Age
0.9 - 1 to 2 years old (applies particularly to piano loan programs)
1.3 - 2 - 15 years old.
1.0 - 16 - 30 years old.
0.7 - 31 - 45 years old.
0.5 - over 45 years old.
Usage
(2.0) - 0 to 4 hours - light usage
(1.7) - 4 to 8 hours - light usage
(1.3) - 8 or more hours - light usage
(1.3) - 0 to 4 hours - medium usage
(1.0) - 4 to 8 hours - medium usage
(0.7) - 8 or more hours - medium usage
(0.8) - 0 to 4 hours - heavy usage
(0.6) - 4 to 8 hours - heavy usage
(0.4) - 8 to 12 hours - heavy usage
(0.3) - more than 12 hours heavy usage
[Note: Heavy usage is generally what would be found in piano major
practice rooms, piano faculty studios, and heavy use recital/rehearsal
halls. Medium usage is similar to what would be found in most voice
studios. Some discretion must be used for those pianos that get a wide
variety of levels of use.]
Upright or Grand
(1.1) - Upright
(0.7) - Grand
Standard of Maintenance
(0.1) - Top performance: Piano is maintained in meticulous condition at
all times: tuning, voicing, and regulation at highest possible standard,
with daily or near daily attention; rebuilding and reconditioning on an
accelerated schedule so that piano is kept virtually "like new."
(Generally concert instruments in recital hall)
(0.4) - Near top performance: Piano maintained as above, but with weekly
to twice-weekly attention, and somewhat slacker rebuilding schedule.
(Generally piano teaching studios and the like. In some situations may
apply to concert instruments).
(0.7) - Excellent: Piano kept near performance level - well tuned,
voiced, and regulated. Weekly to bi-weekly attention. Rebuilding and
reconditioning on a regular basis.
(1.0) - Very good: Piano kept at an acceptable musical level - tuned,
voiced and regulated on a regular basis. Bi-weekly to monthly attention.
Reconditioned on a regular basis.
(1.3) - Good: Piano kept at an acceptable musical level - tuned, voiced
and regulated on a regular basis. Monthly to bi-monthly attention.
Reconditioned on a regular basis.
(1.8) - Fair: Piano kept at an acceptable musical level - tuning allowed
to deteriorate before retuning, voicing and regulation kept at
acceptable levels. Once to twice a semester attention.
(2.5) - Minimum: piano tuned twice a year; all keys "working."
General note with respect to humidity control:
Variance in humidity is by far the largest factor in maintaining
tuning stability, it affects stability of regulation and voicing, and it
has structural effects on the long term integrity of every piano
(particularly soundboards and pinblocks). The effect of humidity
variance is amplified many-fold in modern institutional environments,
due to code requirements for HVAC systems. Modern HVAC systems exchange
the entire volume of air in the building many times a day. As a result,
air is in constant motion (leading to more rapid movement of moisture
between air and wood), and changes in outside humidity are reflected
almost instantly within buildings.
Hence, the importance of humidity control to the quality of
piano service cannot be overemphasized. In all likelihood, the
multipliers for "fair" through "very poor" are very conservative, in
terms of showing the effect of large scale humidity change on overall
tuning quality and general long term need for rebuilding and replacement
of instuments.
The numbers generated by the workload formula are useful beyond simply
producing a "recommended workload" and a recommended staffing level.
They can also provide insights into specific needs and long term
planning.
Each factor (multiplier) will be a number between 0.1 and 2.5.
Under the design of this formula, numbers will generally be fairly close
to 1.0 for most factors in most average situations. Numbers 1.2 or
above, or 0.8 or below, indicate special circumstances that deserve
scrutiny. Some examples:
1) Under "climate control," numbers under 0.8 indicate conditions that
lead to tuning instability and other deterioration of pianos. Humidity
control in the building is strongly encouraged in these cases.
Alternately, humidity control systems can be installed in individual
pianos. Investment in humidity control is probably the single most cost
effective investment in terms of achieving and maintaining high
standards.
2) Under "condition" and/or "age," low numbers indicate a need to
consider possibly contracting out a fairly large amount of
rebuilding/reconditioning work over the short term, and/or investing in
new pianos. High numbers in these areas indicate a new inventory, which
can be expected to deteriorate over time if plans are not made for
regular replacement. In other words, if staffing is based on these
numbers, without simulataneously committing to a regular program of
replacement, over time the staffing needs will increase and/or quality
will suffer.
3) Under "usage" and "acceptable standards," low numbers will generally
indicate a conservatory or performance oriented situation, while higher
numbers will indicate more of a "general" music department situation. If
this is not the case, low numbers may indicate an inadequate inventory,
while high numbers may indicate more instruments than are necessary.
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC