[CAUT] follow up on tuning for the local orchestra

[Porritt, David]

While I can see the need for new or rebuilt instruments, why would
becoming an All Steinway School be a plus?

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt

dporritt at smu.edu

________________________________

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Wimblees at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:53 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] follow up on tuning for the local orchestra

 

First let me explain that for the most part, the work I do for the
symphony is more or less volunteer. When I first got here 5 years ago, I
was offered the equivalent of one tuning fee to prep the piano. For this
I usually wound up spending about 3 or 4 hours. Not wanting to charge
the already financially scrapped symphony for more money I decided to
"give" them my time. I reasoned that I am getting paid by the
university, and the work I did on the piano benefited the university,
too. 

 

I also don't mind working on weekends or evenings. Like most of us, I
work a very flexible schedule. Although I fill out a time card that says
I work 37.75 a week, presumably from 8 - 4:45, with an hour off for
lunch, I usually work at times other than 8 - 5. So spending a Saturday
night moving pianos, doesn't bother me. 

 

Now, as far as a budget is concerned, I think I have some money coming
on a regular basis, starting in the fall. I approached my chair with
some questions regarding the fee the TSO, and other groups pay the
school for the use of the facilities. Although I didn't get a straight
answer, he did assure me that starting in the fall, part of the money
collected from these fees will be allocated to me. The money will come
from 4 places. One is the rent the TSO pays. Next the rent outside
groups pay. Third is, starting in the fall, for the first time admission
will be charged for all concerts. And forth, also starting in the fall,
a church has requested the use of the concert hall, and the use of the
piano, paying a very hefty sum each week. The church is supposed to use
the hall for about 2 years. 

 

How much I am going to get is still going to be determined, but I said
any amount would be appreciated. I am anticipating about $10K per year.
It isn't much, but it will give me a chance to start rebuilding some of
the worst pianos. 

 

We also discussed becoming an all Steinway school. 32 of my 75
instrument inventory is already Steinway, so were almost halfway there
already. I know some of you are not in favor of going that route, but I
think it will be the best chance we have at replacing some of our aging
instruments. We have 4 Steinway grands that date from the '30's, and
there are about a dozen uprights in practice rooms from the 50's and
60's. The university president just announced a very ambitious $500
million capital improvement campaign to be completed by 2009. The chair
said he would put my request for $500,000, and see what happens.

 

Thanks for those who responded. 

 

Wim   

Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/20060411/02cb794b/attachment.html