Agreed, that's why I said "This may be a good time to put together a capital purchase proposal as well." I didn't mean a plan for only one instrument, but a comprehensive perpetual replacement and maintenance plan for the whole program. Rick on 9/19/06 7:30 AM, Chris Solliday at solliday at ptd.net wrote: > This is all well and good but without addressing the bigger picture it is > doomed like trying use a watering can to put out a fire (better be a very > small fire). This program needs a realistic budget and along with that will > come more respect for the tech. > Chris Solliday > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <Rick.Florence at asu.edu> > To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> > Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 9:46 PM > Subject: Re: [CAUT] caut Digest, Vol 1090, Issue 3 > > >> Wim, I don't think I would choose to marginalize my position with the >> Director/Chair. If we wish to be the respected professional whose > opinions are >> valued, then we need to play the part, not run away from the opportunity. > It is >> true that the decision may not be ours to make, but we SHOULD be called > upon for >> our expertise in ALL keyboard matters and be available with an educated >> recommendation. >> >> Paul, gather up your information, present a few possible alternatives, > recommend >> the one you feel is best, and ask the Director in which direction (s)he > wishes >> to proceed. This may be a good time to put together a capital purchase > proposal >> as well. The keyboard faculty will be your strongest ally, or your worst > enemy. >> Use this opportunity to push for a win-win situation for both camps >> (piano/fortepiano) and you'll begin to build a rewarding working > relationship >> with your colleagues. >> >> If we fail to participate and act proactively in these types of situations > we >> will simply be the "tuner" who is easily replaced and underappreciated, > both >> personally and financially. >> >> Carpe diem! >> >> >> Rick >> >> ________________ >> Rick Florence >> Senior Piano Technician >> Arizona State University, School of Music >> >> >> Quoting Willem Blees <wblees at bama.ua.edu>: >> >>> Paul >>> >>> It me took me a while, but I now refer those difficult questions to >>> the people who are paid to make difficult decisions. Lay this problem >>> on the desk of the piano chairman or the department chairman. I would >>> go so far as to not even offer my recommendation. That leaves you >>> completely out of the decision making process. >>> >>> Wim >>> Willem Blees, RPT >>> Piano Tuner/Technician >>> School of Music >>> University of Alabama >>> Tuscaloosa, AL USA >>> >>> >>> Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>: >>> >>>> Hi List, >>>> >>>> Some of my greenish hue is starting to wear off on being a CAUT, but >>>> on >>>> budget matters with piano faculty, in particular, I shine brighter >>>> that >>>> the emerald city!! We have 105 keyboard instruments here at the >>>> university, one of them being a Belt forte-piano about 25 years old. >>> >>>> The >>>> professor who plays it primarily is demanding a major rehabilitation >>>> to it >>>> which will require some outside help with my assisting this outside >>>> expert. The estimated cost of bringing this "expert" in will take >>>> over >>>> 28% of my yearly budget. The instrument is used in concert 6-8 >>> times >>>> per >>>> year as compared to our 3 Steinway D's, 1 concert Baldwin and 3 >>>> Steinway >>>> B's which are used constantly. >>>> >>>> Some of the other faculty are up in arms about using the piano >>> budget >>>> and >>>> insist that this is a "special project" and should use "special >>>> funds" >>>> like grants and the like. Of course I agree strongly both ways! It >>>> is a >>>> university instrument, so it should use university funds. On the >>>> other >>>> hand it is used so infrequently, that I can't see using a huge slice >>>> of my >>>> pie. On the third hand, one of my responsibilities is to see to it >>>> that >>>> all instruments are happy. >>>> >>>> Having such a limited budget as I do, if I had to replace a good >>>> quality >>>> grand, (not even concert level), I would be spending far more than >>>> one >>>> year's budget, leaving all other instruments on hold until next year >>>> >>>> whatever the need may be.INCLUDING the concert instruments. >>>> So I ask for a bit of seasoned advise from you all. How have you >>>> handled >>>> such delemmas? Thanks for your help. >>>> >>>> Here I am, stuck in the middle with you..... >>>> >>>> Paul T. Williams RPT >>>> University of Nebraska-Lincoln >>>> >> >> > > _____________ Rick Florence Senior Piano Technician Arizona State University, School of Music
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