https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:15:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2321997 Tue, 09 May 2023 17:28:17 +0000 Laurie 2321997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brava, Carla. Excellent story from start to finish, especially your musical accomplishments.</p> <p>I have to share a piano story....shortly after they were married in 1960, my parents chose the house they still live in because of a baby grand piano. My mother was a gifted concert pianist as a young woman but, though my father bought this piano, and tried to get her to continue her studies at Carnegie Mellon after they got married, she quit lessons and competition at age 22 and that was that.</p> <p>I feel like that piano was the root cause of so much discomfort to our whole family.&nbsp; The house is a small ranch, with 3 tiny bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen and a living room on the main floor (laundry in the basement). It was a tight fit for a family of 5. But, fully 2/3 of the square footage is wasted in the living room, solely to accommodate the piano! </p> <p>Yeah, my siblings and I all took lessons. We learned to read music, and I got to some level of accomplishment, but I hated to practice and didn't have any actual talent. Mom would play from time to time, late at night after we'd gone to bed, but that tapered off in the '70s. I had to dust that stupid piano twice a week!&nbsp; </p> <p>The piano was never tuned, at least since I can remember. It's beyond repair. Yet, it has prevented any rearranging of furniture, or consideration of home renovation for better living, over all these years.&nbsp; I cannot describe how dysfunctional the house has been at every stage of our/their lives. And, back to the point, this piano will go to the dump the day that house is finally sold.</p> <p>We have an upright that we bought used from the music dept of a local university many years ago. Our older son is extremely talented and still plays any time he is home. We keep it tuned - at least every 2-3 years at this point. I can still play, and every so often remember it is there and spend 30 minutes making sound. As soon as our son lives in a space large enough to fit the piano it will be his.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2320892 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:25:27 +0000 Anonymous 2320892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are always new piano students who would give their arm for a piano. &nbsp;I remember having to practice at an older neighbors and being so embarrassed at my beginning efforts and mistakes. &nbsp;A piano teacher knows who wants and needs a piano in any condition.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2320175 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:01:22 +0000 Cardiff girl 2320175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lovely story Carla.l am so impressed that you made grade eight!I am donating my old piano as well.Can’t sit for the length of time required to practice and become good.Have side stepped onto the clarinet as l can stand to play that.<br />You will have made a lot of people very happy with your donation.Now enjoy your new found space! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2320023 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 23:26:16 +0000 Barbara Diane 2320023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We gave our piano to a close friend’s cousin and her kids sent adorable thank you notes-the older a drawing of her playing the piano. So sweet. Sorry that you can’t play anymore but glad that it went to such a good home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319984 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:29:52 +0000 Suz 2319984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Carla</b>, how sad you can't play any more but what a wonderful outcome! It must feel good to know the instrument is going to a place where it will be well-loved. So many pianos meet a sad fate these days.&nbsp;</p> <p>Brava for the dedication and hard work and focus on craft you devoted to your music for so long.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319958 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:15:23 +0000 Peri 2319958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a piano teacher of almost 30 years I am so happy to read your story. First, because I love my adults students and feel they are the most fun part of my teaching schedule. And although the US doesn't widely go in for the grading program you are referring to (it is available, but not common), I know what you mean by grade 8 and think that is fantastic you were able to reach that level!</p> <p>Second, because you are right. There are so many unwanted pianos around and a lot of them do end up in the dump. One reason is that a piano requires routine work that a lot of people are unwilling to invest in, especially once it is not played regularly. What people don't realize is that an unloved piano can reach a point of no return and not be able to be brought back. At that point it becomes just a bulky piece of furniture. A piano has more moving parts than a car. They don't retain decades of value in the way that violins can if their owners aren't putting in the money to keep them in good condition.&nbsp;</p> <p>A result of that is that places that might take donations of used pianos just get flooded with requests from people to let them drop off what is basically junk. That explains the competition between 3 pianos trying to get in to that nursing home. They probably turned down many others outright. So glad to hear your's won. You obviously took good care of it and the nursing home will be so glad to have a good one.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm so sorry you can't play anymore and I can say for just about certain your teacher missed you when you moved. I'm glad you found a good solution for your piano to still have a good life.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319941 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:43:50 +0000 Dee 2319941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So glad your beloved piano has found a wonderful new home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319937 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:20:17 +0000 RobinF 2319937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm sorry that you can no longer play piano but what a happy ending! My Grandma played piano and organ as long as I knew her and moved her piano with her to various senior apartments. At her last one it wouldn't fit but there was one in the lounge and she played every afternoon for her fellow seniors. They all loved it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319929 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:32:34 +0000 Aquamarine 2319929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great ending for your piano! You can’t even give them away around here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319918 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:53:06 +0000 Anonymous 2319918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a good home for it! I have a very old electronic keyboard that I'm not using and probably should sell to make some space. But- I hadn't used my drums in years then unexpectedly started teaching them again- shrug. