[CAUT] Water/Alcohol on Yamaha Hammers

David Ilvedson ilvey@sbcglobal.net
Sat, 7 Jan 2006 21:57:28 -0800


Jeff,

If you just sit back like some have advocated and don't put in your 2 cents...you will be screwed.    You won't have a voice...only the other tech and his backers...
I'd ask for a meeting with the other tech and the staff involved and have it out.   Have him explain the "agresssive, bad needling".     I just wish we, the List, had thought about moisture and needled hammers and the outcome....

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jeff Stickney" <jpstickney@montanadsl.net>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Received: 1/7/2006 9:27:43 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Water/Alcohol on Yamaha Hammers


>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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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