Dear CAUT, I'm curious to know if anyone out there has dealt with this, and if so, what (if any) solution was found. Have a fine old vintage Steinway B with a very tired soundboard (but quite solid in other structures) that is losing its place to a donated instrument of equal caliber and a nice fresh sound. With literally no piano replacement budget, I consider this instrument irreplaceable, needing only the soundboard work to be up to speed. Being incredibly squeezed for room, there is no place in the Dept. or on campus to store it -- set up or otherwise. My contention is that the University should retain ownership, but find a piano baby sitter (faculty hands are already waving eagerly in the air). The Chair is against this -- feels it is inappropriate due to liability issues, and doesn't agree with me that the value of the instrument given our circumstances outweighs such a concern. Arguments about how even soundboard work is peanuts compared to complete replacement of a piano of this caliber are meeting deaf ears. Is there a solution that would let us keep the piano and satisfy liability issues that's being overlooked? (I'm sure the faculty in question would be willing to show evidence of putting the instrument on their homeowners insurance, or whatever was appropriate.) Thanks. Greg Granoff RPT Humboldt State University
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