What have I done? lol

I did read music as a child and teen, I played flute and clarinet and was in two choirs, one being the church so quite musical. My son now plays various guitar, acoustic, electric and bass. He is upset today as Glenn Frey out of the Eagles has died, and so is his mate, so not all teens are into Bieber then. (Thank goodness!)

Well, it looks like I've bought my son a piano! lol He can already do proper tunes on it, I'm still finding "Happy Birthday" with one hand! lol I've just bought a book to learn from by Pauline Hall, so I'll see how that goes.

I don't know how they put the pianos outside, it nearly put 3 men out trying to get mine out of the lorry into the house today. But the idea of leaving them for people to play is really lovely.

Tegan She is called Joanna, as she plays with a cockney accent. She has a candleabra on the top which I also got at the Emmaus shop for £3.00, beautiful in silver and glass crystal. I'm going to get some battery candles for it so there's no wax to drip. But I will find a photo, as it seems the thing to do and I don't want to be left out.

I'm amazed at how many 'outside' pianos there are these days - i know of at least three, one of which is outside our main railway station!! People leave them out for other people to play. I suppose when they succumb to the elements someone shunts them off to the tip ? ???.

I tried to take my piano back to the dealer who sold it to me years ago and he said everyone now buys Japanese ones and there's no market for old ones like mine. So it remains in the living room but is wonderful for putting photos etc on. What I love about old pianos is the thought of how many people over the years have played it with groups of people standing around singing along. I was told that in a little row of cottages in my village for many years someone wold bring their piano outside and everyone would congregate around it to sing. Have you got a name for your piano Ruby? My first one was called Albert but this one is nameless.

ruby what about the gravel?
We advertised our old piano years ago and were almost killed in the rush by people begging us to sell it to them, could have sold it ten times over!It was attractive, Edwardian, but sadly way out of tune.

Love it, why not. I have been known to buy things I didn't know I 'needed' until I saw them too.

I rather agree with Harrigran. It isn't easy to teach yourself. Timing and rhythm are always going to be a problem unless you have some rudimentary knowledge of notation. BUT DO NOT let it put you off having a go and making music! One if the best jazz pianists i know is self taught as, i gather, is Alfred Brendel, one of the world's greatest pianists. I have a friend who plays by ear and he is brilliant - better than me who reads music. Don't worry about it - use your piano, approach it in whatever way is best for you and enjoy it.

Well done what a wonderful impulse buy! I know someone who went out for fish and chips........and came back home having ordered a mercedes convertible.. Enjoy your buy, A friend took up the piano a few years back and found a teacher who was happy to teach her what she wanted to play, and didnt insist on the classical repertoire, she taught Cole Porter etc. And there is always YouTube these days to teach you everything. Good luck and I hope you have lots of enjoyment out of your impulse.

I don't think the piano is an instrument you can just teach yourself with the help of books or internet.
DD commenced lessons at 6 years old and I had lessons too so that I could understand and help her, joke She sat her first exam less than a year later and was an ARCM at 18, the piano sits in the music room unplayed unless DD and GC visit.

I suggest a bit of care needs to be taken if you're looking for a teacher. I chose my last one mostly on the basis that he was local to me and i could walk there. He was a lovely man, eminently qualified, patient and reasonably forgiving, but he was fixated on the classical repertoire, which i love, but just occasionally i would have loved to have lightened things up with a bit of Jerome Kern or Cole Porter. I think if i had suggested it, he would have fainted clean away? I had a young teacher some years ago who was much better at getting the mix right, but he went to live in Australia and it seemed a bit far to go for half an hour's lesson!

Problem is, ruby, my playing puts up everyone else's bloodpressure!!

When I was little, my great aunt gave us her piano which, although I failed the only music exam (theory) I ever took, was supposed to be mine. My mum gave it to my cousin when I was out of the country; she gave it to her daughter who later decided she didn't want it any longer and it's now with my DS2's family! I wonder where it will end up next.

Everyone told me there was no room for a piano in my little two-up, two-down until I pointed out that it only sticks out 15" from the wall.
I rarely play it now, my interest was always in theory rather than practice, but it's beautiful and I'd only get a fraction of what I paid if I sold it, so it's staying.

You do realise that it is a medical requirement that I have bought the piano? I have just read that it helps to lower blood pressure. Watch this space, lets hope so.

Jamila Ok, new anthem's on it's way! Thinking cap at the ready.

merlot If it is your treasured piano I will take extra special care of her.

jogging* no, I can't afford to. I will try some youtube teaching and see where it gets me, plus I can always go over it again a few times if it doesn't stick the first time (which is quite common these days).

I would love to be able to play the piano, we have a keyboard for visiting DS and the GC - maybe I should learn too ...? I cannot imagine the joy of sitting down and playing a tune - bliss I love it when DS plays ...

It's never too late is it ...

Are you going to have lessons Ruby?

OMG Ruby. I've just checked your profile because for a moment I thought, Surely that's not my piano?

We've just downsized and sadly there is no longer any room for the piano. I advertised locally with no success and contacted some dealers in Cambridge but they said they already have pianos they can't shift. We support our local EMMAUS so I rang them up and they were happy to take it as a donation.

I hope they find it a good home.

Right rubylady, your mission is now to compose a new anthem for England (see other thread)

Thank you for all your kind wishes. Space now made for Joanna, although now I haven't got a kitchen table but then I haven't used it for eating off since I landed here.

I am thinking of getting a microphone to go with her so I can warble along when I get the jist of it, lol. I also have my new record player and cd player plus radio in the kitchen too so now it's my music room plus cooker.

That's great! I only wish I had enough room for one.

Wonderful ruby good for you. As long as you get pleasure from it, don't worry about anyone else (well apart from the neighbours

well done Ruby and even if you never play it,its a bargain that made you happy,and also some where nice to put the photos on top...enjoy it xx

I grew up with a piano and had piano lessons for many years ... hated every minute even though I was quite good at it. Anyway, my parents upgraded to an organ (mum played in church) and I got first refusal of the piano. By this time I had a daughter so of course I took the piano! It was mums girlhood piano so already old.
It went through a couple of house moves with me and had to be squeezed in so when we moved here a couple of years ago my daughter took it. She is currently waiting for a tuner ... her MIL offered a tuning as her Xmas gift, so I hope it's not wildly expensive!!! Reading about the moths makes me a bit worried about what could be inside it given that it's over 80 years old now. Looks a wreck but always had great tone.
My daughter played, and I'm sure DGD will also play ... already does, with both hands, thump thump thump!!! I admit I would love an electric piano though, nobody but me would have to hear all my mistakes. ?

DD has never forgiven us for getting rid of 'her' piano when she left home
Enjoy yours, rubylady

impulse buys? My sister went out to buy a lipstick and came back having bought a flat!