new formula, (long)

[Jeff Tanner]

Hi Wim,
Just read your take on the formula.  While I haven't yet had the
opportunity to input the numbers for my situation, I think you're on the
right track.  I've posted before that I think administrators can more
readily understand numbers when they represent actual hours needed for each
piano in each situation.

I once started to create a formula based on this concept and on Richard
West's formula he posted to CAUT over a year ago, but I've been too busy to
finish it.

Your earlier post was right in that the numbers from the current versions
of the formula can give inconsistent results.  I used the Filemaker
spreadsheet posted on the CAUT website.  Filemaker has the ability to "Omit
Files", and then "Show Omitted".  You can create very realistic "what if"
situations with this feature (for example, simply separate out your
performance pianos from all the others) and the numbers will calculate for
you some results which demonstrate the inconsistencies of the formula.
Like I've said before, with all due respect to those who put so much time
and effort into the current versions, in my opinion, we'd do better to
input time requirements for each piano, and then divide by the number of
hours per week (or year) to get more reliable results.

Jeff


Jeff Tanner
Piano Technician
School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
(803)-777-4392 (phone)