Playing keyboard through silk cover - why?

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

I'm curious if anyone has seen an accordionist playing with a silk cover over the keyboard. I saw a couple of different accordionists do this years ago and never understood the purpose. I can't now remember their names or find any other information on this obscure practice, but I swear it was a thing.

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

To answer my own question, it appears to be this guy:


The other one I saw doing this must have been either his student or otherwise inspired by him, as it seems to be a rather singular practice.

 

[Snoopz]

Could be that he has very acidic sweat (solle people just do) and doesn’t want to ruin his expensive instrument’s keys?

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

To further answer my own question, a little searching turned up this:

What’s Up with the Keyboard Sheath? - Kef Times

Raif often performs with a black satin fabric panel covering his accordion keyboard. Here’s how that got started. Back in elementary school, Raif attended regular school in the mornings and music school in the afternoons, where he studied classical music on accordion. After school he would...

keftimes.org

Basically, it's to make playing the accordion even harder.

 

[dak]

Basically, it's to make playing the accordion even harder.

Maybe it helps with others taking the accordion serious as an instrument.

 

[murathan]

I dont see good reason for it. Some models have all black keys now. I dont like that either. Maybe to look more serious as dak says above. It may prove the player doesnt look to the keyboard. Maybe to look modern and different. It may help in early stages to learn and guess the key places without looking. The Great Morgani uses that also for decoration purposes.

 

[JIM D.]

Dick Contino used a covered keyboard many times in his on the road appearances.
It does nothing to enhance the sound or playability of the accordion.
A simple display of "showmanship".

 

[noelekal]

I always wanted an add-on impediment to accurate playing.

 

[Ventura]

i have been resisting making the unneeded comment, but
after days of resistance, i succumb to the temptation

"You cannot make a silk purse out of an E. Soprani's ear"