<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: [CAUT] tuning for the local orchestra</title></head><body> <div>Hi Wim,</div> <div>This type of situation comes up here at Miami as well. The department's policy has been if it isn't an event within the School of Fine Arts, the department needs to be compensated in some way if I'll be working during the day. An easy question to ask is, "Is the hall being rented?"  If so, then the renting group needs to pony up.</div> <div><br></div> <div>In this situation, I would recommend that the TSO pay money into your piano account for rental and tuning. It seems unfair that the university would be asked to supply a resource (the pianos) and not be assisted financially by the TSO for their upkeep.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Respectfully,</div> <div>Jon</div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">The local symphony orchestra, (Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra), performs on our main stage 6 times per year. Most of our applied professors play with the TSO, as well as some of our students and they get paid. So it's good training for them.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000"> </font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">On the average, there are 2 or 3 piano soloists each year. Obviously they use one of "our" grands, which I prep for each concert. Sometimes it's just a matter of tuning and minor voicing, but most often it requires some additional work, as specified by the performer. Although most of the work is done during regular working time, there are occasions where I have to come in on a weekend, or be present for the performances, which are on Monday night. This weekend the TSO, along with the local Community Chorus, (in which I sing), is performing Carmina Burana, which requires two grands. Because of the size of the stage, instead of using our two D, we've decided to pull two Kawai KG2 grands out of practice rooms.  They will be moved on the stage late this afternoon, and back on Tuesday morning. I tuned them this morning, and I will also tune them Monday afternoon.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000"> </font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">The TSO pays rent to use the hall, including rehearsals, etc., but I have never charged them for any of the work I do, for the most part, as I said, because most of the work I do is during regular working time, when I am on the clock, and also because I want to be a supporter of the Symphony. I do get free tickets to the concerts, but because the concerts are at the same time that the chorus rehearses, I don't get to attend that often.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000"> </font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">How do some of you with similar situations handle this? Do you do this as part of your university job, or do you charge them separately. If so, how much?</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000"> </font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">Wim</font></blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <x-sigsep><pre>-- </pre></x-sigsep> <div>Jon Ralinovsky<br> Piano Technician<br> Department of Music<br> Miami University<br> 513/529-6548</div> </body> </html>