Some say Ohio University's best-kept secret lies in Room 321 of Robert Glidden Hall. The room is riddled with used instruments from flutes to trumpets to tubas, each handled by a man whose job has become a somewhat precious commodity in Ohio.
Rick Seiter is the only university-housed band instrument repair technician left in the state, and said he has no plans of ever leaving his profession.
I love Athens
Seiter said. I'm not leaving anytime soon. I plan to retire here.
Meryl Mantione, School of Music director, said Seiter is an invaluable asset to the school and local musicians -so much so that the School of Music, the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Curriculum Council have approved a band instrument repair course that Seiter will start teaching Winter Quarter 2006.
Our largest enrollment degree program is the bachelor of music degree in music education Mantione said. There aren't many places were you can go to get instruments repaired and it's very expensive. When our students go out to teach in schools
many will have to deal with the issues of instrument repair.
Seiter said the initial idea followed by the funding and approval process started six years ago. The project was soon put on hold because problems surfaced concerning funding.
I made a list of what would be needed for the class
and I knew I wanted each student to have a tool box to work with
Seiter said. After I made a list of the tools that I wanted
I realized that each tool box would cost over $500.
Knowing that the task before him was somewhat daunting, Seiter decided to sacrifice $1600 of his budget to purchase three boxes and planned to buy another box every one or two years until he had six boxes before he would start the class.
Buzz about the class circulated among the department, and Seiter said students have been inquiring about the class on a regular basis.
Then here comes Kappa Kappa Psi
Seiter said. They asked me what would it take to get this class going
and of course I mentioned the tool boxes.
Seiter said Kappa Kappa Psi, a national band fraternity, came to him later and said it would donate enough to purchase three more tool boxes, tables, and chairs for the class.
Then they also organized a service project to empty out my storage closet down the hall in order to create an extra classroom
he said. They rented a U-Haul and everything.
Seiter said his initial response was one of utter astonishment and gratefulness.
This is definitely a dream come true
Seiter said. If it wasn't for them
