Piano Man

Okay, well...technically, Ryan has never played an instrument in his life....except maybe the required recorder in elementary school. But recently he has taken on a very big and challenging job refinishing a piano. Of course, Im getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning.

Recently, the opportunity arose for us to purchase a used piano from someone in our ward. This thing has been passed down...I dont know how many times, and had been sitting in a storage unit for at least 2-3 years. For anyone who knows about pianos, you know humid conditions are not the best environment for them. Something about it messing up the tuning, or warping it...blah blah blah. Needless to say, it needed some love. It was pretty banged up, had a bare spot from a spill or a houseplant on top, and even some marker on the legs. It also has a piece of wood paneling broken off the corner on the bottom of one side, but its on the side we cant see it, so no big deal. Anyway, I think we got a pretty good deal on it. We figured we could just re-paint it or something.

Well, after doing some research, we discovered the something we needed to do to make it look the best, was to re-finish it. Also found out, under every online do it yourself instruction the difficulty level was listed as "very challenging". Hooray! After reading the warning labels on all the furniture strippers, and chickening out over the risk of poisoning myself do death, let alone the level of patience and time needed, I decided this would be the perfect project for Ryan to complete...all by himself. I thought, "How great he will feel being able to complete a project without me. The satisfaction he will feel when he looks at that piano, well it will be priceless really." Before you think badly of me, let me just say, I am usually the one who does the majority of projects around here. If you dont believe me, let me know and Ill mail you a list. And Ryan will back me up on that as well. Not because he is lazy or not helpful, just because he is so busy with other things that bless our family. And also, I did offer to help apply some finish, but at that point, he really did want the satisfaction of seeing it transform.

Anyway...I know, get on with it Heather!

So he did it. He sacrificed his precious parking spot in the garage for weeks. He spent late nights when the kids couldnt wander in and die from inhaling fumes. He wore out his biceps scrubbing the old finish off, sanding, and rubbing new finish on. He risked his own health working with toxins...(seriously, its bad stuff. Have I mentioned that?) Not to worry, he wore a nice expensive mask, and long thick gloves and only panicked once when it came in contact with his skin. The nurse said he would be fine. :) Finally, it was completed. So without my further ramblings...

Before

After

Forgot to put the book holder thing on on these picts, but it does have one.

Now, all thats left is replacing the knobs on the front (one was missing), and getting it majorly tuned. The pictures do make it look better than it actually is/was. It is a major improvement, but you cant see the little imperfections on the photos. I am super impressed at how well he did, and I think I was right (as always) about him feeling good about it. Of course, he may be questioning our decision about the purchase now that the kids and I are playing with it all the time. Im starting to feel a headache myself.

The girls are excited to be able to learn how to play (so are we!), especially Katelin. I used to play when I was growing up, thanks to my concert pianist father. But being without a piano for 13 years has definitely taken its toll on any bit of talent I might have had. Its starting to come back, little by little. Theres no way I am or ever will ever be ready to play at church...so no ideas there! I will be attempting to teach the girls myself, while I re-learn, and see how it goes, and how long it lasts. Hey I taught Ryan how to play Old MacDonald, so I think thats a dang good start for someone with zero musical background! Way to go Ryan...on doing a fabulous job re-finishing a piano, and playing your first masterpiece on it!