 sj |
||
|
||
Pianos:What a Waste!
|
|
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: JohnInKansas Date: 02 Sep 11 - 01:22 PM LiK not too long ago was fatally attracted to an old '40s era "electronic organ" at an estate sale and insisted on having it. Two husky young bystanders volunteered to use my furniture movers' dolly to roll it out, and were able to "lift" it down the few steps to the drive, but I very much doubt they'd have been able to get it up to the truck bed (about a 38" lift). At the time I had a "yardarm hydraulic hoist" installed in the truck, and successfully(?) hoisted it in, although it nearly uprooted the hoist. At home I "tipped it off" onto a 12 foot ramp that was handy, onto the drive, and used a cable hoist (2 Ton rating) to "winch it up" the scooter ramp I'd installed for Lin's scooter. After she "tried it out" for about a half hour, her enthusiasm for having it in the way never waned, but her enthusiasm for playing it evaporated almost immediately. When we moved to the (much smaller) new house, I managed to use the same hoist, cable winch, ramps, and a trailer to move it into and out of storage, and it ended up sitting out on the front patio slab under a big tarp. When we considered trying to offer it for sale, we found multiple ads (eBay etc.) offering to pay someone to take similar ones (but of course not offering to pay for shipping.) My daughter found a "friend" who agreed to give it a home, and he appeared with a female friend to help. The two of them "tipped it in" to load it in the back of a mid-sized Mini-SUV. She did most of the lifting. I was impressed. The benefit for me(?) of the whole episode is that even Lin could see the "inadequacy" of my $95 hydraulic hoist, and agreed to investing the $2.6k for a hydraulic tailgate for our "big" truck, so we're now a bit better equipped to manage (some of) our infirmities when the needs to move "stuff" arise. The need will not include moving another electronic organ, although I might consider helping with a small piano or refrigerator. (I can lift it to where you can roll it into your truck if you promise to disappear with it quickly.) John |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Nick E Date: 02 Sep 11 - 12:25 AM They flew Airplains into our pianos |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: katlaughing Date: 02 Sep 11 - 12:17 AM Nigel, beautiful...thanks. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: ChanteyLass Date: 02 Sep 11 - 12:05 AM I have an upright piano which I don't play. I had some lessons as a child, but my teacher wanted me to play classical and I wanted to play pop. My parents never thought that maybe another teacher would be better for me at that time. My son preferred to play trombone which I encouraged because of the opportunities he would (and did) have in the high school band. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever decide to relearn to play the piano, perhaps when life becomes more sedentary. Recently my local YMCA acquired a spinet piano and placed it in the "Welcome Center" with a sign inviting members and staff to entertain us. Sometimes I have heard good sounds. At other times young children have pecked or pounded the keys, but maybe that will lead somewhere for them. Most delightful is seeing a child attempting to play and having someone with more experience encourage the child and give spontaneous mini-lessons. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Nigel Parsons Date: 01 Sep 11 - 10:20 AM A "Piano Sanctuary". And, as night falls beyond the softly curtained windows, the young uprights start jostling gently for their place by the fire. The 'grands', and great-grands at the periphery, with their Victorian taffetta covered legs remind the youngsters of the dangers fire holds, both for their woodwork, and the tension of their heartsrings. Slowly darkness & silence fall ... |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,glueman Date: 06 Oct 10 - 10:17 AM Not just pianos. Analogue photographic gear is almost at giveaway prices. Ebay recently had a 5 x 4" wall mounted cold cathode enlarger with every conceivable lens and accessory down to 35mm. The seller wanted £170 and offered to deliver. Ten years ago it would have cost the price of a new car. Good job some of us aren't seduced by the lure of digital. