College student from Boston given valuable piano after playing for patrons at Norwood shop
Posted on 08/02/2020 6:42:38 AM PDT by rktman
Unattended pianos in public places are magnetic. Whether it’s an artistically painted piano sitting on a city sidewalk, a standard upright at a school or a grand in a ritzy hotel, the instrument calls to people.
In many cases, the people drawn to the keys sadly have little skill, but occasionally someone who clearly knows what they’re doing will show up and answer the siren song of the waiting piano.
On Saturday, July 11, it was a small model waiting patiently for a new owner at “ReMARKable Cleanouts,” an antique store and auction house in Norwood, Massachusetts, that grabbed the attention of a young man.
John Thomas Archer, a 23-year-old self-taught musician and graphic design student at Northeastern University, asked permission to play. Permission was granted, and he sat down and charmed the other customers with a classic.
Waters was ready to donate a Steinway to Archer if he came back and could confirm he had a place to put one. A few days later, Archer reconnected with the store, and magic was born.
“He went into tears and it brought tears to my eyes,” Waters said of Archer’s response to his offer. “It was one of those feel-good moments.”
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournal.com ...
Such a nice story!
“Deathwish Piano Mover”
Having had a piano moved a few times...I completely understand the moving company’s appropriate name. LOL!
Weird. No one is wearing a mask
When my mother sold her home I contacted anyone and everyone to try and donate a piano. Nobody wanted it. I couldn’t even giveaway the ivory key veneers.
Nice story. The young man is no expert, but he knows more about the piano than the average person. He could easily be trained to go further. His obvious joy of playing will guide him. Maybe there is a local church choir or entertainer he can provide background for.
One of my favorite simple songs for the beginner piano student is the Preludium C-Major by our old friend,
Johan Sebastian Bach. It’s quite beautiful in it’s simplicity and thoroughness. Using the same phrase and both hands, traveling at a leisurely pace, all over the 88 key terrain, from sunny to stormy aura.
Listen to it if so inclined. You won’t want to stop listening till the very last note. It’s like a piece of expensive candy for the ear.
Once upon a time I wandered through a real estate open house (estate sale I believe) in my old neighborhood. The home was probably mid-1950s and was brick and built into the natural slope, so there was a french doors walkout into the back. At some point the homeowner had constructed some retaining walls which made the back yard more private. Turned out, the piano that was in the finished basement had come in that way, and wouldn't go through the stairs, doors, and turns of the house, so the piano was part of the deal, unless someone had a bright idea and would move the piano themselves for some low low purchase price.
Most cannot be carried.
They are easy to move if you have the right equipment.
I’ve moved grand piano’s baby grands and uprights.
Worst one I ever moved was a player piano.
Lots of brass and wheels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frxT2qB1POQ
Preludium C-Major by our old friend,
Johan Sebastian Bach
I always liked Joh’s music...
We’ve got an old upright, circa 1903, that we got “free” from the wife’s grandmother. Had it refinished for $700. It plays well but just sits there now...never used anymore. Will probably have to take the chainsaw to it to get rid of it. Not a bad piece of furniture though, lol.
Another item that’s hard to get rid of...entertainment centers. Ask me how I know.
The upright we have had small roller wheels and troughed the old hardwood floors when we moved it to install new hardwoods. It came back into the room on a path of plywood with quilts under the plywood. Currently sits on a piece of brown masonite hardboard on the new floor. A total pain in the keister.
We would never have made it if it had been a grand or baby grand.
Imagine if every Planned Parenthood Clinic became a music studio with donated instruments.
Couple of years ago as a UBER driver I took a yuppie couple to their just purchased rural cottage in the woods....a feature was a vintage elmira wood stove....they wanted it GONE ASAP..I brought it for $200....took a day to take it all to peices and load on the truck....its my retirement project.
he could go to church too?
That’s nice.
TO a 4th floor at that.
We moved a 100 yr old 1, took 4 men, took up half the U Hall, upright.
I built my own cart just for moving pianos.
You can buy one at menards, I’m sure
My joke about organ donation is: Okay, I’ll take a Hammond B3.
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