Symposium

[JBairdRPT@cs.com]

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Greetings CAUT,

Will the university and college faculty and administrator participants of the 
Symposium in Chicago be writing a glowing report about the value of what 
happened there? I would like to show such a report to the faculty and 
administrators at our school (none of whom came), hoping they will 
participate in the future.

I also look forward to some kind of a summary/evaluation by one of you good 
CAUT writers. For what it's worth, and with the help of my typist daughter, I 
offer my disjointed notes to jog memories, and to share some of the wisdom 
that was spoken in those sessions.

My sincere thanks to all who had a part in the Symposium,

John Baird
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

THE PIANO IN ACADEMIA: A SYMPOSIUM
Presented by the College and University Technicians Committee
of the Piano Technicians Guild
June 28 & 29, 2002
Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois

-- unedited notes by John Baird

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-Ask students to talk to each other about taking care of the instruments 
(shut windows, no drinks on the piano, etc.)

-Piano GA (graduate assistant) - Job is to go through all the rooms once a 
week to check out the condition of the pianos, keep an eye on things, and 
students communicate problems to someone else (rotate, or same person all the 
time?).

-Tell secretaries that it was recognized at the Symposium how valuable their 
positions are in the overall scheme of instrument maintenance.

-Need for student interns to work with technicians.

-Consider how much money and time instrumentalists spend on their 
instruments. Point out that piano maintenance should be comparable.

- In establishing rapport, find out what instruments the students have at 
home.

-Be careful not to create an "us vs. them" mentality between instrumentalists 
and pianists, because everyone uses pianos, except the organists and 
guitarists.

-Students can also be strong advocates for better piano maintenance, 
students' voice is important to administrators. 

-Too often there is complacency among faculty that pianos have always been 
mediocre.

-"More Money for Music!"

-Deutsche Bank supports the Berlin Philharmonic- they have had to go outside 
the box. This is a tremendous paradigm shift. Maybe colleges need to go 
outside the box for monetary support. Not talking about alumni here.

-Idea: Benefit concert for instrument maintenance.

-Raffle off some donation (paintings)

-$275,000 spent at NIU for climate control, saves the building, variance held 
within 10%

-Electronics- You can't expect to attract students if your equipment is no 
better than a bad inner city junior high school.

-Fee structure for tuning- charged generally to students, then specifically 
for a specific tuning for a recital.

-He would die without fees (at a state school). 

-Music in society--How does a mature society look at it's own self-interest. 

-We choose to invest in those things that meet our own self-interest. Look 
for ways for music to tap in here. Quality of life, community utility, 
shaping societal values. Expand beyond the school of music - link to what's 
going on in the Economics Dept, the Science Dept., etc.

-What is the content of our conversation when talking with others outside the 
music community as we talk about what is important to us in our culture as it 
relates to music?

-Fees- (works better in public institution) -- a lot of resistance, but when 
it's put into practical terms such as, "Do you want your CD audition for grad 
school to have an in tune piano or not, it's your choice." They then see the 
clear choice.
-Practice room fees
-instrument fee
-recital fee

-Private Institution- instead of fees, raised tuition and abolished fees.

-University of Indianapolis tune recital hall once a week, other 
pianos...twice a year.

-Piano faculty needs to be more knowledgeable- the piano tech needs to be 
bi-lingual.

-What is the school's long range plan for piano turnover? 

-The head of piano department needs to be knowledgeable.

-NASM and Piano Owners Guide (Carl Schmeckle) - all recognize that the piano 
and keyboard skills are the most important component of music education -- 
basic.  

-Go to library and ask if they have a rare book section.  Ask how they deal 
with climate control and how they dealt with powers that be to get that 
climate under control.

-Ken Eschete- Northwestern University- What is the differece between having 
good humidity control vs. none? Answer: The difference is whether you need 
TWO technicians or FIVE technicians.

-Buildings without climate control go through a wash/dry cycle.

-Collect copies of technician job descriptions

-Humidity variance is a very significant factor in piano maintenance 
workload.

-Need to look for other advocates to promote piano maintenance- not just the 
pianotech as the specialist. Need to bring in administrators and faculty and 
students to broaden the network so that everyone has a better understanding 
of whole piano condition situation.

-Need to tie in the climate control of the building to the longevity of the 
instrument and the number of technician hours needed.

-Long-range piano plan

-So many people have so many agendas that it's difficult for deans to handle 
all requests. The solution is more in a gradual education process over time.

-Get an advocate who will carry your message for you.

-Make up syllabus for two hours of presentation on pianos.

-Important issue is the need of growing professionalism of the technician.

-The university needs to support the technician in continuing education- even 
small support. I paid my own way for four days of education from which my 
university will benefit.

-RPT designation is a really good starting point for a university looking for 
a technician.

-Hiring a non-PTG or non-RPT by a university is the bad choice of knowingly 
choosing someone who has disassociated himself from the known body of 
information in this professional field, and who has disassociated himself 
with other professionals in the main professional organization in this field. 

***************************************************************************

John Baird, RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Ph   (217) 429-5651
Cell  (217) 433-5651

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