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 06 Oct 10 - 10:11 AM Sorry if I misunderstood you, your last sentence was rather provocative. Lets forget it Take care Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Ed Date: 06 Oct 10 - 09:16 AM Very clever Ed It wasn't an attempt at being clever. I think we misunderstand each other here, which is a shame. All the best, Ed |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 06 Oct 10 - 08:31 AM Very clever Ed but if you walk around my house some of the furniture is hand made by me.Other furniture has been renovated by me. Some I have inherited. A house can be decorated very cheaply it just depends on how much you want to put in it, which was my point. Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Ed Date: 06 Oct 10 - 07:32 AM In these times for minimalistic appearances (not my choice ) I'm sorry Alan, but some of us have 'minimalistic appearances' because we've no money to do otherwise. It's not our choice either, but we've not been as blessed as you. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 06 Oct 10 - 07:28 AM Al, I agree only in the case of the Grand. An upright can be used as a side table, the space for the stool can be used otherwise while nobody is playing. (Some use the stool as a table as well, which keeps them from playing ...) For many people I know the problems are: 1) neighbours (90%) 2) transport (5%) 3) expenses for purchase, repairs, and tuning (5%). Those who really want to play and have no space for an upright are very poor indeed. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:50 AM The whole problem is their size.A Grand piano is a lovely instrument and wonderful to look at, but you need a Georgian House with a large room to set it off and give you room to walk past it.Even an upright needs a bit of space with a stool in front of it. In these times for minimalistic appearances (not my choice ) people are going for an expanse of nothing but the bare essentials.In some houses if you stand still long enough you are dropped of at the local tip. Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: the lemonade lady Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:34 AM The Piano has gone. My daughter found a friend who wanted it. Her boyfriend and a friend arrived with a trailer, shifted the Piano in 2 minutes, lashed it down and were gone! Sal |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Tattie Bogle Date: 05 Oct 10 - 11:34 AM Well our piano tuner was in just the other day, and says our trusty upright is getting beyond any improvement in its action unless we spend a lot of money on it. It tunes up nicely, but rings on as the felts are wearing out. It cost us £100 second-hand 30 years ago, so has probably paid for itself. Our first tuner reckoned it was about 1920s vintage. But I still like the sound it makes, and would think it sacrilege to smash it up or burn it. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 03 Oct 10 - 07:14 PM QUOTE There are all kinds of different "touches" to various keyboards UNQUOTE That was indeed the whole point of the 'piano-forte creation industry' - the historical development from the harpsichord/etc to instruments where the strings where hit with a hammer, is a fascinating story with a massive number of varying patented complex designs in order to allow the player to control the rate and force with which the strings can be struck, whilst allowing the hammer to be instantly cleared to allow the strings to resonate unmuffled, then muffle the strings when the key is released. Some mechanisms were adulated over others, and priced accordingly. Sad that a whole branch of human ingenuity is now considered so worthless (as is that of many other areas, like creating the perfect pen nib for writing with ink) as to be only fit to destroy - I shudder when ignorant louts applaud it - just like when they burn books. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 03 Oct 10 - 06:23 PM QUOTE There are all kinds of different "touches" to various keyboards UNQUOTE That was indeed the whole point of the 'piano-forte creation industry' - the historical development from the harpsichord/etc to instruments where the strings where hit with a hammer, is a fascinating story with a massive number of varying patented complex designs in order to allow the player to control the rate and force with with the strings can be struck, whilst allowing the hammer to be instantly cleared to allow the strings to resonate muffled, then muffle the strings when the key is released. Some mechanisms were adulated over others, and priced accordingly. Sad that a whole branch of human ingenuity is now considered so worthless (as is that of many other areas, like creating the perfect pen nib for writing with ink) as to be only fit to destroy - I shudder when ignorant louts applaud it - just like when they burn books. