recital piano usage

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Mark,
             We have a similar system,  for the 3 concert grands, and it
works well.  The office  has been very good about controlling the usage. 
Students get one practice slot equivalent to the length of the recital for
a sound/hall check.
They are all told that the instruments are not practice pianos.
Visiting pianist no restrictions, faculty are frequently reminded to use
common sense, due to budget restrictions.
Because of time slots for the hall, a note is left on the piano, that it
has been tuned for recital.  "keep you grubby finger off", (smirk) and the
tuning will not be touched up prior to performance.
We have a C3 in Quance theatre for practice and general use, to take the
pressure off the concert grand.
Since it is a dead hall, the piano is voiced bright, and needs constant
attention to stop it from being 'brassy'.
It's a constant problem that we have to work with.
We pay a fair portion of a students tuition to keep the Damp chasers
filled. This kind of works.
Before I took over there was no policy, and the pianos were awful. Two have
been re strung , re bushed,hammered and shanked. We now have a specific
budget to maintain the concert grands, this has helped to educate faculty
members, and has helped in their cooperation.
Regards roger




At 08:41 AM 28/07/00 -0500, you wrote:
>David, I cannot offer you a clear reply, as we are currently re-drafting our
>policy for the (Lorne Watson) Recital Hall.
>
>All the questions you asked apply, and were addressed in our previous
>guidelines, the problem of course is in maintaining these.
>
>The key, in my mind, is what is to consider what is realistic, and most of
>all sustainable.  Old habits die hard, especially among faculty.
>
>We do have a fallboard lock, and only 3 keys exist.  The office has been
>dilligent in governing the use of the keys.  We'll keep this policy
>
>On the other hand, when I came here (2 years ago) there was a dampp-chaser
>in our recital "D," but it was and wasn't being kept plugged-in.  Although I
>heartily believe in the systems (we have them in all 62 other instruments)
>and I have a new G8PS set aside for this piano, I am reluctant to install it
>until all variables (where it's plugged in, who is allowed to move the
>piano, etc,) are settled.
>
>So, in my mind, it's not so much about the rules, as whether they can
>possibly be sustained, or not.
>
>I hate to get "dug-in" over an issue, then find I have to back down and
>re-think it, this is not so good for "esprit de corps."  For example, I will
>replace hammers and shanks on the recital "D" in August, then I will need
>the very students who are normally prohibited from using this instrument, to
>provide me with 50 hours of "play-in" time before September 5th.
>
>Thanks for bringing this dialogue to the list David, the discussion so far
>has already been helpful,
>
>Mark Cramer,
>Brandon University
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of David
>Forman
>Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 3:11 PM
>To: caut@ptg.org
>Subject: recital piano usage
>
>
>Caut,
>We are reviewing our policy on recital piano usage, and input from other
>institutions would be helpful. So, a few questions.
>1. Do you limit access to your recital piano(s)?
>2. How much rehearsal time is allowed for piano recitals on that piano?
>3. How much rehearsal time is allowed for vocal or instrumental recitals
>where that piano will be used to accompany?
>4. Is the piano locked and covered, and if so, who is in charge of the
>key? What about weekend recitals? (we have many)
>Any other information you wish to volunteer would be helpful. I'm sure
>this information will be helpful to many schools.
>Thanks in advance for you help.
>Dave Forman, Westminster Choir College of Rider University
> 
Roger Jolly
Saskatoon, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505