Vandalism at Ithaca's music school

<p>From the parent's forum <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/827638-music-school-vandalism-ithaca-college.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/827638-music-school-vandalism-ithaca-college.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>My heart goes out to the students, just before recitals and juries.</p>

<p>Foolish, senseless and criminal. </p>

<p>Maybe it's a random act of destruction, but my gut tells me this might have premeditated, and the pianos/music school was a specific target. Just my reaction due to the wife watching too many "Forensic Files".</p>

<p>Let's hope they catch the perps quickly.</p>

<p>I can think of a number of "noteworthy" punishments, but decorum prohibits the details.</p>

<p>Added: Thank the gods the barbarians didn't also target the individual music lockers. Another reason to make sure your instrument(s) is well insured for full value and all causes.</p>

<p>This is terrible, and strikes particularly close to home since we were in Ithaca for auditions on Saturday.</p>

<p>My son is a music student there, and I find it disconcerting that someone is still running around there with so much rage. Such horrible timing as well. I really hope they find whoever did it very soon.</p>

<p>Just posted on the parent’s forum about this. Suffice to say that my child, who is also a pianist and considering Ithaca, and I are both heartsick and speechless about this situation. I simply cannot fathom such an act of disrespect and rage against the students and faculty. I said in my other post that I wish there was some way that we as a music community could somehow show our support. Such sadness and disbelief.</p>

<p>I find it sad. My guess this either was some buffoon or group of buffoons who thought this was funny (certain frat boy types come to mind, the type that think music and such is for ‘geeks and nerds’) or someone in the music program with an axe to grind…in any event, really sad. </p>

<p>I can understand how in a place like Ithaca security would be a lot less tight then at an urban school, but what this highlights is that no matter where you go, there are crazies and idiots abounding and you can’t assume it is limited to ‘the bad old city’. A high school in my area several years ago, in one of the more expensive, exclusive burbs, had its music wing vandalized by a group of football players, who got drunk one weekend and decided they didn’t like the marching band and decided to get ‘revenge’, which included destroying instruments and the facilities…At Juilliard the security is really tight, they have security on the floors and they check id’s and such, so someone can’t really wander to the music floors.</p>

<p>In any event, I hope the instruments were insured and that they can can for the short term perhaps rent pianos for their students before repairing/replacing what they had.</p>

<p>Clarion has an exclusions form that you sign saying the policy on your instrument is not valid “in a school locker, closet or unattended practice room.” I would have though that it would still apply in school lockers or locked instrument storage at a school. This disturbs me. I wonder what would happen if you were travelling with a large group (outside of school) that had locked instrument storage and something happened?</p>

<p>This story is so disturbing…akin to smashing stained glass windows. I can’t imagine how this behavior could be fun or rewarding.</p>

<p>That doesn’t surprise me about Clarion. I applied for a policy to cover my son’s violin and bows, went through their agent, sent them the information they wanted, explained to them that he was a serious music student, that he didn’t keep his instrument in a locker at school (since he is homeschooled), etc…and then waited 4 weeks, didn’t hear anything, and then was told the underwriter rejected the policy. Turns out they don’t insure instruments for underage musicians, though their website said nothing about it and the agent didn’t know that when I talked him through the application…Clarion reminds me of the old joke about bankers (i.e that they are only willing to lend you money when you don’t need it)…Clarion seems to want to only insure instruments that actually aren’t being used <em>grrr</em></p>