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Don Firth Date: 03 Oct 10 - 02:55 PM My wife, Barbara, is a fine pianist. But unfortunately, the living room of our apartment is too small to accommodate a piano. No room for even a fairly small spinet. And, of course, there are the neighbors to consider. She can keep her hand in sporadically by practicing on the very nice baby grand at a nearby church in the church's off-hours. She plays Chopin beautifully, Beethoven, Mozart, and all kinds of other good stuff. We do have enough room for an electric keyboard (one that sits on a stand, but can be unplugged and put away when not in use), and I am encouraging her to investigate them. I would surprise her by getting one for her, but I would not attempt to buy her such an instrument without her having tried it and approved it first. There are all kinds of different "touches" to various keyboards, and I'd want her to have one that feels and responds like a real piano and that she will enjoy practicing on. She likes the baby grand at the church because it has a rich, full sound, and she describes it as being "very responsive" and the action is "butter-soft." I agree with what Howard Jones said at 23 Sep 10 - 07:32 a.m. One of the nicest sounding 12-string guitars I've ever heard was made by a New York luthier out of wood he salvaged from an old mansion that was being demolished to make room for a new high-rise apartment building, and they were taking all that fine old wood out an burning it. He snuck onto the site in the middle of the night and made off with all the wood, like mahogany door panels and such, that he could carry before it could be tossed on the fire. Then he turned it into an extraordinary guitar. The idea of having some sort of "piano-burning festival" strikes me as the very depths of crudity and stupidity. Judging from posts that particular individual has put on other threads, I'd say he is one sick puppy!! Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: MikeL2 Date: 03 Oct 10 - 02:12 PM hi Reading this thread and particularly the piece about burning pianos... In my younger days I used to play rugby. One year we had a French club as our visitors of the Easter Holiday. After the match as usual the beer flowed freely, during which the singing of rugby songs started. This was a cue for one of our french guests to get up and "play" the old upright piano that we had in the clubroom. He was so bad that one of his own side opened the top of the upright and inserted some newspaper in an effort to try to muffle the sound. This did not work so he set fire to the paper which caught fire almost instantly. Six husky French forwards lifted the blazing piano and headed for the door to get it outside. The "pianist" went with them walking along still playing the now furiously blazing instrument. I suppose he was playing some hot music...lol Stupid I know but is is true and indicative of what stupid things some rugby clubs got up to ....!!! Cheers Mikel2 |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: olddude Date: 03 Oct 10 - 12:07 PM I still have quite a big of solid mahogany in my basement from the one I busted up ... I think Spaw should make a couple of autoharps out of it for his kids ... what do you say spaw ... want some? |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 02 Oct 10 - 09:22 PM I have made a good number of artworks from old piano plates you can visit them in our art environment http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/envorn/outback/The%20Hutman%20Artcar%20Gallery%20and%20Art%20Garden.html scroll down for piano plates several of them Enjoy! Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: the lemonade lady Date: 02 Oct 10 - 11:19 AM It actually looks like this , well it did till we started to dismantle it! sal |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: frogprince Date: 01 Oct 10 - 11:14 PM If I'm not mistaken, the symetrically(sp?) matched wood on that piano has to be solid slabs; I shudder to think what it would cost to get wood like that now. I would consider that a real piece of woodworking art. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 01 Oct 10 - 12:14 AM The coded cryptic comment by garg means - among other things - if you cut the link back to just http://my.opera.com/katroglaf/albums/ you can see - ooooooo... and if you cut it back to http://my.opera.com/katroglaf/ you get http://my.opera.com/katroglaf/about/ but I suspect that is really what my.opera intended... |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 30 Sep 10 - 11:52 PM LafKat...
I understand...I have NEVER told you before....
