Rather than try to make New Year's resolutions that are difficult
to accomplish, let's consider some easy things that will bring us
immediate joy.

1. Get your piano(s) tuned. If you have not had your piano tuned in
the last two years, then you should.  Trust me, you might think it
sounds fine but it needs to be tuned and it will play so much better
afterward.

2.a If you have a Mills Violano-Virtuoso, think about the last time
you changed strings on the violin.  The E and A strings are probably
fine but the D and the G strings have a short life and if you play the
V-V regularly and the G and D strings are more than three years old,
they should be changed.

2.b Have you adjusted the feeder brushes?  As the Violano plays, the
feeder brushes are dragged on the contact roller, arcing every time it
makes and breaks contact.  Over time the brushes used most frequently
shorten and after a point the short brushes are sharp and can damage
your precious rolls.  There is a reason the tools that came with your
Violano-Virtuoso contained a feeder brush gauge.

Go ahead and resolve to lose weight, join a gym, do yoga.  These are
admirable goals but getting your piano tuned will be something that
lasts past February 2017.

Mark Reinhart
Charles Town, West Virginia