<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 11/4/2004 7:21:11 PM Central Standard Time, jim_busby@byu.edu writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000080 size= =2> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wim,<o:p></o:p>= </SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:= p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The answer isn= ’t a lack of students here at BYU. We turn down around 10 to 15 people every ye= ar who want to learn to “tune”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: y= es">  </SPAN>BYU has had piano tech programs in the past which produced several fine technicians. Currently we have a “mentoring program” with = 3 students. Our Dean has asked why we don’t start another larger program. Here are some= of the reasons we gave;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:= p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1. Time/budget/= space. How could we fit in more when we’re up to our eyeballs with work now?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2. Market satur= ation. If we produced 5 or 10 RPTs a year … well, soon we’d have = too many locally.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3. Competition = with local technicians. Some are already upset that we produce one RPT a year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4. In the past = some have quit the program early thinking they knew enough… (<SPAN class=GramE>they</SPAN> didn’t)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:= p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I agree with yo= u on the need for more top notch technicians, but don’t know if a schoo= l is the answer. Do you see these as issues?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:= p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jim</SPAN></FON= T></P></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Jim</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I can understand the time/budget space issue. The question is, is = the Dean interested enough to budget another full time faculty member = to teach the course of study, and fund the equipment, space, supplies, etc.?</D= IV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As far saturating the market, I think that will solve itself. When a pi= ano tuner graduates, and sees there is no business, they will move to areas of t= he country that does need them. If BYU does start a full time program, it will attract students from around the country. (Same philosophy as doctors and accountants graduating from the school. They don't all stay in Provo, do the= y?) </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As far as students leaving early, if the school offers a degree, it sho= uld encourage most of them to graduate. It doesn't prevent them from leaving early, thinking "they know it all," but might be enough of an incent= ive for them to stay. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Which brings us to the other posts, the need for college level tec= hs to have a BS. If the CAUT program is successful, and universities start aski= ng for tuners with the education and experience, it might encourage students to= get the degree.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just some thoughts on the matter.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Wim </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>