But.... review the link you have posted and see
Sincerely,
font color=red> ALWAYS - cross reference ... Ms. Sale taught me the hard way into the Abby. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 30 Sep 10 - 04:11 AM Sadly ,as Graham says it does not play as well as it looks ,but a lovely piece of furniture. Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: katlaughing Date: 29 Sep 10 - 08:52 PM What a gorgeous piano it is! I'll have to ask Joe for the login and pw for the Mudcat album as I've forgotten it, sorry, BUT I did go ahead and put the pix in my Mudcat album HERE. What a bargain for such beauty! Thanks, Alan. kat |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:58 PM Just got your PM Katlaughing Pictures on the way Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:50 PM Just sent it to Joe See if you like it. Now in Graham's House looking lovely He nearly did not get it.Well worth £50 at Auction Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: katlaughing Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:42 PM Al, you could sent it to Joe Offer or me and we could put it in the Mudcat Album at MyOpera.com, if you'd like. Joe's addy is, I think, joe@mudcat.org and I'll PM you mine. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: olddude Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:41 PM Busted mine up with a mall ... what a pain that was, gave the ivory to one of our catters .. still have some parts in the basement to get rid of as soon as I get some muscle that can carry them |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:19 PM I always thought that pianos were almost impossible to tune, which is why equal temperament was invented. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:34 PM Sal I can send you the picture of Graham's piano if it would be useful. Not sure how to post it here sadly Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:14 PM I've been looking for a good piano for ages. It seems that 'good' ones are actually quite expensive, whilst less than good ones you can't give them away. Alan Day found me a very nice looking piano in an auction a while ago, which we got for 50 quid. It's very pretty to look at, but won't stay in tune - wooden frame - so I just keep it as a nice piece of furniture. A lot of pianos are actually quite ugly, particularly the black ones, and are quite overbearing in most modern living rooms, which is one of the reasons that people don;t want them anymore. However,this offloading has been going on relentlessly since the 60s. I remember when I was at school in the mid-60s, the school used to have an annual fete, and one of the sideshows was the Smash a Piano contest. You used to pay a shilling and get to have a go with a sledgehammer. This was very popular and in order to have enough pianos to last all day, the school used to take donations from people in the couple of months beforehand. They were stored in the bike sheds until the fateful day, and there were usually 20 or so in there. My mate John Lewis (who later found fame as Jonah Lewie) and I used to play them during the lunchtime and there were several impromptu groups that were formed in that bike shed. John was an amazingly talented musician and could play literally anything on the old joanna, as well as being a dab hand on the guitar. We had some great fun in those sessions. It's amazing that there are still pianos being chucked out some 45 years later. You'd have thought they would have all gone by now. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: the lemonade lady Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:59 PM THE PIANO: the story continued... My local newspaper is now interested. An interview and pic in the offing! Sal |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Alan Day Date: 24 Sep 10 - 01:51 PM The American Contra Dance piano playing style I really enjoy.The Jody Kruskal recordings introduced me to this special style of playing. I have seen some wonderful upright and Grand pianos sold at auction for next to nothing , some wonderful makers names like Broadwood (Lucy's Family)seem to be ignored now. The old pub piano formed part of the Wartime memories ,the old sing songs.Very sad to see it all gradually die away. Al |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Ron Davies Date: 23 Sep 10 - 11:56 PM "..,pretty wealthy and pretty fussy..." Or pretty traditional--as far as classical music is concerned. If you have no interest in classical music, it's certainly understandable you might not be interested in a real piano. But for anything from Beethoven to Joplin, I can't imagine being satisfied with anything but the real thing. I do agree that for most folk-oriented groups--unless you include jazz under folk-- the piano doesn't have much a role to play. But, as has been pointed out, good used pianos can be had for a reasonable price these days--partly since the interest in the real thing is going down. What often is a make-or break is transportation. As usual in such questions, it's a question of priorities---and to some extent, of neighbors (if you don't have a single-family house.) |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Midchuck Date: 23 Sep 10 - 07:02 PM If you have to destroy an older piano, check if the keys are actual ivory tops. Lot o' potential guitar saddles there. Peter |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Joe_F Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:37 PM My best buddy gave me a fancy keyboard (Casio). It has all 88 keys. It sounds & feels like a real piano, near as I can tell. It was expensive, but cheaper than a real one of equal quality. I have house room for it. I can lift it by myself (barely). It has a volume control *and* headphones (no need to worry about the neighbors). It can be set to transpose into any key. I wish such a thing had existed while my mother was alive. It seems to me you have to be pretty wealthy and pretty fussy to want a real piano these days. