Piano time!

So, I scored a piano today!
Just a basic and plain upright piano. It is kind of beat up on the outside,
but inside, the strings appear to be strong, and there's no hammers or keys
missing. It's actually better sounding than my parents' piano that I had
always used when I was younger, since their piano has been almost condemned
by piano tuners, and they all said it needs to be restrung - at a fairly
high cost - but it would be well worth it to invest all that money in a
piano that is in extremely good shape for being an antique... So... I
figure I found a darn good deal, and the fact that it was free is even
better.
I was thinking, for a while, that I'd like to start piano lessons for B. I
enjoyed my piano-playing days, and he seems to have the ability to press one
piano key at a time, rather than hammer on the poor thing. (I was like
that, and so was my youngest brother, and I lasted about 12 years in
lessons, but my brother only a year or two.) My middle bro was one to
hammer on the piano and never showed the slightest interest in playing... So
since B seems to like to play random notes, I thought I'd try him out with
piano lessons in September, when he starts kindergarden... Only problem was,
there was no way I was able to afford a new or even used piano. The only
piano we really have access to is the one in my parents' living room, and
driving all the way across the city daily or every second day so Bran could
practice was something I was thinking might not work out so well.
It just so happened that this place a lady worked at (a senior's drop in
centre) had a piano they were getting rid of, so since it was free, I took
at shot at trying to get it. I guess there was about 10 people interested
in it and we able to haul it off. The lady asked anyone who was interested
to go down there and take a look at the piano because she said it was in
pretty rough shape and didn't want someone to commit to taking it then
feeling like they had to take it, once they saw it and thought it was a
piece of junk. I saw it and fell in love with it. I figure a good cleaning
and possibly, in the future, a new hobby of sanding and refinishing, might
do some good, but since inside it seems fine, I couldn't resist trying to
get my hands on this piano. The lady said to come between 1030am and 630pm
today, and I was there at about 1010 to wait until 1030 to hopefully be the
first one there and have the best shot. The lady then called me back later
in the afternoon and said that I was welcome to take the piano, and I nearly
jumped up and down for joy. I guess even now I'm still so excited about it!
I was literally praying that she would pick me for the piano, and sure
enough, she did!
But anyways, I was thinking I'd call around tomorrow to see if any piano
tuners give free estimates about the cost to tune it. It's not at all badly
out of tune, but, especially after moving it, it could definitely use a
tuning... If it won't break the bank, I might tune it up before September
and have it all set to go for Bran to try out piano lessons. Oooh... I'm
still all happy and excited about it!

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On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 05:56:31 GMT, "xkatx"
wrote:

So, I scored a piano today!

I'm so happy for you!

I got an electric one a few years back for D to practice on, and now
it's at her place. I'm really glad I did, because she loves music.

Nice going, Kat. I wish you were here, because I have a friend who is
a piano tuner.

Congratulations. :-)

Cele

"Cele" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 05:56:31 GMT, "xkatx"
wrote:

So, I scored a piano today!

I'm so happy for you!

I got an electric one a few years back for D to practice on, and now
it's at her place. I'm really glad I did, because she loves music.

I think music is great, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to take all kinds
of lessons. I wanted B to have that option and ability too, so now it's
just that much easier!

Nice going, Kat. I wish you were here, because I have a friend who is
a piano tuner.

LOL I am going to call around, I think. I might not like your friend,
though, IF your friend was anything like the piano guy my parents had in a
while back who said it would cost thousands of dollars to get their piano in
shape - and it was well worth it (even though we all know it is) My
dad's face got all red and little veins in his forehead popped out a bit,
don't forget the big veins in his neck... when the guy told him a few grand
to restring and tune and all that. haha If I'm told it's going to cost
thousands of dollars, I think I'll drop dead before I tell the piano person
to! I am very scared to call around, because I know it's so expensive,
but perhaps I might find a decent price, or maybe the piano isn't all that
bad!

Congratulations. :-)

Cele

"'Kate" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 05:56:31 GMT, "xkatx"
the following was posted in blue crayon:

So, I scored a piano today!

Wow! Excellent!
I see recitals in your future! Lots of recitals.

'Kate

Now I do too!
It's strange... I checked the phone book thinking there should be a variety
of piano tuners in the city to be able to price around and all that...
Unfortunately, there was one place listed under "Piano Tuning and Repairs" -
place wasn't open until 10, and I called at 9. I then looked under simply
piano and came up with very few results as well, most of them being in a
city 3 hours away. I found one guy, though, who tunes pianos! I thought
his rates weren't too bad, he said $90 - no tax - to tune an upright piano,
and worst case, if it's badly out of tune, it would be $120. I don't think
that's too bad, but then again, I have nothing to go by since piano tuning
is NOT my specialty, and there was no other place really to call to get an
estimate on the job.
With a tuned piano, and some lessons (I am able to teach, since I've got all
the courses and levels, but I just don't think I'd have the patience for my
own lol) I can't wait until he can play, hopefully, and we're off to
recitals! They were always fun for me when I was younger.
I'm thinking of waiting until we move. We will be out of here by July, so
since we'd have to move this piano by then anyways, I think we might just
wait until we move and settle since pianos should be tuned when moved.

So yes, this could be really good! Even if he ends up hating the piano, I
still have a love for it and I can always sit down just for fun, but I am
hoping he will enjoy it now and in the future.

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