Idyllic Chick

My friend Celena is getting a piano soon! Hurrah! Blogless Knitter Julie says that no home with a child should be without a piano. Mine wasn't. Celena asked me about my piano playing days, and this is what I wrote to her:

Heheh... I played the piano years and years ago. I took lessons from 3rd grade until 9th grade, when it wasn't really cool to be doing that kind of thing any more. I did ok, but I don't feel that my teacher pushed me enough. After taking 6 years of lessons, I ended up on, I'd say, about a 3rd or 4th year level. There were two piano teachers in our little town. One was mean and produced fantastic players. The other was very nice, and (I now realize) kind of left you at your own pace. My pace, not being the studying sort of gal, was very, very slow. But I think I'm better off for it, and she had these lovely little tea parties at Christmas time with petite-fours and spiced tea. =)

My piano is nothing short of fucking gorgeous. I believe it was 50-100 years old when my parents bought it for me (Counts on fingers) 30 years ago. It's an upright with a carving of leaves or something in the center. Not sure of the brand. I'll definitely check that out when I'm home in May. I remember my parents (Neither of which had ever touched a musical instrument in their lives.) took the whole thing apart themselves and spread the pieces out on a blanket in the driveway. They stripped the wood, then stained and lacquered it all. My mother had to dig the old lacquer out of the bas relief with a toothpick. They put it back together, and sent all the keys out for refurbishing. When those came back, they had a guy come install new strings and insides. It still looks fabulous, and really just needs to be tuned up.

My dad has always told me that when I have my own house I can take the piano. And I do intend to do just that. I know the perfect place to put it in my living room, but there's a big loom in the way. ;)

Labels: Navel Gazing