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: PoppaGator Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:51 PM Times have sure changed. Back in the mid-80s when the kids were little, we bought a little old-fashioned acoustic wooden spinet. After a year or two during which no one learned to play it (inlcuding me), we were a little short of cash and sold it for the same price that we had paid for it. Nowadays, apparently, you can't give the dang things away! A waste, and a shame, indeed. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Ernest Date: 23 Sep 10 - 12:50 PM Try an advertisement: "Piano for Sale - or swap for Banjo*" and see what happens..... *= feel free to substitute the word "Banjo" with "Accordion", "Bodhran", "recording of W. Shatner" etc. ;0) Ernest |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 23 Sep 10 - 09:28 AM Recycling materials is a good idea, but it's much more important to use things while they are still good; that is Acorn's concern. The 'net gives us poweful means of communication that are not yet used adequately for second-hand trade. A general problem is that second-hand shopping is still considered a sign of poverty or stinginess, unless the objects are antiquities. Ebay etc., while trying to solve the problem, create others. For pianos, the expensive transport is an objective impediment. However, there is a good chance that a school or a church two blocks away badly needs a piano, but does not know about yours. "Public pianos" as mentioned above are an excellent idea. Also, unused factory halls could be divided into small soundproof practising cells to be rented by half-hours, including a little library of sheet music. Not only instruments are being wasted, but also opportunities of creative enjoyment. Let's change that! |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Howard Jones Date: 23 Sep 10 - 07:32 AM If a piano truly cannot be fixed then I agree with Will - recycle the wood into something else, preferably another musical instrument. Good quality, well-seasoned stable wood is hard to come by, and expensive - why burn it? The soundboards of one of my concertinas are made from mahogany reclaimed from display cabinets which were being thrown out by a museum. Beautiful wood which would simply have gone to waste. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Acorn4 Date: 23 Sep 10 - 07:13 AM I'd agree that the piano only has a limited use in folk music, but a load of us are interested in other types of music as well; it's more on the sheer waste of such fine instruments. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 23 Sep 10 - 06:57 AM Burning a poorly un tunable un fixable piano is like a viking funeral. We first have an accomplished musician attempt to play it as best he can. Then we do chants and hold a torchlit procecession. A great way to go The plate is recycled into artowrk. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: banjoman Date: 23 Sep 10 - 06:19 AM A friend phoned and asked for help moving a piano upstairs. By the time I got there he said it had already been done. I asked him how on earth he had managed to shift a heavy old piano up a flight of stairs and he replied "I hitched the cat to it" When I asked how he had managed to induce a cat to pull a piano upstairs he replied "Easy, I used a whip" I own an old Wurlitzer Piano - yes a piano- and again I would love it to go to someone who would play it and look after it -it needs one lifter replacing but its in tune and always has a bucket of water kept inside. When I tried to sell it I was told it was worthless. It may be one of tomorrows antiques as its already 40 years old |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Suegorgeous Date: 23 Sep 10 - 06:02 AM Sadly, it seems my local Play Me I'm Yours piano got burned by vandals Play me (burn me?) ... The films on pages 3 and 2 say it all. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,The Villan Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:56 AM Piano's in the folk scene, always takes me back to this beautiful song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PZDD_Zt6MA |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Howard Jones Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:42 AM I do struggle with pianos in "folk" music. I also know what you mean, although I don't entirely agree. I think it comes from the Cecil Sharp arrangements I was forced to sing to at school, which seem rather over-arranged and "classical". I wasn't interested in folk music at the time, and these didn't help. And of course, before electronic keyboards their lack of portability was a problem, and you couldn't rely on a folk venue having a piano in playable condition. However the piano did have a role in traditional music, Daisy Bulwer being perhaps the best-known example. There are a number of examples of excellent players amongst revival musicians whose playing enhances the music. Like any instrument, it depends very much on how it's played - not just the musician's technical skill, but also their understanding of the music. