[CAUT] Performance piano usage

[Alan McCoy]

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Craig,

When you are trying to convince the powers that be that it might be a good
idea to limit the use of your performance pianos, you might say something
like, "a performance piano that is used as a practice piano soon begins to
feel and sound like a practice piano."

Attached is a policy document we use here that speaks to this issue. I have
used this doc as a template and edited it correspondingly for insertion int=
o
the student handbook and the faculty handbook.

FWIW.

Alan


-- Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
amccoy@mail.ewu.edu
509-359-4627


> From: Craig_Waldrop <Craig_Waldrop@baylor.edu>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.o=
rg>
> Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:09:26 -0600
> To: CAUT List <caut@ptg.org>
> Conversation: [CAUT] Performance piano usage
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Performance piano usage
>=20
> Don,
>=20
> Thanks very much for your clear and concise answers to my query.  I reali=
ze
> that a lot of this just comes with the territory at a college.  I just ha=
ve
> some real struggles because some bad habits have been formed and we have =
two
> buildings.  Neither of these is monitored or locked up.  "We never close!=
"
>=20
> As a consequence of this, many of our instruments really take a beating. =
 It
> sounds like heaven having someone "run a tight ship" on the scheduling.
> Here at Baylor, booking is done on-line by a lady who is never actually i=
n
> the halls and has no idea what the usage entails.
>=20
> Thanks again,
> Craig
>=20
>=20
> On 2/1/06 9:45 AM, "Don McKechnie" <dmckech@ithaca.edu> wrote:
>=20
>> Craig,
>>=20
>>> 1. Does your institution have guidelines for usage of performance piano=
s and
>>> if so, how are they implemented or enforced?  (If a document exists whi=
ch
>>> you could share, please feel free to email it to me privately).
>>> =20
>>>=20
>>=20
>> We do not have any formal guidelines I'm aware of, just a long
>> entrenched system. The concert/recital halls are controlled by our
>> concert manager. She has been here a long time and runs a fairly tight
>> ship. The faculty and students may try to pull a fast one on her but
>> they rarely get away with it.
>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. Who has keys to your best concert pianos (assuming they are locked o=
r
>>> access to the room is restricted)?
>>> =20
>>>=20
>>=20
>> The concert manager and performance faculty have keys. The concert
>> manager signs out keys to students for recital rehearsals. Some times it
>> is hard to get the keys back from the students.
>>=20
>> After several years of having keys go on a permanent walkabout I change
>> the locks. This helps keep down the amount of unofficial piano use. Last
>> year I changed to the "Hands Off" fallboard clamp. Too many of the old
>> padlock and fallboard clamps took a walk.  I attached 3/16" braided
>> steel cable to the Hands Off lock and padlocked that to the old clamp
>> ring underneath the keybed on the bass side. The keys to the padlock are
>> limited to myself, the concert manager and the stage crew key ring. The
>> new lock dangles underneath the keybed but is not in the way for
>> rehearsals. Easily removed for concerts.
>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. How much rehearsal time is allowed for performance majors giving a
>>> recital?
>>> =20
>>>=20
>> About 4 hours I believe. Two rehearsals.
>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. How do you control or limit time of piano use for evening and late-n=
ight
>>> rehearsals?
>>> =20
>>>=20
>> Due to the amount of classes, rehearsals, performances, etc. everyone is
>> limited to some degree by the next person/group coming in. Of course
>> there will be some who take advantage of extra time if no one comes in
>> after time is up. Not much that can be done about that. At some point,
>> the custodians kick out students when the building is closed.
>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. Approximately how many hours a week is your best piano played?
>>> =20
>>>=20
>> Varies a lot. Rough guess is anywhere from 10 to 40 hours per week.
>>=20
>>>=20
>>> 1. In your opinion, what is the distinction between =B3rehearsal=B2 and
>>> =B3practice=B2?=20
>>>=20
>>=20
>> We make the distinction that there will be no practicing on the concert
>> instruments. They are for rehearsal and performance only.
>>=20
>> IC does not have a perfect system but it works for the most part. I have
>> to constantly remind the faculty of the need to take care of the
>> instruments and TEACH their students to do the same. It is a constant
>> struggle to get people to lock and cover the pianos when they are
>> finished. We just got a new D last month and it already has battle
>> scars. What are you gonna do!
>>=20
>> Don McKechine
>> Ithaca College
>>=20
>> _______________________________________________
>> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives


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