Universities

[Alan McCoy]

 Hi,

Thanks to everyone who chipped in to this topic. Our university is probably
fairly typical - little or no money to take care of and maintain our capital
investments (OK, so why is it that there is money to build yet another
building?). Our music building is also probably typical of many others -
uninsured, multimillion dollar inventory of instruments, 30 yrs old
building, too hot and dry in the winter, too cold and relatively more moist
in the summer, with the occasional HVAC breakdown leading to the
near-catastrophic humidity/water-streaming-down-the-walls event.  Not only
are pianos at the mercy of such events and fluctuations, but other
instruments too (strings, drums, etc). My first choice would be to fix the
building's antiquated HVAC climate "control" system to help all instruments.
My second choice is to install DC systems in all pianos.

What I'd like to have to build a case on: (All right, I know I am dreaming
here, but....)
1. List of other universities/institutions with DC systems installed
2. Hard data -before and after- indicating the effects of installing the
systems
	- on tuning stability
	- on technician time spent tuning vs. other piano service work
	-on music dept. bottom line (more students due to better reputation,
less damage to 			instruments so better longevity, other
nearly-impossible-to-document effects!).

I keep all my pianos in an Access database and can easily generate reports
of all work done for each piano. I can show specifically how each piano
responds to our seasonal RH changes - ie Raise 10-15c, Lower 10-15c over and
over - for the last couple years. I also record temp and RH every time I
tune. So I have some "before" data. I will be installing a DC system in one
of our pianos and will then be able to generate hard data for that
room/piano showing "after" data. Does anyone else keep such records?
Testimonials are fine for those already convinced but are not really as
useful as are numbers for convincing those who are responsible for making
hard budgetary decisions.

Thanks very much for your interest.

Alan
____________________________________________
Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
509-359-4627
amccoy@mail.ewu.edu 





-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Tanner [mailto:jtanner@mozart.sc.edu] 
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 1:47 PM
To: Alan McCoy
Subject: Re: Universities

Hi Alan,
Of 123 pianos I have currently 11 installed in teaching studio and
accompanist studio grands.  10 were installed in the teaching studios in
July '99, and the other earlier this semester.  I plan another 3
installations soon, (these as "test" models in practice rooms) as I have the
systems, but access to the pianos and time have so far prevented the
installations.  I would do more, but budget constrictions have thus far
prevented some of that.  What sort of information are you looking for?  I'll
be glad to help any way I can.

Jeff Tanner, RPT
School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy@mail.ewu.edu>
> To: <info@dampp-chaser.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:55 PM
> Subject: universities
>
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am interested in finding out if you have a list (or know of someone
who
>> does) of all the universities and colleges and conservatories that 
>> have climate control systems installed in some or all of their 
>> pianos. I am writing a proposal to the powers that be here at Eastern 
>> Washington University about installing systems in our pianos. So I am 
>> looking for
any
>> info to build my case.
>>
>> Thanks for your assistance.
>>
>> Alan McCoy
>>
>> ____________________________________________
>> Alan McCoy, RPT
>> Piano Technician
>> Eastern Washington University
>> 509-359-4627
>> amccoy@mail.ewu.edu