1985_02 The Daily Collegian February 1985

              4 The Daily Collegian
Feature
He works so musicans won't be sharp
taken over by computers and machines,
it's nice to see some old-time personalized
handiwork still alive and well.
Hidden back in Room 106 of the Music
techni
simply keeping the universities' instru¬
ments in top working condition. Which
isn't so simple.
Quitoriano works on all the instru¬
ments except pianos. This includes wood¬
wind, brass, string and percussive instru¬
ments. The repairs range from minor
changes to major overhauls. In all, he
must have a working knowledge of the
extensive sphere of instruments.
He also records concerts, recitals and
other musical performances for the depart¬
ment. The tapes are used by teachers to
critique performances and granduate
students use tapes of their recitals as a
The Bulldog Marching Band also fills
much of Quitoriano's time. He's in charge
of transporting much of the equipment to
Bulldog Stadium for use in halftime shows.
"For a 7:30 game, my day begins at 4
o'clock," said Quitoriano. "We're there
until everybody leaves because the athletic
department doesn't want us to bring in
the equipment truck until all the people
are out of the staduim."
"He
Departi)
"He has a very demanding job with the
responsibility of hundreds of thousands of
dollars of equipment. He gives extra time
without complaints and never refuses a
request for some service that might be
slightly  beyond  the  call  of duty."
Students also echo Irwin's feelings.
"Ron's a great guy and works well with
the music students here at Fresno State,"
said Sun Diebert, a former member of the
marching band.
"I enjoy working here," said Quitori¬
ano, a married man with two children.
"The young people have a fresh outlook
on life and are so enthusiastic about every¬
thing . We [faculty and staff] often forget
the main reason we're here—students. If 1
get grouchy when people come in every
minute and interrupt my work. I have to
tell myself, that's my job."
At that moment, a student stepped in
and asked Quitoriano for ideas in repair¬
ing and refinishing a marimba. Quitoriano
was very attentive to the student, asking
questions in return and offering several
pieces of advice. The student left with a
satisfied look.
Quitrfria
I been the musical
technician at the university
since 1971. He got his start in 1961 at the
old. M-V Music store in the Mayfair
Shopping Center.
"I did it [acquired experience] as an
apprentice," Quitoriano recalled. "I
worked a lot of years for very little pay to
get the knowledge. You have to have
somebody that's willing to spend time
with you. Unfortunately, there's not many
places you can get that kind of experience
anymore."
That may change this semester though.
Quitoriano has been enlisted to teach a
university extension course in basic instru¬
ment repair. Quitoriano says the class will
See Quitoriano, Page 8
News
February 1,1985 5
AP&P
Continued from Page 3
using the  plus-minus
"I think this is an issue upon which
system," he said. "It provides an expanded
and broadened view fot students in their
committment in classes that are heavily
enrolled."
"Secondly, it recognizes that students
not only come to CSUFfor enlightenment,
but to prepare for classes,"said Rogers. "1
dont think it's fair that students with
straight grades have to compete with
students at other schools that use the plus-
minus system. This grading standard
shows that we care about our students and
it seems to be more effective," he said.
According to a study done by the
Academic Standards and Grading sub¬
committee, there are currently 10 other
reasonable professionals and students can
disagree," said philosophy professor
Warren Kessler.
"You ought to be able to separate the
wheat from the chaff. I think plus-minus
will encourage more arguments over
grades. I would rather put the burden of
proof on thcatudents. Get your work up
to where ityso good the re's no doubt. I'm
not readjno embrace it with both arms,"
said Kessler.
"Our current system is imprecise and
inaccurate anyway," said Steve Bruhn,
AS senator. "If we can make it more
precise, it might better reflect our
performances.
"People take the GPAs we have right
now as being precise, and they're not," he
Quitoriano
Continued from Page 4
appeal to both teachers and students but
emphasized the importance of those
going into music teaching to have a basic
knowledge of repair. He hopes to see a lot
of interest in the course, but at the same
time wants the class size kept down.
"It's easy to explain how to do some¬
thing, but when you try to do it yourself,
it's a different story. There are 'how to*
manuals, but they're not the same thing. It
takes practice to make the repair look
good in a reasonable amount of time."
The toughest instruments to repair,
Quitoriano says, are the winds, which
include flute, clarinet, bassoon and saxa-
phone. Quitoriano considers the double
reed instruments (oboe and English horn)
to be the toughest when it comes to tech-
The invitation just said black tie.
Thanks to your friends,
you also wore a jacket and pants.
From fixing a 100-year-old bass to modern day band instruments, Ron QuHoriano
provides an "indispensable" service to the CSUF mask department. Quitoriano's
shop U located in the southeast corner of (be Music Building.
nical expertise. V
His first love is the complex and very
individual stringed instruments, one of
which he hopes to build in the future.
"It's [repair of stringed instruments] a
time honored skill that not many people
have," said Quitornio. "I would like to
build a cello from scratch. It would take a
couple of hours a day for about eight
months. That would really be an accom¬
plishment."	
CSUF Today
If you're trying to bring order to your
plans for a career in law, then join a new
club. Black Students in Law. The first
meeting is Feb. 4 in CU 312 at 3 p.m. For
more information, call professor Williams
at 294-2832.
There will be a physics seminar today at
2:10 p.m. in Science 174. Brian Bellis will
(peak on "Photoluminescence of Gallium
Arsenide." Everyone is welcome.
Fresno State's Women's swim team will
host defending Northern Pacific Con¬
ference Champion California and San
Jose this weekend.
The Bulldogs are 3-7 in dual i
ipetition. This is the last home m
ind will be at 11 a.m. at l
FSU pool located in the North Gym.