Yamaha School Loan Program

[Bdshull@aol.com]

Richard:

<< One aspect of the program that I haven't seen mentioned is this:  What
 do you do with the pianos that the loan pianos are replacing?  I presume
 most universities have a 10 or 20 piano hole that the loan pianos fill.  >>

At the University of Redlands the School of Music developed their own rental 
program with the displaced pianos.  Adding to this stock donated pianos which 
would not be used anyway, a helpful annual sum is earned.   The advantages of 
this rental program are that the displaced pianos earn money for the school 
and have a place to live.   But Steinway grands get rented for $40-50/month 
(why not $200 or more?  The school values rental stability over income, and 
selects the customer for this reason;  several clients are connected to the 
school in one way or another...)  Administering the program takes time from 
the music secretaries.    And the contract-required annual tuning rarely gets 
enforced.   Maybe the big issue is, why displace and rent out an older 
Steinway grand when it could be rebuilt and used?  $$.   

<<In general the program is okay, but I would prefer having our own stock of 
instruments, paid for and up-to-date.  We have a budget to replace/rebuild, 
but
unfortunately it doesn't really keep pace with replacement needs.>>

I agree with you.  Last night I got all fired up and wrote a short essay 
which I might still post on the CAUT list.  The lease program has a tendency 
to destabilize university piano service and inventory programs, which may not 
be good, in the long run.  Our program always has a very successful sale, so 
it keeps going.   At some point the entire industry might conclude the 
program is not useful, leaving some schools in the lurch;  some manufacturers 
or dealers might see the opportunity and keep it going for them, but right 
now the programs are making it more difficult, in a healthy economic climate, 
to revitalize piano service and inventory programs - unless the departments 
are taking care of themselves like yours is doing.  

Bill Shull
University of Redlands, La Sierra University
Loma Linda, CA