable musical instrument insurance for Canada’s music professionals
who are Canadian resident members of SOCAN (and other music associations). Get a quote and buy
online here: https://musicians.frontrowinsurance.com/

Citations:

https://www.furtadosonline.com/blog/protecting-your-electronic-keyboard/

https://www.onlinepianist.com/op-blog/how-to-maintain-a-digital-piano/

https://ca.yamaha.com/en/support/caring_for_your_piano/index.html

https://blog.bestbuy.ca/musical-instruments/digital-piano-maintenance

https://bestdigitalpianoguides.com/five-tips-on-maintaining-your-digital-piano/

https://www.digitalpianoplanet.com/how-to-clean-a-digital-piano/

https://piano-reviews.com/digital-piano/

Images: Shutterstock purchases

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About: Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent insurance broker that provides
instrument insurance for the lowest possible cost. Should a claim occur, Front Row ensures that
client receives the money they are owed per the policy, as quickly as possible. Front Row has
offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. https://www.frontrowinsurance.com

© 2020 Front Row Insurance