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319886 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 02:06:00 +0000 Bonnie 2319886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So glad your piano found a forever home. I've had three pianos. The first one was old and inexpensive, maybe $100, and like you I took lessons as an adult, first at the community college and later with an instructor for three years. I quit to go back to college for my masters, then moved and my daughter took my piano. She and her two children took lessons for two years but lost interest and now it sits in her living room as a decoration. I remarried and my husband bought me a nice new piano and I played it for several years for fun, just working on refining what I had been taught. Then we decided to buy a motorhome, retire, and travel full time. I was lucky enough to discover a piano mover/ piano teacher who gave it to one of his students so felt good about that. Our full time MH adventure lasted for seven years. Now we are settled and I have another piano bought from a neighbor. I'm back to working on learning to play, playing an hour a day. I've made good progress and have no idea what grade I'm working on but I know it's no where near grade 8. What happened to you is my fear, but so far I've lucky.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319861 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:24:52 +0000 Irina 2319861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Happy ending!<br />I had this dream for years to buy a piano for my DH. He played years ago. I imagined him playing it some quiet evenings. But it wasn’t his dream </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319860 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:17:31 +0000 Echo 2319860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We had an old (with ivory keys old) upright that we used primarily for decorating purposes. I played a little, and the kids enjoyed it when they were younger, but it was not in great condition, had been against a North wall of an older home (a cardinal sin for nice pianos) and it was unimaginably heavy.&nbsp;</p> <p>When we decided to redecorate the room into an office for my son, we gave the piano away to another couple who were looking more for a decoration than a playable instrument. I genuinely enjoyed the piano while we had it, and I genuinely enjoy having it gone now, so it served its purpose.</p> <p>I am SO glad you found a good home for yours. What a great thing for it to go to a place where it can make so many people happy! And good for you for pursuing a hobby and learning a new skill as an adult, too; that takes dedication and perseverance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319848 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 23:05:55 +0000 rachylou 2319848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How nice it will have a good home! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319843 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 22:32:36 +0000 LJP 2319843@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well that *is* a happy/ier ending to that story, one I know all too well. &nbsp;I had to give up my beloved Heintzman upright when I got married and moved into our first mini-house (although my mother kept it for me for a few years in case I miraculously &nbsp;moved into a giant house with a giant front door that could accommodate it ) . &nbsp;It ended up being sold maybe 10 years later (hmm, I wonder where that $ went ? ) &nbsp;, and I miss having a piano every day of the week. &nbsp;I bought an electronic keyboard at one point, but it's just not the same, you know? &nbsp;I had a vague dream/plan to teach piano lessons when I retired .......</p> <p>Glad you get to redecorate around a new concept - that will be fun &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319836 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:56:53 +0000 kkards 2319836@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love a happy ending, even if it is a little bittersweet. &nbsp;<div>Love the idea of a reading room/library&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319832 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:40:46 +0000 Angie 2319832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Olive Green</b> said it so perfectly, <b>Carla</b>! </p> <p>It's admirable that you learned to play an instrument as an adult, and stuck with it for many years. You are talented and tenacious :)</p> <p>LOVELY that you found a fab home for your piano. It's good closure for this chapter of your life. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319830 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:30:20 +0000 Olive Green 2319830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aww. The very best outcomes. Congrats and condolences on letting go of a dream and moving on. I admire people with any musical talent, how amazing you learned as an adult! That takes so much time to master a skill.&nbsp;<br />And now I want a reading room.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-new-home-for-my-piano%e2%80%a6#post-2319829 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 21:25:33 +0000 Carla 2319829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I learned to play the piano as an adult. &nbsp; A lovely Yamaha upright came into my life as a 20th anniversary present and I took lessons for 12 years - progressing to grade 8 repertoire before I started to have trouble with my fingers due to an autoimmune condition. &nbsp;When I couldn’t play due to sore fingers and band-aides, I worked on my theory. &nbsp;I enjoyed my lessons and the interactions with my music teacher so much! &nbsp;When I relocated 9 years ago I could still play off and on, but the last 3 years, hardly at all.<div><br /></div><div>Realizing my piano playing days were over, and hearing stories about pianos ending up in dumps, I started looking for a home for my instrument. &nbsp;This week I learned my piano was chosen (out of 3 contenders!) by the music committee at an assisted living home, and the piano movers are coming for it on Friday.&nbsp;</p> <p>I am donating the piano, but will be provided with a tax receipt when it gets appraised by the tuner. &nbsp;I’m a little sad, a lot relieved, and happy, too when I learned that the piano players at the home are&nbsp;<i>very&nbsp;</i>excited about the piano!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now to make a few changes to the music room, which will now become the reading room/library.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p>