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Suegorgeous Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:38 AM My guru - think you may mean this? Play me, I'm yours and Street pianos |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,The Villan Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:22 AM Acorn When I was running Faldingworth Live, we had a piano there, which was hardly used, but in the way. We tried to sell it, then give it away. Nobody was interested. So a builder friend picked it up and I wouldn't like to know what it was used for. You might be able to get somebody interested here http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-forums/viewforum.php?f=4 |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: My guru always said Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:20 AM About 6 months ago there I saw an article somewhere about Pianos being set up in public places in London and left out for people to play. They were decorated to reflect the places where they were situated. Anyone remember that? |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Will Fly Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:55 AM Firewood is useful - that's the point. Just burning for it's own sake is different again. Old woods from things like pianos or chests of drawers or other furniture - made when furniture was constructed from real wood and not MDF - can sometimes be used by luthiers (for example). The neck of my tenor guitar is mahogany from an old Edwardian wardrobe, and very nice it is too. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Ed Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:44 AM Bob Dylan and Martin Carthy famously chopped up an old piano for firewood. If it's good enough for them... |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Will Fly Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:31 AM I do struggle with pianos in "folk" music. I know what you mean. I've always had that kind of feeling. However, when I bought some recordings of Jerry Holland, the late great Cape Breton fiddler, the accompaniment on many of the tracks was piano and guitar - and it worked! The fiddle player in our ceilidh band tells me that the use of piano in Cape Breton fiddling is very common. It's also used to great effect by Phil Cunningham when playing with Aly Bain in the Transatlantic Session. So - like everything else - if done well... As for piano burning - a doltish, childish thing. If a piano is truly beyond refurbishment, then good re-use of the wood and material is always possible. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,HelenJ Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:29 AM I have a piano but rarely play it. Can't relate to the bass any more since I've changed to a piano accordion - no buttons there! |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Banjiman Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:18 AM We have one in the garden...... the insides make an unusual sculpture! I got rid of all the bits that came off easily and now it sits there in it's naked glory. Best place for it I think, I do struggle with pianos in "folk" music. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Howard Jones Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:16 AM #1Peasant has already revealed his ignorance at considerable length on this thread - and on several others. It comes as no surprise to find him making stupid comments on here. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Mrs.Duck Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:00 AM I bought a beautiful old upright about 15 years ago and actually had lessons for a while but then ran into the usual problems of lack of time for practice, kids etc. We now find it is just used to collect rubbish on but it breaks my heart to think that the £800 paid will just be thrown away. Unfortunately the house just isn't big enough to keep it as an ornament and none of the children have shown any interest in it. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Andy Jackson Date: 23 Sep 10 - 03:23 AM Hey Sal if I was nearer I'd be up for that!! Not flytipping a community concious gesture. Wizzo wheeze. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: the lemonade lady Date: 23 Sep 10 - 03:14 AM Chrissie! Hello there, it's me, Sally [Angie's mate]. It crossed my mind to fly tip the piano and leave it in a bus shelter! Anyone naughty enough to help me? Sal |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,chrissie gladwin Date: 23 Sep 10 - 12:34 AM There are things I have never ever done ...run over a wild animal or bird; eaten a pot noodle; worn vest tops with spaghetti straps; cycled through red lights; smashed a piano |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Ebbie Date: 23 Sep 10 - 12:28 AM Thanks, kat and Ron. Burning a piano does not come under the heading of fun or anything remotely lighthearted. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: katlaughing Date: 22 Sep 10 - 11:15 PM I agree, Ron. In my family it would be sacrilegious to even think of doing such a thing. Rockhen, I *wish!* You've painted a lovely picture...maybe someone will run with it? When my sister visited Italy, she bought a piece of artwork which is really beautiful. It was an ivory piano key which had a beautiful miniature painting on it of a pastoral scene. The whole thing was matted and framed in a beautiful gilt frame. At least an old piano lived on, in a way, through the beauty of art. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Ron Davies Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:50 PM I agree with the OP that it's shame pianos are not better appreciated. Sure advances in digital keyboards are making the sound more and more similar (and giving other options)--but there will never be anything like a real 88-note piano. Even though I only get a chance to practice about 20 minutes a day, I can't imagine settling for anything else. And burning pianos is heresy. It hurts to even think about it. Can't quite see why some people think they have to establish their mental toughness by reveling in it. