[CAUT] Water/Alcohol on Yamaha Hammers

[Jeff Stickney]

Barbara and Jim,

I think you both have good ideas.  I have come to the conclusion that it 
is best to lay as low as possible, but still communicate my reservations 
or at least caveats (a la Susan Kline - thanks, Susan) regarding using 
alcohol and water.  I have used reports and spreadsheets and, more 
recently the guidelines to try to make my case for more funding or a 
staff position.  The piano faculty are finally starting to get it, and 
the department chair understands.  However, this situation has pointed 
out to me that the Dean is not on board and may never be, and the chair 
was not able to stand up for me or the department in this politically 
charged situation.  The chair also talks more about budget cuts and 
fighting to retain faculty lines than giving any rays of hope for a 
staff position.  In the meantime, I feel that my reputation is being 
compromised by the decline in the condition of our premier pianos (not 
to mention the rest of our inventory), so it may ultimately be time for 
me to leave what is a more stress filled existence than it is 
rewarding.  It is currently a small percentage of my income, but 
occupies a much larger percentage of my stress and time than the income 
would justify.

Jeff Stickney

Barbara Richmond wrote:
> I agree with Jim. The current, real time problem is the political 
> situation,
> the over-all problem is inadequate funding for maintenance.  I don't know
> what is the best course of action for you to take regarding the 
> latter, but
> I can tell you what I did when I was hired at Illinois Wesleyan
> University--I started writing reports.  Every year for five years I wrote
> reports, recommendations, justifications.  Finally the fifth year, the
> position (90 instruments) was made full time and they had even accepted a
> schedule for rebuilding and replacing pianos.  (Then, of course, my 
> husband
> accepted a job in Texas...)
>
> I wrote and wrote, but it was when I got down to saying exactly (in 
> numbers)
> what I could accomplish each week in 10-12 hours (my contract) and showed
> what wasn't being done, the message got through.  I used the university
> fleet of cars as a <sort> of analogy (cars need more than gas--pianos 
> need
> more than tuning) and I used the College and University 
> Guidelines--though
> the head of the school of music was suspect of it, because it was 
> compiled
> by technicians who were anxious to line their own pockets.  Ugh, it never
> occurred to him that there are folks out there that might want to do a 
> good
> job...  Fortunately, it was the university administration that saw the
> light.
>
> Best,
>
> Barbara Richmond, RPT
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Ellis" <claviers@nxs.net>
> To: <caut@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:23 AM
> Subject: [CAUT] Water/Alcohol on Yamaha Hammers
>
>
>> Jeff (and List),
>>
>> I have read the most recent posts re your situation with the Yamaha 
>> CFIII,
>> water/alcohol, the other technician, the faculty, etc.  Your problem is
>> NOT
>> the piano, the hammers, water, or alcohol; it's the political situation.
>> One person on this list suggested you send them copies of all these
>> e-mails.  NO!!My suggestion is that your do NOT do that.  I think 
>> that's a
>> sure way to antagonize them.  If they ask your opinion, tell then, 
>> and by
>> all means tell them what Yamaha recommends.  After all, Yamaha did make
>> the
>> piano.  But because of the politics, do NOT put yourself in the middle.
>> That would be a NO-win situation for you.  The best you can do here 
>> is to
>> make sure that it's a NO-lose situation for you.  If they are bound to
>> screw it up, then let them, but let them do it with the understanding 
>> that
>> you do NOT recommend it.  Beyond that, just stand back.  Your 
>> position and
>> reputation is worth far more than a set of Yamaha hammers.
>>
>> Sincerely, Jim Ellis
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
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