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The piano's status in U.S. living rooms is declining
LATimes ^ | 5/16/09 | Mary MacVean

Posted on 05/17/2009 5:13:38 PM PDT by LibWhacker

They were once a symbol of success and a love of music.

Giovanni Lovatelli and his family lucked into a long-term loan of a 1948 baby grand piano when a friend moved to New York years ago. Five-year-old Giacomo began taking lessons, practicing diligently for a year or so.

"We had to keep pushing a little bit," Lovatelli said, adding that he promised a basketball hoop if his son persevered through his teacher's recital.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: declining; piano; status
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To: elcid1970
My Yamaha digital piano feels pretty much like a Yamaha baby grand.

It does NOT feel like a full-size Steinway.

21 posted on 05/18/2009 1:18:28 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: LibWhacker
I put my son in Kung Fu at age 3. By age 10 he was a black belt assistant instructor. The discipline of the martial arts seems to spill over into other types of art. I wish I could say the same for academics. He does OK with those, but one seems easy for him and the other is somewhat of a struggle.

I did not lean on him to take up piano, he wanted to do it. If such was not the case, I don't think it would be worth the effort. You have guessed correctly that it does help a lot if there are other musicians in the family.

22 posted on 05/18/2009 3:23:56 PM PDT by BikerTrash
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To: LibWhacker
How did you motivate your kids to take it up and stick with it?

His idea when he was little. And then we forced him. Just kidding. There was a time when he was less enthusiastic about it but he has always been a child that puts his efforts into what he is doing or supposed to be doing.

It helped that Grandma watched him for an hour or so every day after school and that the piano was at her house at the time. (It belongs to my wife, but it remained at her parents' house until we had our house and the living room was done.)

23 posted on 05/18/2009 4:43:43 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weight-lifting sessions each week and...)
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To: elcid1970
Keyboards are far better than they used to be, but can they duplicate a grand piano’s action?

If you close your eyes you'd swear you were playing an acoustic grand.

(My baby.)


24 posted on 05/19/2009 7:57:51 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Mr. President, I support you but not your mission. I'm showing my patriotism through dissent.")
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Top 5 Sites For Learning Piano Online
25 posted on 05/19/2009 10:58:57 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: angcat

You mean “MY Piano”


26 posted on 05/20/2009 4:54:02 PM PDT by geege
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To: LibWhacker

This was news a generation or so ago. Sometime in the 70s or 80s pianos got a lot harder to find in living rooms.


27 posted on 05/20/2009 5:02:22 PM PDT by x
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To: geege

YES YOUR PIANO!


28 posted on 05/21/2009 5:48:59 AM PDT by angcat ("When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe".)
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To: LibWhacker
I love being the contrarian.

When we built our last house, we specifically designed the layout for a room that hosts our Kawai Grand.

29 posted on 05/21/2009 5:51:48 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 ("What's in YOUR wallet? MY MONEY!")
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