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,BanjoRay Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:27 PM A friend of mine in University years ago acquired an old upright, and he drove his flatmate mad by playing it badly at all hours. The flatmate comandeered it for a piano smashing competition, where the whole thing was passed through a six inch ring in as short a time as possible. My friend was not impressed..... Ray |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Rockhen Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:30 PM How weird, my message crossed with yours, Tattie Bogle, yet I appeared to reply to you! PM me for more info re my piano if interested in knowing more about this type. I know of 4 people who tried mine then went and bought one, so it is worth considering. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Rockhen Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:26 PM I use a Casio Privia stage piano for gigging. It is comparatively light, I can carry it in its case, on my own and the case has wheels. It is also a lot cheaper than most electric pianos...Anyone who doesn't eat a lot of spinach (like Popeye, so isn't into weightlifting, should go and try one, to see.) It is not the same as an acoustic one but it is pretty close. I will never willingly get rid of my tatty, old, much-loved upright piano, though. I heard of one piano owner who wrote down info about who had played the piano over the years and kept it in a little notebook inside the top of it. Lovely reading for someone inheriting it, hopefully another piano lover! Katlaughing...have you got a big house with lovely room for lots of pianos? (Hopeful smile?!) What a great place, a piano sancturary would be, for pianists to visit, entrance fee would be worth it if all the pianos were kept tuned, wow, themed cafe with piano patterned crockery and everything...I can see it now...nope I haven't been drinking, just had a long day...I'll get me coat, (I think I left it on the piano stool...) |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Tattie Bogle Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:25 PM What is even more sad than totally unwanted pianos is the number that are out there that are never tuned. I've been to 2 festivals recently where there was an upright piano on site, which I would have played had they been even remotely in tune. of course, you also see folk shunting them around the room to make room for more chairs or whatever - which is bound to upset the tuning still further. So I'm currently sussing out digital stage pianos: anyone recommend a good one? |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:44 PM My friend's MOOG just seems to appriciate....the tubes alone are worth more than the total.
Sincerely,
You would make back your "investment" by offering piano lessons....after first paying a tuner 20 quid. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: katlaughing Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:40 PM Rockhen, I love the idea of a piano sanctuary! We had a beautiful cherry wood spinet, bought brand-new on a rent first then buy program. Moved it from Wyoming to Massachusetts. Whilst back East, it was moved five times, then we had it moved back to WY from Connecticut. It saved my sanity so many times, to be able to just sit down and run through some of my favourites. I really loved that piano. In my family, having a piano was just an expected part of life...each family had one and all took piano lessons, though my kids didn't. Anyway, when we moved in with our dau. and put everything in storage for a couple of years, my Rog talked me into selling it. (Really, he didn't get to the point where he said I "had" to, he's never done that with anything, but I knew I had to let go of some biggies...the piano, the antique dining table, chairs, and small buffet, and a unique, antique wooden desk. The piano was the only one of them I sold, the rest went to good homes.) A piano repairer drove all the way to Casper from Rock Springs in stormy, early winter to buy my piano; he was going to tune it up, etc. and resell it. I still miss that piano. We have an inexpensive, but good, keyboard and it has enough octaves to give me something to play, but it is NOT the same. We don't really have room for one and, practically, a keyboard makes sense as we want to produce more of my brother's music and we can make a whole orchestra with one of them!:-) Good luck with finding a good home for your piano, Acorn4. katsortofsad |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:40 PM pathe news reel site has a news reel of a massive piano burning |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Suegorgeous Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:39 PM There are always one or two at any time on my local Freecycle. I'd get one myself if I had the space - to entice visitors to play on, I don't play myself. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:33 PM Jeez!..I have a 1989 Technics PCM3, It is electronic, but weighs over 350 lbs!!. When they came out, in 1989, they cost $26,000.00. I got mine for a LOT cheaper, though. It sorta looks like an abbreviated Grand Piano. It is NOT very portable, and when I do rare live gigs, THEY must provide transport for it, from my basement studio, or it's no go!..However, It's action is the best I've played for a synth, and has a 32 bit sample of a Steinway Full Grand...and is the preferred keyboards for The Monterrey Jazz Festivals...still, it is a pain in the ass, to move from here to there!!! .......................................but I love it! GfS |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Bobert Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:23 PM I used to have an ol' upright and had to move it 3 times... 