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| I DON'T WANT THE GUITAR, BUT I DO WANT THE DISPLAY CASE. |
San Geraldo had a piano when we met in 1981, an old baby grand; it was very old and not very grand. He sold the piano before we moved to Los Angeles in 1982. In 1987, after our second move following Los Angeles, I bought him a new upright piano for his birthday. We sold that in 1993 before we moved to San Diego where we bought a new baby grand. That moved to San Francisco with us in 1998. It had to be craned from our driveway onto the third-floor terrace of our house because it wouldn't fit up the stairs to the living room.
Not wanting to crane it back out, we sold the piano with the house when we left San Francisco in 2000. Then, in 2003 (after yet another move), we bought a digital piano for our home in Santa Barbara. That moved to Las Vegas with us in 2007 and, a year later, we sold it to our neighbours when we began to downsize.
I'd like to take lessons, but I'd also like to immediately be able to play like Elton John.
Or Rachmaninov.
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| ROLL OVER, BEETHOVEN. |
I might have to lower my expectations before I start. Fortunately, for everyone's sake, the piano is digital. I can just plug in the headphones and no one will ever know the truth (except me).
I wish that guitar player in the shop had been wearing headphones.
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| NOW IT'S TIME FOR NEW FLOORS, WOODWORK, AND PAINT. |
Na na na na na na na, na na na na na na....
This reminds me of the time my father bought my mother a small electronic (not digital back then!) keyboard for their wedding anniversary. (It had been a floor model, and he was quite proud because got a really good deal on it.) The only hitch -- my father, my brother and I could all play it. My mother could not, nor was she interested in learning. She went out and bought my father an anniversary present that was really for her, a jeweled watch or some such thing. I guess he learned his lesson because I don't recall anything like that happening again.
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteAnd THAT reminds ME of the time I asked for a chemistry set for my birthday and my father bought me a ham radio kit -- because he felt like building a ham radio. He did so by himself.
another thing San Geraldo and Carlos have in common: the love, and the ability, of playing the piano.
ReplyDeleteYou and I? Yeah, making noise.
Bob:
DeleteOh but we both sing beautifully. Don't we?
I never learned to play a musical instrument but if my fingers weren't so short and stubby I'd have selected the piano.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI taught myself a little guitar (very little), a little piano (very little), took violin for a year in school (and loved it). I wish I had done more.
My 2 older sisters play piano well and are very musical. As a child, I got lessons from the same piano teacher they had and after 6 months the teacher told my parents not to waste their money! I did learn to read music from her, but just didn't want to practice the lame music she selected. I wasted a good opportunity because I was too dumb to think ahead (probably not the only time either!). Oh well, let me know how it goes for you. I like the looks of the digital piano. You and SG will be making (more) sweet music in no time!
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteThe digital piano has 50 pre-programmed numbers. At least I can pretend. Too bad you didn't have a more creative piano teacher!
Mitchel I always wanted to have a piano but I can't play
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteI don't know if I'll actually try to learn or not. I've always wanted to.
Me, too, I want to be able to play Chopin right after the bat... or, within a week, maybe :)
ReplyDeleteJudy:
Delete"After the bat"? Is that a French expression? Sounds like something Jerry might use. Anyway, Chopin within a week wouldn't be too much to ask!
LOVE Pink!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, settle down Jim......the piano looks great and I bet SG sounds great playing it. It will fill your place with wonderful music. Wonder how the cats will like it?
I took piano lessons for 6 years as a kid....taught by the Sisters of Charity in the neighbourhood parish convent. I loved it! Wish I had kept it up. Ron often said that I should have a piano again......
Jim:
DeleteI also LOVE Pink!!! No need to settle down, Jim. I, too, wonder what the cats will think. Right now, they don't think much of the piano as a piece of furniture. It replaced one of their beds. I agree with Ron. You SHOULD have a piano again. I wish I had had 6 years of lessons (and it probably would have required the Sisters of Charity)!
Tisk tisk ...a baby grand is a BABY GRAND
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteThat first baby grand could hardly stay upright (aren't I clever???). One touch and a leg went out from under it.
Heck, I can't even tune in a radio .... my former husband tried to get me to play a guitar... didn't work.. neither did the marriage... I admire anyone who can play an instrument of any kind... my daughter plays several..... So... if you (Mitchell) can learn to play, more power to you. I'd be happy if my CDs didn't spaz out while I'm listening to my music. (Yes, Chopin is my very favorite)
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteA radio? Tune in? What's that? I would have left that husband, too!
Rachmaninov had hands with freakishly long spans, Mitch. If I told you the notes he could stretch between it would make your eyes water.
ReplyDeleteI bought a Yamaha keyboard (with stool) 10 years ago very like the one you show but haven't played it for 4 years because of the truculent, complaining (and ex-con) Mr Nasty downstairs, who hardly ever goes out. (Just walking about here I feel like I have to tread on eggshells). It has the headphones, of course, but it seems that the vibrations go through the floor to the flat below. I found that out when one of his predecessors told me. I attempted to raise the thing from off the floor by cushioning it with cardboard, magazines etc but over time it's been pressed right down again. (The keyboard itself is mighty heavy.) I've been waiting for him to move - or die, I don't mind which.
Anyway, we look forward to viewing a video of S.G. having a little tinkle ;-)
Ray:
DeleteJerry has hands with freakishly long spans. He had a piano teacher in Connecticut, a concert pianist, who had never seen some chords made one-handed until he met Jerry. The good thing about this (and our previous) digital piano is that it has a headphone jack. No problem for the neighbours.
Congratlations on the ivories!
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteWell, I think they're just plastics, but thanks!