<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR><o:SmartTagType name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="place" = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-STYLE: normal; = FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-style-type: = personal-reply } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=blue link=blue> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080>Dave,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080>That was a = quick response! We don't publicize the SK-EX too much, as they are available = in such limited quantities.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080>They are = currently only available by special order.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT color=#000080></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=299453218-15062005><FONT = color=#000080>Don</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Porritt, David<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 15, 2005 11:28 AM<BR><B>To:</B> College and University Technicians<BR><B>Subject:</B> = RE: [CAUT] Shigeru Kawai in-home service<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Don:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">After I read your note below, I clicked on = the Shigeru Kawai web page.  Nice.  It listed the SK2 – 7 models, = but no EX.  <??!><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">dp<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">David M. = Porritt</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><A = href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p><= /o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" = align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma"> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Don = Mannino<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wednesday, June 15, 2005 = 1:14 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> College and = University Technicians<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: = bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [CAUT] Shigeru Kawai in-home service</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Hi all,</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">It's only natural that people = will find angles to poke fun at (or argue against) competitive = manufacturer's business practices.  I thought I would spell out what the Shigeru = Kawai service program actually is.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">The Kawai concert technicians = (which we call MPAs) are the people who actually do all of the final assembly, regulation, tuning and voicing of the Shigeru Kawai pianos in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  Since Kawai = was starting a whole new piano line with these models, we felt that the = condition of the piano when it got to the home was critical to building a = reputation, and for that reason we have sent the technicians around checking the = pianos in dealer showrooms.  As most of you know, convicing dealers to hire = the best technicians in town to prep pianos in their stores is not an easy = task, so this way we see each piano at least occasionally and can make sure = they are presentable.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">The purchaser also is given a = one day service appointment by one of these MPAs in the home, and this has a = number of functions:</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">-  First, we strongly = encourage the buyers to have their own technician come visit during that = service day, so that the tuner can pick up the specific regulation and voicing tips = that work well with these pianos.  This is a chance for a sort of "on = the job training" session that can really help you all keep the SK pianos in = good shape over the  years.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">- Second, we get very = valuable feedback to the factory from these visits, as the Japanese technicians = get a chance to see how the pianos are performing in the real world = in much more variable climates than they would otherwise ever see.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">- Finally, the customer also = gets a chance to have the piano voiced to suit their home and useage type, = and has the security of knowing that the piano has been well set up properly = from the start, so their responsibility then becomes only to maintain the piano.  </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Kawai does offer a one week = training seminar for technicians in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> specifically geared = towards Shigeru Kawai service.  Some on this list have already attended, = and others are already on my waiting list for this seminar.  = If you want to get on the list feel free to write to me directly (not = through CAUT).   The seminar is intended to equip the better = technicians in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> to do the same type of = service and know the specific techniques as the Kawai MPAs.  We have = already made use of some of these SK Academy "graduates' for servicing the store = pianos, although the one in-home service will always be performed by one of = the MPAs who builds the pianos.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">The MPAs are not available for = routine service, so there is no effort underway to "outsource" service = work.  The whole concept is kind of silly, actually, when you consider the costs involved.  All any technician needs to do to perform the same = kind of work is equip themselves with the knowledge and skills, and then offer = it to their customers!  So many <st1:country-region = w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> technicians prefer to = just do quick tunings - I have found a strong resistance by technicians to doing full service appointments for quality = pianos.  1/2 day and full day appointments for customers with high quality grand pianos = should be a routine thing, yet they are rarely done.  If the local = technicians offer it to their customers, and the whole mystique for using = outside "experts" dissapears, and the local technician becomes the special one.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy = size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Don Mannino RPT, = Director<BR>Shigeru Kawai Field Services<BR><A = href="http://www.shigerukawai.com/">www.shigerukawai.com</A><U><BR></U>= <A href="mailto:tech@shigerukawai.com">tech@shigerukawai.com</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>