<html> Hi Folks, I looked at the NASMs on-line data base of information when we first started looking at updating our CAUT lists last year for the Newsletter mailing. They do have information that would be very helpful, but it is not available on-line. As near as I can tell, they limit the on-line access so that they can charge their members (and non-members) for access to the information. I had to use our chair's account with him overseeing the operation, and I felt a little awkward tying up his time with this, but I did ascertain that it would be possible to order the relevant information, but that there would be a charge for it. Maybe if the Home Office gets behind this effort, we can get a budget for gathering the relvant information. Scott CAUT Committee member, and CAUT webmaster. ------------------------------------------------------- At 10:03 AM 3/16/01 +0000, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Much wisdom here, Fellow CAUT Committee Members, Are we listening?? mj. Bdshull@aol.com wrote: > Fred, Michael: > > I think gathering data on school piano service programs is at least as > important, if not more so, than the actual revision of the guidelines; > indeed, any guidelines revision could come from a discussion of this data. > The way to get NAMM's attention may be to take a snapshot of ALL schools, > including the contract-serviced schools (which are in the majority). > > There are several ways of gathering data, each useful.  1.  The annual PTG > membership information sheet could include a supplemental sheet for CAUTs > making surveying possible (and including some tabulatable data with the > suppl. sheet);  2.  the aforementioned collection of schools on the 'net > could be surveyed;  3.  Official lists could be reasonably bought and used > for surveys:  the actual NAMM and College Music Society school lists could be > surveyed.   In these different ways of gathering data, two types of data are > considered :  1.  actual databases of technicians/schools of music/piano > service programs, and 2.  statistical/survey data taken from samplings of > lists. > > The easiest and cheapest way to get data from ourselves is through the > information form which is sent by the home office and returned by members > with their dues.  I recommend that this coming year's form include a separate > form for CAUT techs, including contract techs.  Enough information should be > requested so that a database could be up and running.  If this includes > contract techs, an automatic database of employed and contract techs will be > available (this might triple or even square the size of the CAUT list).  If > email addresses are included, an email survey could be conducted each year. > Obviously this includes only music school techs who are members of the PTG. > Beyond the stated data-gathering goal, it is at least as valuable for CAUT > contract techs to "declare themselves."  Many contract techs may not consider > themselves CAUTs, but need much the same specialization of training, > resources and colleagues which employed techs have;  returning this > supplemental information sheet could be first step towards that identity. > > The PTG home office might cooperate in a survey using CMS- or NAMM-provided > lists.  I have talked with Dan Hall about this (and with Taylor a little more > generally) and if the CAUTCOM wanted to request this we might receive home > office support.  A remarkable amount of data could be gathered with > incredible potential to help shape the future of piano service programs and > piano inventories. > > Tangential to this discussion, but in my mind equally important:  I have also > recommended that we begin to establish and meet curriculum objectives for > day-long CAUT annual events which provide all of us CAUTs with a baseline of > specialized training.  Certainly the structuring and specialization of Annual > Institute CAUT curriculum would enhance our position with NAMM, etc. > > Bill Shull, RPT > University of Redlands, La Sierra University ></blockquote> <x-sigsep></x-sigsep> Scott E. Thile, RPT Piano - Instrument Technician ---------------------------------------- Murray State University, Murray, KY <a href="mailto:scott.thile@murraystate.edu" eudora="autourl">mailto:</a>scott<a href="mailto:scott.thile@murraystate.edu" eudora="autourl">.thile@murraystate.edu</a> (Work Website) <a href="http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/index.html" eudora="autourl">http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/index.html</a> (Ham Radio Website ) <a href="http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/k4set/index.html" eudora="autourl">http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/k4set/index.html</a> (Family Website)  <a href="http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/family/index.htm" eudora="autourl">http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/family/index.htm</a> (Nickel Creek Website) <a href="http://www.nickelcreek.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.nickelcreek.com/</a> </html>