>>I wonder what Horowitz would have said to limiting *his* practise time on >>an instrument he was going to perform on. *evil grin*. If Mr. Horowitz didn't have any more respect towards the concept that it is either tax-payer's money, or generous gifts from donors which placed that instrument in front of him, and that there are others who must use that instrument as well for years to come, frankly, I wouldn't care what he would have said. I am the caretaker of not only that instrument but many more. I must be such in a manner considered responsible to those who put those instruments there, and I can't neglect that responsibility for every "Mr. Horowitz want-to-be" who comes along. No. The student IS NOT the paying customer. I see it as quite the opposite. The tax-payer and the donor foot the bill for piano inventory, at least here, anyway. The tuition the student pays generally covers operating costs, NOT piano inventory. The students should consider themselves fortunate that quality instruments are provided for their use. How many such assets are provided to the math major? the social work major? the psychology major? the communications major? the business major? etc.? Yet, the tuition is the same for all. Even the science major pays a lab fee. A music education is one of the best values for the tuition dollar of any degree on campus, and yet the world is full of music degreed Wal-Mart cashiers. We have extremely high budgets when compared with other departments, and we must be careful when asking for more money just so one "Mr. Horowitz" can wear out an $80,000 piano by himself, so that upon graduation, he can secure a job as a "dueling pianist" down at the local pub. That being said, I need a raise. My thoughts, Jeff Tanner, Piano Technician School of Music University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208 (803)-777-4392 (phone) (803)-777-6508 (fax)
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