Paul -
To tackle this question at U of H we have 10 performance Steinway D's, a Chickering 9', and 5 B's that are used for recording and recitals. It's an insane inventory just of concert instruments... Factor that in a non-COVID year of 500+ performances during the school year, daily classes/lectures on the instruments, Texas Music Festival and several other summer institutes. Our goal is this - concert and recital instruments get 1 hour per week of non-tuning type work in the schedule; that being regulating or voicing work that I don't do when tuning. These instruments are tuned like the dickens; I can pretty much count on seeing them daily so they stay REALLY close to parameters. During the summer or breaks we like to take each hall down for a week at a time and do any needed work to the instruments. Additionally our budget allows our concert grands to be rebuilt every 5-7 years
thankfully, and we are able to maintain parts as well between all of that.
Long story short - try to aim for setting aside time in the hall to just do regulation or voicing work at an hour per week during the semesters. It makes a HUGE difference in the overall time you will spend with the instruments.
------------------------------
Corbin Sturch
University of Houston
Houston TX
870-307-5645
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2020 15:02
From: Paul Williams
Subject: concert pianos
Hi All,
How often do yall go through your concert instruments for a full regulation?
I have time now and able to come into work. I'm having some fun going through all our practice grands right now, but that can't last all summer!...or can it! I can't get new parts though, so dealing with what I have, sadly. They all need lots more....
Thanks
Paul