March 26, 2007

Gratuitous Musickal Posting (TM)

I'm listening to a recording on the radio right now of of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A Minor, K. 310, played by Alfred Brendel. I like to play this piece myself, albeit only as a sight-reader. (This recording is making me think I try to take the first movement a bit too fast.)

I mention that because it reminds me of a smouldering political situation at home. You see, we have a Kawai upright that is better than thirty-five years old. It's the same piano I've been playing since I was a kid and has travelled around with me ever since I left college. Unfortunately, it's really beginning to show its age - the strings are almost shot, many of the keys are starting to stick or get sloppy, the legs skew and the music stand has fallen off.

Both the seven and nine year old Llama-ettes are taking piano lessons now. Their teacher comes to our house each week. Since the day she first walked in, she's been lobbying hard for us to give up on the ol' Kawai and bring in a baby grand. Indeed, she's even given me some brochures for a wholesale refurbishing place she knows and has offered to go over with me at any time to pick one out.

So far, I've thanked her for the information but have resisted taking any positive steps. This isn't out of any particular sentimental attachment to our current piano. Rayther, it's a matter of $everal thou$and other con$iderations that must be taken into account.

She hasn't said anything more, but I'm beginning to believe that she's taking a different tack. Recently, I came home to discover that the nine year old was hammering out her practice piece as loudly as she could.

"Whoa," I said, "Don't bang like that."

"But, Daaaaad! Ms. X told me to do it that way."

Hmmmmmm.....

A day or two later, I distinctly heard Ms. X herself hammering away.

Hmmmmmmmm: the refrain.

What are the odds she's engaged in a campaign to force my hand?

Posted by Robert at March 26, 2007 02:51 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Umm, 100%?

Posted by: Steve the LLamabutcher at March 26, 2007 03:08 PM

The book available at the link below is worth investing in if you're about to lay down the big bucks on a piano. Any competent piano salesman will know its contents backward and forward, so you're better off if you've had a look at it too.

http://www.pianobook.com/pianobook.html

Posted by: Khaki at March 26, 2007 05:20 PM

Robbo, you live in a house of women. It's time you start turning the table on them. They're old enough besides, they'll enjoy it...

Force their hands. You live in Virginia. Baby grands are for NYers. You need a harpsicord. Whoever has dislike a harpsicord?

Plus you can't pound on the keys of a harpsicord...

Posted by: Mrs. Peperium at March 26, 2007 05:52 PM

Look for an upright grand. Less popular, less expensive, less foot-print. These are the pianos you see in just about every western movie. The sounding board is a standard grand size, but sitting upright instead of laying down horizontally.

As for the strings, keys, and music stand. All of that can be repaired. New strings, tuning and key mechanisms - some cleaning and some replacing of parts. Probably for 10% or less the cost of a baby grand.

Posted by: Zendo Deb at March 26, 2007 08:13 PM

And if you really "need" a new piano, check with Good Will. I was surprised to find that they end up with a lot of them.

Posted by: Zendo Deb at March 26, 2007 08:17 PM

Hey Mr. Llama man - here is the compromise - go for a full keyboard electric with stand. Small, light, sounds like a baby grand and you can use it as a synthesizer when playing with the background music for your blog .
Next time I am up in Pozo Almonte (Chile)I will get you some pix of the Guanacos and Llamas that graze the area. Send me a mail box if interested.

Posted by: Terrapod at March 26, 2007 08:18 PM

Our tuner told us that Baby Grands are overrated. In his opinion, a quality upright beats a BG every day of the week.

You know what I'd do in this situation? Come home with one of those "Schroeder Specials". Talk up the new piano you've got coming for a few days, then unveil the toy piano (with the requisite Beethoven bust, natch) with mucho fanfare.

Of course, you DO realize that this is just "what I'd do", not "what you should do", or God forbid, even "the smart move". I just think the laughs you could get here might be worth a few nights on the couch.

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at March 26, 2007 09:45 PM

Baby grands aren't overrated. Not if they're good ones. And the refurbished ones can, indeed, be quite good. That said, if you're happy with an upright now, you can probably still be happy with a newer upright - though you may have difficulty finding one that's not too bright (that's my complaint with every newer upright I've plunked upon).

Best of luck though - seems between the dog and the piano the ladies of the house have some schemes afoot!

Posted by: beth at March 27, 2007 08:11 AM

Oh, I've got no beef against baby grands. Indeed, the danger here is that I'm being shoved toward something that I already find attractive. But unless a long-lost millionaire uncle in Australia dies some time soon, I'm not ready to go.

Mrs. P, the harpsichord is VERY much at the top of my wish-list. Some day. Some day.

In the meantime, I like the Schroeder Gambit very much.....

Posted by: Robbo the LB at March 27, 2007 10:05 AM

Let me reiterate: my advice sometimes makes you giggle when I give it, but it's not warranteed to make your family giggle the same way when it's put into use.

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at March 27, 2007 01:04 PM