I’m not really sure what tone this post should take. It could be sad or happy. The best word would be bittersweet, I guess.
The times they are a-changing, and with those time we too must change, make adjustments, and relinquish physical objects that hold many memories.
It was a big day at my parents’ house, Husby and I were there to give support and provide assistance. I could say it was the day the music died, but it’s more accurate to say it was the day the piano found a new home.
The piano cost $400 when it was purchased new. I have no idea what year that was. It was owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the nuns who taught school and gave the children of St. Mary’s school piano lessons inside the convent. Oh that convent! That’s another story though. The sisters eventually passed it on/sold it to my mom’s aunt and uncle. I have no idea how long they had it, but at some point, almost five decades ago the piano was given to my parents and found a place in my childhood home.
It’s an old piano and a very big one at that – a Stark upright grand. The room in which it was housed was dubbed “the piano room.” My mom played that piano for pleasure for many years and taught me and my sister how to play until we got so good we needed instructions from other people. Oh the countless scales I practiced, and moved from reading music for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to the works of Chopin, Bartok, Bach and many other great composers.
Alas, the time came when the piano room must once again become a bedroom, which it was before the piano arrived so many, many years ago. In order for it to become a bedroom again, the piano had to go. Away. Out of the house.
Skinny hallway
Donated to Keys for Kids, easier than selling and given to a wonderful charity, the piano left my childhood home. The moving guys were fabulous and did the job without a nick to the walls or dirt to the carpet, and in record time.
Piano movers amaze me. I know they do it every day, but still. One of the guys moving the piano injured his back on the last job – he got to carry the bench out to the truck. But he also got to be the spotter/reinforcement as the piano was wheeled down the ramp.
I had a little chat with one of the mover guys, telling him I learned to play on that piano. He told me a couple of stories about the pianos he’s moved. One was of an old woman who’s husband played, and when he died she donated the piano to Keys for Kids. She cried the whole time they moved that piano out of her house. It was as if the last remnant of her husband left her house with the piano. My heart nearly broke. The mover guy said they see lots of cases like this, and I feel like they’re compassionate and gentle when they move these pieces of history and personal attachment.
Away goes the piano of my youth. I wasn’t overly emotional about it as I have two pianos in own my house. The thing is, I haven’t played in years. I was damn good at the keyboard, and there’s no reason I shouldn’t bring more music to my house and to my life.
The digital. A college graduation gift from my entire family, which saved my sanity and brought me joy in hard times. Plus, it has a plug for headphones for practicing!
The big one. Similar to the one donated by my parents. This one was given to me by a friend who gave it to me for the cost of moving it from her house to mine. It’s not been tuned since I received it nearly twenty years ago. Who cares? It’s a lovely piece of furniture and sounds really old-timey.
This event, my witnessing and support of the removal of the piano of my childhood, has inspired me to take to the keyboard again while I’m able. Music is divinity, and I think my parents would be happy and proud to see me play again. After all, it was their piano that introduced me to the glory of music.
P.S. to Mom and Dad ~ After my time with you during the piano removal I saw a black squirrel run across my back yard. Seemed to be a sign. Diggy says make that room into a bedroom again. It’s right and good.
Music does fill our lives. Your words once again tell a beautiful story of another part of your life. Your words read like music to me. Love reading them. Nice there is a place for pianos that still have life. Other Sarah’s and CAmie’s will also learn
Nancy, you come from a family of musicians and you totally get it.
I’m really glad the piano is going to a nice place, as are my parents. You’re right – I can see some little children like me and Kami learning to play on that big musical instrument. How wonderful!
I love this! And am so glad you were there for moral support, as the piano moved on to a new life.
I said it wasn’t emotional, but it sure affected me…on many levels. Thanks for your support, Cindy. I know you’re the nostalgic sort too. You get it.
Thanks for sharing! I’m empathetic to your nostalgia. You should definitely renew your relationship with those keys! You were quite good as I remember, having attended a couple of your recitals! Music is life’s heart and soul! May I suggest your first piece be Heart and Soul? 😊
Ha! I’m pretty sure I could play Heart and Soul one note at a time. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Surely I need a lot of practice!
Retirement is not only finding new things to do, but rediscovering the things we used to do. That’s my lesson for today.
How lovely, and you’ve given the piano a lovely goodbye by posting about it here 🙂 I would love to be able to play the piano.
Thank you, Vanessa. I took to my own keyboard the other day and discovered playing the piano is definitely NOT like riding a bike! You and I are probably at the same skill level at this point – let’s (re)learn together!
I’ve had a couple of occasions over the years (and when I say “occasions” I mean periods of several months) where I’ve tried to teach myself the keyboard using some teach yourself guides, and I find I can get so far but then I get stuck and really would need a proper teacher to explain it, so then I get fed up and stop!
Hey, get this – I’m having some thoughts about the violin. I took a few lessons before I got married (20 years ago) but then stopped because, well, I was a newlywed. I’m thinking of trying it again, from scratch. All I need is to get my bow re-haired and will also try some kind of teach-yourself guide(s). If that ever happens I’ll be sure to blog about it. Surely hilarity will ensue.
Funnily enough, I took violin lessons when I was a kid. I wasn’t good though, I passed grade I, failed grade II, gave up.
Well, I hope you can at least enjoy music by listening to other people play! 🙂
Sara what a beautiful post my husband use to play the piano. When he played for me the first time I was smitten. He lost part of his finger in a work accident and now says its quite painful to play. So glad you are playing your piano and was touched by the donation to an awesome cause. I don’t have a musical bone in my body could never understand reading music.
Too bad about your husband not being able to play anymore. As for you, your talents lie elsewhere even if you can’t read music. It’s taking me a while to find a lot of satisfaction out of my renewed playing, but it’s fun taking that road to mastery.