The $50,000 question

[Richard Brekne]

My advice is to get the college to use the 50 grand to set up a shop, increase
your contract so you can begin to put back together as many pianos as time
allows. Work towards making the "piano tech and shop" an institution at the
school.

Here in Bergen I am responsible for 52 instruments, I get 21 hours a week, 7
of which are used only for fixing and improving pianos mechanically /
acoutstically. The other 14 hours a week is for keeping the pool as well
tuned  as is possible, with 3 instruments needing to be constantly in concert
tuned condition. Needless to say this is stretching things a bit, but its a
start and a big step in the right direction. 8 years ago they didnt even have
a regular tuner... just called "whoever" once in a while. I got into the
picture 2 years ago and took over full responsibility this past fall. Since
that time I have secured the extra 7 hours a week, and a small workshop "in
house" for action and less extensive repair work. I expect to be able to save
the institution about 25 % of the total expense they had last year and at the
same time markedly improve the basic quality / condition of the pianos while
maintaining the same standards for general tuning we have had this past two
years.

It takes a while to get this rolling... but if you show initiative and
willingness to work hard... and keep your face in theirs about it just the
right amount (enough to get and keep their attention, and not so much as to
piss them off ...grin) you can move mountians.

good luck

Mark Graham wrote:

> I'm back on the forums after a year's absence. I have an odd situation at
> our college and I'd be interested in suggestions or information about
> available pianos.
>
> Baldwin-Wallace College near Cleveland, Ohio is looking for a Steinway D.
> We have 2 on stage now, one from 1926 and one from about 1980. Both are
> heavily used and are showing their age. Both need hammers and restringing,
> which I'm pushing for, but I'm contracted for 20 hrs/wk, they have 90
> pianos plus others on campus, and there is no shop. I'm stretched pretty
> thin as you can tell, but that's another story.
>
> Two new piano faculty members, both excellent musicians, are pushing for a
> new D. One of them found a used Hamburg D. I went with them to see it, and
> it sounded great but was the age of our better one and showed much wear.
> In addition, the soundboard and ivories are cracked from low humidity. It
> needed a great deal of work, but the one faculty member felt about it like
> my son would about a sports car -- loved it and wanted it. Without my
> knowledge, the administration secured a $50,000 grant to purchase it. When
> I found out, I restated my original feelings, that this piano was not a
> step up for us, pointed out its shortcomings, and said I couldn't support
> purchasing it. The faculty went back to look at it, decided it really
> wasn't for us, and thanked me profusely for saving the college from an
> expensive mistake. Amazing!
>
> But now we have $50,000. The college is holding it for us. We don't get
> the interest and we can't invest it, but it can sit indefinitely. We want
> a D, but don't have enough for a new one, and the development office and
> other administrators can't come up with the difference. (I suggested a
> bake sale and car wash.)(That's a joke.) For many reasons I think the
> college should have a new one. The faculty wants a Steinway and nothing
> else. I'd be thrilled to have a concert Yamaha or other, but absolutely
> not, they say.
>
> We will, of course, talk with Steinway, but that's not my department.
> Perhaps something used from the artist department would be a possibility.
> Anybody ever been in a similar situation? Anybody know of the perfect
> piano for us? By the way, I'm posting to pianotech and the caut forum.
>
> Mark Graham
> Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music
> Berea, Ohio

--
Richard Brekne
Associate PTG, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway