you can pay me now....

David Ilvedson ilvey@sbcglobal.net
Mon Jul 1 17:41 MDT 2002


It might be more cost effective for the schools to just lease pianos and hire outside technicians to tune & voice them.  Then when the lease expires...5 years or so...get new ones.  Few repairs, no rebuilding, no shop space necessary, no health benefits, retirement.. Here at Stanford University, the music dept. does not have a technician on salary, benefits, retirement.  Granted, Stanford isn't a big name school of music.  All work is contracted out to one technician, who in turn contracts out what he doesn't want to do o several other technicians.

David I.

----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: <Wimblees@aol.com>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Received: Mon, 01 Jul 2002 15:10:39 -0400
Subject: Re: you can pay me now....

>In a message dated Mon, 1 Jul 2002 1:56:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, ANRPiano
>writes:

>> I think your approach has value, however if you have 130 pianos with a value of only
>$1.2 million I think there are other issues which can be brought to bear.  With those
>numbers in mind you have a lot of smaller, lower quality or worn out pianos which
>certainly need replacing or rebuilding.  Spending money on rebuilding can certainly be
>justified in most cases from a life expectancy perspective.  We can't stop at tuning and
>regulating.  A rigorous rebuilding schedule can actually increase the value of the
>inventory in an amount greater than the cost of rebuilding.  I think, in my very limited
>experience, that is where most schools get themselves in trouble.  They purchase the
>pianos and do virtually nothing but tune them and occasionally regulate them.  20 years
>later they have become, in their myopic view, land fill.
>>
>> So if this increased efforts involves a long term rebuilding schedule, keeping the value
>of the inventory from dropping, it is a much more justifiable expense, from a strictly cost
>perspective.
>>
>> Other benefits could include:
>>
>> 1) Better pianos can attract more and better students.  It is very attractive to
>perspective students to see well
>> maintained instruments in the practice rooms.
>>
>> 2) Enhanced prestige for the institution.
>>
>> Just my 1 cents worth
>>
>> Andrew Remillard

>Andrew

>Good to hear from my alma mater

>You bring up some very good points, as well. This is why we need to discuss this.
>Would the addition of an extra technician keep the pianos going for longer than 30
>years? However, for $35,000, over a two year period, you can buy another Steinway B.

>The student issue is also something to consider. My chair has told me several times that
>over the last 5 years or so, the school has lost some very good students, because they
>did not like the condition of the practice room pianos. So, will the addition of another
>tech help keep the pianos in better condition, which, in turn, will attract more and better
>students? Another question to ask.

>Keep the ideas going. I beleive this is where we need to continue doing our home work.

>Thanks, Andrew, for your response.

>Wim





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