Detroit wants to inspect your instruments

Detroit wants to inspect your instruments

Uncategorized

norman lebrecht

March 12, 2024

From Misha Keylin and the Hermitage Trio:

NEW TSA SCREEENING PROCEDURE AT DETROIT AIRPORT (DTW) – MUSICIANS, BE AWARE! Please read and SHARE!
Earlier today, the Trio was travelling from yesterday’s concert near Detroit, together with guest violist Jordan Bak. As it seems (a quick search on Google confirms), TSA is replacing x-ray machines with new CT scanners, and that will allow passengers to keep their laptops and electronics in their bags and not have to take them out. And due to this “new” technology, the violin, viola or the cello is not allowed to be put in this CT machine (supposedly they don’t fit) and have to be instead HAND INSPECTED. This means, the case must be opened, the instrument and anything else in that case visually looked at, searched, and (in the instance of the violist and the cellist), they were subjected to swabbing, so a machine can check for explosives, etc.
Due to this procedure, the TSA officer has direct physical contact with the instrument. In the cellist’s case, all went semi-smoothly (lots of back and forth between Sergey and the TSA officer and the cello was swabbed) but Jordan’s viola bow had a bunch of hairs ripped while the officer decided to swab the bow in addition to the viola. Keep in mind: Sergey has TSA CLEAR and Jordan has TSA Pre-Check certification and were standing in the priority lines for those programs at McNamara Terminal.
We understand the security is important, but having people understand how valuable, fragile and important musical instruments are to musicians is not fully understood by TSA overly ambitious actions.
We are letting you know so that the next time you are going to be passing security at DTW, expect a full strip down of your instrument case. We expect that more and more airports across the country (and worldwide) are going to implement this new CT scanner, so we hope that someone doesn’t have their instruments seriously damaged during this “hands-on” experience. 

Comments

  • George says:

    A German airport. Officials took a violin from the case and sprayed it! A violin from the 1700s! Obviously the player went crazy and the German border guards realised their mistake. Such lack of comprehension, intelligence and empathy.

  • John Borstlap says:

    Yes, it is well-known that terrorists do now smuggle their handgranades and other explosives in string instruments, after their attempts to hide them in tubas and trombones missfired.

  • Byrwec Ellison says:

    Are we approaching a future when traveling musicians no longer carry their own instruments — as most pianists have done forever — but must lease and play on unfamiliar local violins, cellos and other tools of their art?

  • Ainslie says:

    We all know how dangerous a viola can be in the wrong hands.

  • Violinist says:

    This happened to me at Indianapolis airport in September. Fortunately for me, the officer understood how valuable and delicate string instruments are and did a very careful job, despite my visible outrage/anxiety

  • Number three says:

    This is, sadly, old news. It is happening in Indianapolis, Nashville, and now Detroit— I’m sure there are many others. I am surprised that the AFM hasn’t gotten more involved in this.

    • Herr Forkenspoon says:

      The AFM is a toothless organization who’s main job is collect money from it’s members, and if you pay your dues on time, they will you from them. The Black Hand lives.

  • Joshua Gordon says:

    This happened to me last weekend at Buffalo Niagara airport after a Lydian Quartet concert in Hamilton ON. Same kind of new CT scanner, same issue, the cello case had to be hand inspected. Fortunately it wasn’t peak time and the TSA personnel were careful and respectful. They did swab the inside of the case, but didn’t swab my cello or bows. I foresee a time when we’ll have to bring our own endoscope cameras to show the inside of our instruments…

  • Susan says:

    This happens in Jacksonvillle, FL as well, and they are really nasty.

  • Detroit violinist says:

    As of yesterday they weren’t doing this in Evans terminal precheck, and as of one month ago they weren’t doing it in McNamera precheck or normal screening when half the DSO violin section brought violins through the new scanners. Guess they just got random searched.

    They like everything in boxes now, and the violin cases stick out the side but that seems fine.

    Calm down folks.

  • Alan Nonymous. says:

    Swabbing cellos has been the case at UK airports as long as I’ve been travelling with it (10 years at least) – always makes me a bit nervous, but never had any problems. Seems like Jordan was very unlucky, as least it was only the bow hair that was damaged.

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