1st time??? No problem... All my friends came over and, well, it wasn't fun but we got it done... 2nd time??? Called same friends and found alot of pushback so I threw in pizza and beer and we got it done... 3rd time??? Not enough pizza and beer in the world... Left it there for the new renters to bang on.... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:18 PM The cost of bringing an old piano up to snuff scares most people away from used pianos, unless they have been professionally reconditioned and guaranteed. We have an old upright grand in the basement. Needs soundboard work. May reclaim the wood, which is solid mahogany. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Rockhen Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:01 PM I went in an antiques shop in York and counted at least 7 pianos all covered in dust and other goods piled upon them. I think it is really sad that pianos are thrown away because of their impracticality. I wonder if they will one day become rare and valuable, because there are so few. There are so many children who would love a piano but the sheer size and weight of them just make it impossible for many families. I love my old upright piano, even though it is a pain to keep in tune. I am so lucky to have a very understanding family and some strong-armed people who helped move it from my Maybe someone with a very big house could start a piano sanctuary? :-( |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Joe_F Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:53 PM When I was an undergraduate at Caltech, there was a sport called piano reduction, in which it was determined which of two teams could more quickly reduce a junked piano to pieces that could be passed thru (I think it was) a 12-inch hoop. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: treewind Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:49 PM 10 years ago we Freecycled an upright piano because there wasn't room in the house for it. Mary's sons both learnt to play on it, and it went to another family whose daughter was learning the piano. Meanwhile we have a Yamaha digital stage piano which goes out on proper gigs, and a cheap and nasty Casio keyboard for trying things out (but not recording) in the studio. The trouble is, you can buy an upright piano for £1000 or a digital piano for the same price, and the digital will sound as good as the upright, stay in tune and still sound as good five years later. And if you use headphones it won't annoy the neighbours. There's nothing quite like the mechanics of a real piano though. I never feel the urge to switch on an electric piano and tinker around with music on it like I used to do incessantly with a real one. Anahata |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:41 PM They make good fires! Have an event and sell tickets! http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7FBbGL3w0Eo/Su2AKMdY0HI/AAAAAAAAA6w/xzzkuGykpIc/s1600-h/PIANO15.JPG piano fire for the entire series go here http://hutmanspeasantworld.blogspot.com/2009/11/piano-bonfire-103109.html The piano burning |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: the lemonade lady Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:35 PM I'm having this problem too. I've tried 2 charities and Freecycle. On Facebook Rachael Gladwin a brilliant young harpist from Liverpool, is very excited because she's just acquired a piano on Freecycle. I can't win! Sal |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:34 PM Many people would like to have an acoustic piano, but few want one in their neigbour's appartment ... Schools and religious communities may be interested. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Will Fly Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:29 PM I don't think it's just the fact that digital keyboards are available - some as cheap as chips - the size and portability of these instruments makes them more adaptable, perhaps, for a small house or flat. I had a piano for years - quite an old instrument. Eventually, the string tuning pegs worked loose in the (wooden) frame and it just wouldn't stay in tune - I sold it on. I now have a Korg N1 professional keyboard - also £1,000 when new about 10 years ago - which sits on a table in my music room. Very heavy but very versatile with a huge array of sounds and some very good piano sound banks. Weighted keys, 8 octaves - but the best of the piano sounds is not as good as a quality real piano. I sympathise with your dilemma. |
|
Subject: RE: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Acorn4 Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:22 PM ...oh, this isn't intended to try to find a buyer, but just to promote a discussion! |
|
Subject: Pianos:What a Waste! From: Acorn4 Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:20 PM At the moment I'm trying to sell the piano from our village hall. It seems that nowadays no one wants these instruments as everyone has digital keyboards. This instrument cost over £1,000 when new a few years ago, but in spite of advertising no offers have come in! It seems many quality instruments are headed for the breakers and it seems such a waste. I've heard recently from several other people who are having problems - not even charities it seems are interested. I think this probably just belongs in music rather than BS. |
| Share Thread: |
