CAUT

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

Vince, Here's a web site with lots of CAUT related info: http://my.ptg.org/caut/home

Richard West

------------------------------
Richard West RPT
Oro Valley AZ
(402) 570-4409
440richard@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 17:49
From: Vincent Chambers
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Richard,

It appears that the link you provided is out of date. It shows just four members of the community and very few library entries. Someone on the C

CAUT Committee might want to have a look and change as necessary,

Best,

Don

------------------------------
[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[dmckech@ithaca.edu]
[Home 607.277.7112]
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 18:34
From: Richard West
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Vince, Here's a web site with lots of CAUT related info: http://my.ptg.org/caut/home

Richard West

------------------------------
Richard West RPT
Oro Valley AZ
(402) 570-4409
440richard@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 17:49
From: Vincent Chambers
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Hi Vince:

The PTG's 'Guidelines for Effective Institutional Piano Maintenance' (edited 2023) may be a good place to start. There is also a Workload Formula spreadsheet that may be useful, though I don't have experience with it myself. 

Yours,

Norman

------------------------------
Norman Vesprini RPT
Piano Technology Program Manager
Notre Dame IN
(574) 631-3021

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 17:49
From: Vincent Chambers
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Also: for inventory service management (tuning) I created this Google Sheet. A quarterly check on instruments helps plan a triage list for tuning work. Not exactly what you asked about, but thought it may be useful to you or others who manage institutional inventories (especially if they perform that work unassisted). 

Yours,

Norman

Hi Vince:

The PTG's 'Guidelines for Effective Institutional Piano Maintenance' (edited 2023) may be a good place to start. There is also a Workload Formula spreadsheet that may be useful, though I don't have experience with it myself. 

Yours,

Norman

------------------------------
Norman Vesprini RPT
Piano Technology Program Manager
Notre Dame IN
(574) 631-3021

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 17:49
From: Vincent Chambers
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

Hi Vince,

I have been retired from academia for a number of years and even more from the CAUT Committee. The last extensive survey undertaken by the committee that I can recall was done in 2000. (Curious to know if there was a survey in recent years?) I have the questions and results of that survey. The results are just raw data and I cannot remember if there was any followup on interpreting the results. If you wish to see the files let me know and I will send the docs to you. They might help in putting together a survey.

Sending a query to techs at schools asking if they might want to share their results of the CAUT Guidelines formula might also be of help.

Best,

Don

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

That is one of the most exciting things - in the nerdiest possible way - I've heard all week! 

I'd love to review the questions and results, and create a new survey if possible. Mostly what this is for is fundraising. Apparently the piano tuner is a big part of development in a music school. Who knew? 😉 

Can  you share this data with me? 

All the best,

Vince 

Hi Vince,

I have been retired from academia for a number of years and even more from the CAUT Committee. The last extensive survey undertaken by the committee that I can recall was done in 2000. (Curious to know if there was a survey in recent years?) I have the questions and results of that survey. The results are just raw data and I cannot remember if there was any followup on interpreting the results. If you wish to see the files let me know and I will send the docs to you. They might help in putting together a survey.

Sending a query to techs at schools asking if they might want to share their results of the CAUT Guidelines formula might also be of help.

Best,

Don

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

That is one of the most exciting things - in the nerdiest possible way - I've heard all week! 

I'd love to review the questions and results, and create a new survey if possible. Mostly what this is for is fundraising. Apparently the piano tuner is a big part of development in a music school. Who knew? 😉 

Can  you share this data with me? 

All the best,

Vince 

Hi Vince,

I have been retired from academia for a number of years and even more from the CAUT Committee. The last extensive survey undertaken by the committee that I can recall was done in 2000. (Curious to know if there was a survey in recent years?) I have the questions and results of that survey. The results are just raw data and I cannot remember if there was any followup on interpreting the results. If you wish to see the files let me know and I will send the docs to you. They might help in putting together a survey.

Sending a query to techs at schools asking if they might want to share their results of the CAUT Guidelines formula might also be of help.

Best,

Don

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

That is one of the most exciting things - in the nerdiest possible way - I've heard all week! 

I'd love to review the questions and results, and create a new survey if possible. Mostly what this is for is fundraising. Apparently the piano tuner is a big part of development in a music school. Who knew? 😉 

Can  you share this data with me? 

All the best,

Vince 

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford
San Francisco, Chico CA
(530) 924-4469 Mobile; 732-642-1100

Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2026 12:21
From: Donald McKechnie
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi Vince,

I have been retired from academia for a number of years and even more from the CAUT Committee. The last extensive survey undertaken by the committee that I can recall was done in 2000. (Curious to know if there was a survey in recent years?) I have the questions and results of that survey. The results are just raw data and I cannot remember if there was any followup on interpreting the results. If you wish to see the files let me know and I will send the docs to you. They might help in putting together a survey.

Sending a query to techs at schools asking if they might want to share their results of the CAUT Guidelines formula might also be of help.

Best,

Don

------------------------------
[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[dmckech@ithaca.edu]
[Home 607.277.7112]

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2026 17:49
From: Vincent Chambers
Subject: Fleet Management in Institutional Settings

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince

------------------------------
Vincent Chambers

Apollo Piano | Stanford University
San Francisco | Chico CA
Mobile: 732-642-1100
------------------------------

Hi folks:

I've learned a lot since starting a position at Stanford University in Sept of 2025. Mostly that piano work is the easy part. 

Has there ever been a survey of various schools to understand how they've managed their fleets? Number of technicians, average age, shop space and skills, i.e. do you send out belly work for example, what do you consider reasonable to rebuild, etc.?

I've spoken with several friends at major schools and conservatories and the conversations get real broad real quick, so I am thinking of codifying this information somehow, possibly with a survey. 

This data is useful for development, as well as improving the management of the current fleet. 

If something has been published, how would I locate it? 

Thanks in advance!

Vince