Hi, Avery, I had to do the same 10 years ago when our new performing arts center opened. I started with the Steinway guidelines which recommended 200 hours/year to maintain a concert grand. Add in hammer replacement every 7 - 12 years, and restringing every 15 years. I think to figure a 15 year maintenance cycle you could plug in the following numbers. : 200 hours X $________/hour X 15 years hammer/action parts replacement = $____________ X 2 (or 3 if you think you'll need to replace the hammers 3 times in 15 years) restringing = $___________ That's a really rough approximation. When I did the numbers I wasn't figuring anything but annual maintenance. When I added it all up, I thought the number was too high, so I cut the amount. The way we've finally worked it out here is the School of Music charges the performing arts center $1,000/year per concert grand. That money comes back to me for use in buying parts/pianos/benches,etc. It's been the same amount for the past 10 years. The restringing and hammer/action parts replacement was done last year and was figured as an added expense to the performing arts center ($12,000). Therefore, the total cost to the center over 10 years has been around $22,000, or $2,200 per year. If I had stayed with the Steinway guidelines straight down the line, it would have doubled the annual cost to $2,000/year. I'll be interested to see what others have to say on this topic. Richard West Avery Todd wrote: > List, > > I've been asked to come up with an app. dollar figure on what > it might cost on a yearly basis, to maintain the two Steinway > D's in our major performance hall. This should include > maintaining the instruments at a high level of performance > capability plus eventual replacing of action parts, stringing, > etc. that will be needed. I'm assuming they mean this to be > based on the value of my services if they had to bring in an > independent technician to do the work. > > The Provost's office has asked the theatre manager to come up > with an estimated cost of what it costs to run the facility, > independent of the remainder of the School of Music, with the > idea of paying for some or all of it out the university budget > instead of the music budget. > > One piano was purchased new when we first moved into our new > facility about 5 years ago and the other was completely rebuilt > (except soundboard) by the Rappaport's about 6 yrs. or so ago, > including a new keyboard, frame and damper assembly. > > The hall is used primarily for guest artists, faculty recitals, > large ensemble performances and occasional rentals to outside > competitions, performances, etc. The Houston Symphony also uses > the facility once or twice a year for a performance series their > Chamber Orchestra does, sometimes using piano and/or harpsichord. > > This is a very performance oriented school, with app. 500 music > majors, so the hall gets quite a bit of use, although not as much > as our smaller recital hall that the students use. > > Since I've never had to do this type of thing before, I need any > help doing this that anyone could give me today. The tuning part > I can figure out but the rest is what I need help with. The report > has to be submitted Friday and I just found out about it this > morning. > > Any takers? Thanks. > > Avery > University of Houston
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC