Hi, all,
Last time I saw the list of requirements to be named an “All-Steinway School”, it included that all pianos be from the Steinway family except possibly up to 10% (which would allow schools to keep, for example, pianos donated by important friends of the department), a list of shop requirements including tools and supplies, and that a recommended schedule of upkeep be maintained. In some cases that schedule could not be accomplished unless more staff time was added. The work schedule could be compared to the CAUT recommendations; I’m not sure how closely they match.
I have no idea whether or how much they follow up on those requirements, but it leaves open the possibility, I think, that the official designation, with its advertising and logo benefits, could be revoked if the pianos were allowed to deteriorate. No company, of any brand, wishes to see their instruments badly represented.
On donors: I heard a senior person in a university development office say, when hearing about the All-Steinway School designation for the first time, “Well, that’s a sexy idea! I can sell that to donors.” He was a mercurial man and soon went on instead to develop donors for opera, but he (temporarily) made his point. Donors can sometimes be attracted to different things: like maybe being associated with any well-known brand, or maybe having their names connected to items that will last for years, you never know. Donors can also have their own favorite brand of piano, especially if they play, and they can help support in many ways. I know of one school (only one!) for which a donor endowed a million-dollar account strictly for piano maintenance. Not purchases, not pianos, only maintenance! Every year it throws off enough income to pay a handsome piano tech salary with benefits, with money left over for parts, rebuilding, refinishing, contract tuners, etc. Wouldn’t it be amazing if more people recognized that need?
One anecdotal story about a hidden Super-Donor was this: a local lady was interested in taking piano lessons, and contacted the university. The head of piano faculty took an interest in her and was giving her lessons. On seeing the pianos in the school, she said, “What do you need?” She turned out, through personal interest in the school and faculty, to donate the whole package. Who knew?
It’s clear that we’re all in agreement that any fleet of pianos in service at any school, of any brand, should be well-maintained. It’s interesting how many different paths exist to chase down that goal.
Kathy
Original Message------
Both an adequate budget and technical competency in sufficient quantity are needed to maintain any fleet of pianos.
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
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