Chris Purdy sits next to the skeleton of a 7-foot Steinway piano.
Hammers sit on a table next to the carcass of the once-grand piano, which often costs between $10,000 and $12,000 to repair on the open market. At least a dozen other damaged instruments lie nearby.
Purdy and his coworker, Rick Seiter, were two of the 57 employees whose employment was affected by last year's $13.75 million budget cut. As a result of Purdy and Seiter's positions being cut to part time in the spring, the School of Music can feel, and hear, the affect of the budget cuts.
Now if someone has a problem
I add it to the list Purdy said. He held up a clipboard with a sheet-and-a-half list of pianos to tune and repairs to make. I used to respond immediately.
Purdy said when he was a full-time employee he tuned pianos on an as-needed basis. Because of the fluctuating temperature, humidity and frequency of use, every piano should be tuned a few times a quarter.
He now tunes each of the approximately 116 pianos in Glidden Hall once a quarter. Things like repair, rebuilding and standby at concerts have all been pushed aside in order to address the basic tasks of the job.
Seiter fixes all the brass and other instruments. He's responsible for more than $1 million in equipment, and said he also feels the pressure. On top of tending to all of the Marching 110's instruments, Seiter also rents out equipment to students majoring in education or other specialties where they must learn multiple instruments.
When I'm here my priority is school-owned instruments
Seiter said. Students often come into his third-floor office to find a C-flat mouthpiece, a flute or to switch out the baritone they rented. But personal instruments must wait.
They expect you to do the same amount of work in less time
Seiter said. It's very restraining.
Emotions, he said, have run high since he dropped down to part-time.
You can't take blood out of a turnip
Seiter said.
While Seiter said he would like to repair all the instruments, he finds the budget cuts and status reduction dispiriting at times.
People are very understanding
though
he said.
With further budget cuts looming on March 15, it's uncertain what additional steps the School of Music may need to take.
I don't know how we're going to take the next cuts
College of Fine Arts Dean Chuck McWeeny said.
The number of tenured professors makes the cuts especially difficult to approach, he said.
Both Seiter and Purdy have started preparing for whatever may come.
Purdy said he has found seasonal employment during the summer at music camp in Michigan in addition to private tuning. With four children, one college-aged, OU's tuition aid is a much-needed benefit.
But now since I'm only a 60 percent employee
we only get 60 percent tuition help
Purdy said. I still feel very blessed though.
Seiter said he has started building a private shop and increased clientele for repairs on the side. I'm optimistic
