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I'd like to cover my music rest with something to keep it from getting scratched up. I was thinking of that plastic wrap that's often on new appliances that you have to peel off. It doesn't seem like it has any adhesive on it, not sure how they get it to stick. Is there anything like that I could put on the music rest, or any other ideas on how to protect it. I could put a piece of plexiglass on it, but that looks pretty bush.

How about Saran wrap or other cling wrap? Might be a little thin, but given the rest is so smooth, it may stick to it.

I would choose to have something like this made, more made to measure than this but it get the idea across:

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2925357/music-desk-cover.html

I wouldn't use anything that "sealed" itself to the music desk, and by "seal" I mean the way saran wrap would.

Perhaps call a seamstress/tailor and ask for something custom made?

Alternatively, don't worry about it? Some people here might disagree, but I'm not too worried about cosmetic scratches to the music desk. Just me though...

A company called Piano Couture used to make something attractive in the shape of a music desk that just rested on the music desk that protect it from scratches. It was quite expensive but looks so nice I just leave it there permanently. Unfortunately, I don't think the company exists anymore.

I think covering the desk with Saran Wrap or something similar on a permanent basis would look far worse than any scratches on the music desk. Plexiglass might look fine but I think it might get scratched also. Why not just cut a thin piece of cardboard big enough to cover the music desk and place it there while playing and remove when not playing?

I would probably prefer to cover the rest with few layers of transparent polyurethane lacquer, and polish it when needed. But this depends on what coating is already applied to the rest.
Should not be hard to do a simple DIY cover from a piece of nice microfiber polyester, silk velvet, etc.

Yeah, the Saran wrap would look kind of tacky, but hey, Mark did ask for that new appliance wrap look! If you can sew, I think a nice fabric cover would do. I don't think it would be that hard: trace your music rest shape onto a couple pieces of fabric, sew them together on the edges, turn it inside out, and slide over the music rest.

I thought the same but didn't want to put it in writing. Use the piano don't be afraid of a few scratches, it only makes it more yours.

Not only is that a good idea, I even commented on that post last year and said I liked it. They say the memory is the first thing to go.

Hah, yeah love that washing machine look, especially with the blue tint. I tried saran wrap, ended up just kind of bunching up, it's not heavy enough. I think the sewing thing is the way to go. My wife can sew anything, I'm sure she'll be happy to do that for me if I do 10 of the projects she has on my to-do list.

If it were just sheet music it wouldn't be bad but I mostly use fake books or 3 ring notebooks, and they tend to have spines or bindings that are pretty rough. I also put my laptop on the music rest to play backing tracks and skype my lesson, so the rest gets a workout. I'm not normally too up tight about keeping most things in good shape, but woodwork is like art for me. I even oil the wooden handles on our cutting knives, my wife thinks I'm nuts.

Hi MarkL, I had the same concern of yours, so I bought a nice piece of velvety light fabric and put it just folding over the desk and not wrapping it up, so I can use or remove it easily and whenever I want. Not only I have no scratches at all as it also blocks any light reflection eventually coming from the shiny black desk surface, making the score reading more comfortable to me. Besides, kind of makes the piano even more "personal", for it is a touch I added myself.

Actually I suggested this solution on another thread here, just don't recall which one, perhaps last year...

MarkL:




Re your other comment, yeah, it probably makes sense for you to get a cover. I don't have any thing with a spiral or three-ring binding, so I hadn't thought of that.

I do have two large pieces of cardstock (17" x 12" or so, I think I have literally had since 2000 when I got my Yamaha U1!!) For the upright, the music desk was quite short and I used these two pieces of card stock when I played from paper (not book) sheet music. These days I rarely put them on the stand, but I still have them just in case.

My Bluthner rest came with black velvet attached
Ian

That's a good idea, avoids the sewing. I've found so much interesting music fabric patterns online I'm paralyzed and can't make a choice.

Over the whole music desk or just at the very bottom where the bottom of a music score would rest?

My wife can make me a nice cover, I wish she could make me a Bluthner.

Your wife would be a popular woman on this forum if she could. I think she should get gold stars for making the music desk cover.

I'm following Fluxo's suggestion and starting out by just draping it over the rest. I found this on ebay, kind of busy but only $15 so I can try something else if I don't like it:

[img]http://forum.pianoworld.com//ubbthreads.php/galleries/3043369/fabric.html#Post3043369[/img]

After 10 years I still can't figure out how to embed an image inline.

Depending on your room décor, that might look very nice, bold and exciting, then change to something more conservative if the repertoire calls for it!