Survey for U. techs

[Newton Hunt]

Robert Goodale wrote:

> This is for all those U. techs out there.
>
> I have been fighting a battle with the devine department of university
> professional paper filers regarding some issues here at NAU.  I am
> curious about what some other policies/conditions there are out there.
> I was wondering if you would mind sharing the following:

When I was at Rutgers, two years gone now, I had the following.

> 1. How many pianos?  165, 30 taken out of service or not tuned.
>
> 2. FT/PT?  Full time then switched to 10 month with less than 30 days
> notice
>
> 3. 9 month contract/year contract?  12 then 10
>
> 4. How much budget?  Was $3500 then less than $1000
>
> 5. Average age/condition of pianos?  When I left 36.0 years NOT counting
> new loaner pianos.  In ten years I installed 20 set of hammers dampers
> key bushings and others regulated.  Stock was in fair condition
> considering I was the only technician.
>
> 6. Shop?  is it reasonably equipped?  A nice shop space (in the basement
> but the girls dance department dressing room was just down the hall form
> my door) but all the equipment was mine.  They replaced broken, lost or
> stolen items but everything else was mine and I took it when I left.

> 7. Other comments?

> 8. What size school is it total?  38,000

One major error I made was NOT posting a list off all the pianos, when they
were tuned last and when they will be tuned next.  This will let everyone
know what you are doing and where you have been and where you will be.
Also list the number of times per year you expect to tune each individual
piano.  Example, Studio 1 (keyboard instructors ) 4 times per year; Studio
2 (voice, coaching, etc.) three times per year, practice rooms 1 time per
year, class rooms, 3 times per year, performance pianos when needed, office
pianos once every two years or never.

A spread sheet can be set up so that the next piano due will be at the top
of the list.  You can post a new list, listing ALL instruments, every
Monday morning.  Easy to set up, easy to maintain.  Assign each piano a
unique number for easy identification and store the piano number, date,
service done, market value and technician or helper or work study student
in a seperate section of the sheet.  Once a year move the services liit to
a seperate file for storage.

If your dean wants to help let her file a set of hammers or rebush a set of
keys.  Nothing like hands on experience to create some reality.

                    Newton