<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">  <title>Re: [CAUT]  CAUT Endorsement</title> <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Really, I agree with you.  I’m just not smart enough to figure out how in the world this is going to be tested.  I think a curriculum would be a great idea and even as close to retirement as I am I’d try to pursue it and I think people would respect it.  I agree also that communicating with other CAUTs and participating on this list has certainly helped me.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I’m in your corner rooting for you to succeed.  I’m just aware of how difficult a task you have in trying to create a test.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> dave<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p> <a href="dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:33 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Dave,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Of course passing a test can’t be a guarantee of success. How many guarantees are there in life? There are many incompetent lawyers who have passed the Bar exam and MDs I wouldn’t want touching me with a scalpel as well.  The point I was trying to make was that a person motivated enough to go through the process and learn some specialized skills will perhaps be more likely to be a good match for employment at an institution. My motivation to acquire the skills to become a Stanwood PTD agent, learn about historic temperaments, build and service harpsichords, etc., are directly related to my motivation to join the PTG, become a RPT and become a technician at a busy conservatory. I am committed to being a good piano technician and I want to be in a place where my skills are needed and appreciated. I can think of achieving a CAUT endorsement as being an indicator of a certain commitment to excellence. One thing I do know for certain is that hanging around with all my CAUT friends, talking about the issues and skills, participating in this list, taking CAUT related classes at the Institute and being generally involved has made me much better at what I do. A CAUT endorsement can be seen as a tool for getting people involved at a different level. Maybe I’m just dreaming…<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Eric<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Eric Wolfley, RPT  Director of Piano Services  Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Porritt, David Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:44 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Eric:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I agree with about all that you’ve said below.  I’m just not sure how a test can be created that will truly test the skills that a successful CAUT will need.  This is especially true since so many jobs are so varied.  I wish you success in your efforts to create a test.  Perhaps I’m just not creative enough to see how it’s going to happen.  I can envision a test for minimum skills – i.e. a person who can’t pass this test has no chance at a successful CAUT career.  But moving to the other end of the success ladder is far more difficult.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In many cases the high school football coach might have the exact same training and background (played college/pro ball etc.) as the successful NFL coach but the differences are un-testable, un-quantifiable personal qualities.  The qualities that make the successful CAUT are difficult to even describe let alone test.  Possibly the first step should be to describe in words what makes a successful CAUT then try to determine how to test for those skills and qualities.  I don’t know.  I do know that you have been given a really tough job to come up with a test that will actually do what you want it to do!!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> dave<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p> <a href="dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:56 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Dave,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I guess I’ll be the “angel’s advocate” here and change the scenario a bit. Say you had two candidates with fairly equal qualifications, experience, references, etc., but one had taken the time and effort to be an active member of the PTG and had passed the “CAUT test” (whatever form that may take), which one would you choose? Showing a commitment towards gaining and improving skills is a definite plus in my book and would tip the scales for me, credit history and personal grooming issues aside. (Do they really check credit history when reviewing a job applicant’s application?) There will also be quite a bit of material specific to CAUT work included in the curriculum which will help a CAUT- trained candidate be prepared to suggest possible improvements to the institution’s piano maintenance program in an interview situation.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It sounds like you have an excellent relationship with your faculty which tells me you are doing a great job at SMU and a candidate for your position would probably be able to slip in, “get with the program” <o:p></o:p> and continue your good work. Your 21 years experience has a lot to do with that. There are many programs out there however which are in desperate need of somebody either with a whole lot of experience in an institutional setting or some good training. This is the issue we are trying to address with the CAUT curriculum and the CAUT endorsement.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Eric<o:p></o:p> <div> Eric Wolfley, RPT  Director of Piano Services  Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> </div> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Porritt, David Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 7:51 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Of course all of our experience comes from a fairly small segment of the world.  Even if one has had a job a 2 or 3 music schools, that’s not universal knowledge of academia.  My experience in that regard is pretty limited. Here our head of the Keyboard Studies area is a quite knowledgeable pianist whose father was a piano technician.  The other three of the piano faculty have had or still have their performing careers and have worked with piano technicians a lot to get what they each want in a piano.  I really think they could work together to find a replacement for me.  I’d love to think that they did that job well 21 years ago but having read the interesting article on incompetence I’m reluctant to say anything!  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In other words, the committee has to find a warm body that seems to have the qualifications, references, documented education and character to do the job.  Even if a test were conceived that actually could measure a person’s aptitude for this work, how much weight should it have in the hiring decision?  Candidate A has passed the CAUT test but has a poor credit history.  Candidate B has a good work record and good references (happy musician customers) but never bothered to take the CAUT test.  I’d bet credit history would trump CAUT test.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> dave<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p> <a href="dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred Sturm Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 7:50 PM To: caut Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT Endorsement<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> On 10/23/07 3:12 PM, "David M. Porritt" <dporritt@smu.edu> wrote:<o:p></o:p> I think college administrators have to interview, check backgrounds, do their do-diligence but I really have my doubts that any testing PTG could do would do as well as a good college football scout can do and they miss a lot.  <o:p></o:p> Hi David,     The problem is that there is no animal in the music department who is the equivalent of the college football scout. Who in your music department do you think qualifies as a good scout for piano technicians? And even if they actually know what to look for, where is the opportunity for them to witness a game or two in a real life analogy? (Okay, the candidate can come and do a tuning or something, but that doesn't say a lot, even if the “scout” can evaluate it reasonably well). Not to say that the administrator doesn’t need to do the normal due diligence in any case, checking recommendations, etc. But one of the problems we face is that the person usually doing the hiring has no concept of the skills needed, and has to rely almost entirely on a best guess of what references and experience set might mean. Probably doesn’t really even know what questions to ask. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>