[CAUT] caut Digest, Vol 1090, Issue 3

[Rick Florence]

Agreed, that's why I said "This may be a good time to put together a capital
purchase proposal as well."  I didn't mean a plan for only one instrument,
but a comprehensive perpetual replacement and maintenance plan for the whole
program.

Rick

on 9/19/06 7:30 AM, Chris Solliday at solliday at ptd.net wrote:

> This is all well and good but without addressing the bigger picture it is
> doomed like trying use a watering can to put out a fire (better be a very
> small fire). This program needs a realistic budget and along with that will
> come more respect for the tech.
> Chris Solliday
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Rick.Florence at asu.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 9:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] caut Digest, Vol 1090, Issue 3
> 
> 
>> Wim, I don't think I would choose to marginalize my position with the
>> Director/Chair.  If we wish to be the respected professional whose
> opinions are
>> valued, then we need to play the part, not run away from the opportunity.
> It is
>> true that the decision may not be ours to make, but we SHOULD be called
> upon for
>> our expertise in ALL keyboard matters and be available with an educated
>> recommendation.
>> 
>> Paul, gather up your information, present a few possible alternatives,
> recommend
>> the one you feel is best, and ask the Director in which direction (s)he
> wishes
>> to proceed.  This may be a good time to put together a capital purchase
> proposal
>> as well.  The keyboard faculty will be your strongest ally, or your worst
> enemy.
>> Use this opportunity to push for a win-win situation for both camps
>> (piano/fortepiano) and you'll begin to build a rewarding working
> relationship
>> with your colleagues.
>> 
>> If we fail to participate and act proactively in these types of situations
> we
>> will simply be the "tuner" who is easily replaced and underappreciated,
> both
>> personally and financially.
>> 
>> Carpe diem!
>> 
>> 
>> Rick
>> 
>> ________________
>> Rick Florence
>> Senior Piano Technician
>> Arizona State University, School of Music
>> 
>> 
>> Quoting Willem Blees <wblees at bama.ua.edu>:
>> 
>>> Paul
>>> 
>>> It me took me a while, but I now refer those difficult questions to
>>> the people who are paid to make difficult decisions. Lay this problem
>>> on the desk of the piano chairman or the department chairman. I would
>>> go so far as to not even offer my recommendation. That leaves you
>>> completely out of the decision making process.
>>> 
>>> Wim
>>> Willem Blees, RPT
>>> Piano Tuner/Technician
>>> School of Music
>>> University of Alabama
>>> Tuscaloosa, AL USA
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>:
>>> 
>>>> Hi List,
>>>> 
>>>> Some of my greenish hue is starting to wear off on being a CAUT, but
>>>> on
>>>> budget matters with piano faculty, in particular, I shine brighter
>>>> that
>>>> the emerald city!!  We have 105 keyboard instruments here at the
>>>> university, one of them being a Belt forte-piano about 25 years old.
>>> 
>>>> The
>>>> professor who plays it primarily is demanding a major rehabilitation
>>>> to it
>>>> which will require some outside help with my assisting this outside
>>>> expert.  The estimated cost of bringing this "expert" in will take
>>>> over
>>>> 28% of my yearly budget.  The instrument is used in concert 6-8
>>> times
>>>> per
>>>> year as compared to our 3 Steinway D's, 1 concert Baldwin and 3
>>>> Steinway
>>>> B's which are used constantly.
>>>> 
>>>> Some of the other faculty are up in arms about using the piano
>>> budget
>>>> and
>>>> insist that this is a "special project" and should use "special
>>>> funds"
>>>> like grants and the like.  Of course I agree strongly both ways!  It
>>>> is a
>>>> university instrument, so it should use university funds.  On the
>>>> other
>>>> hand it is used so infrequently, that I can't see using a huge slice
>>>> of my
>>>> pie.  On the third hand, one of my responsibilities is to see to it
>>>> that
>>>> all instruments are happy.
>>>> 
>>>> Having such a limited budget as I do, if I had to replace a good
>>>> quality
>>>> grand, (not even concert level), I would be spending far more than
>>>> one
>>>> year's budget, leaving all other instruments on hold until next year
>>>> 
>>>> whatever the need may be.INCLUDING the concert instruments.
>>>> So I ask for a bit of seasoned advise from you all.  How have you
>>>> handled
>>>> such delemmas? Thanks for your help.
>>>> 
>>>> Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.....
>>>> 
>>>> Paul T. Williams RPT
>>>> University of Nebraska-Lincoln
>>>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 

_____________
Rick Florence
Senior Piano Technician
Arizona State University, School of Music