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Hi, There.

I'm posting today about our love of piano, and especially those of us who love acoustic piano.

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the piano industry. Will the acoustic piano survive? Will the piano industry have enough work to keep their skilled craftspeople employed?

A while ago I posted here asking how it might be possible to promote playing piano which would help boost sales of acoustic pianos. I had offered as my suggestion a tv series about a piano teacher and his/her students. The other day I noticed that a number of movies that revolve around musical themes are now being aired by Hallmark tv. A few of them even co-star, more or less, A PIANO!

If you are interested in watching these movies, the ones I know of are listed below. They're being aired in the coming weeks, some at odd hours, late at night or early a.m.

"Christmas Tree Lane"(2020)
Features a music store owner who plays piano.
Features Alicia Witt who is a musician as well as actress.
Looks like she's playing a Mason & Hamlin.
YAY! M+H is a TERRIFIC piano!

"Chateau Christmas" (2020)
About a concert pianist

Christmas in Vienna" (2020)
About a concert violinist

"Nashville Christmas Carol" (2020)
A tv producer in charge of a country music-themed Christmas special
Wynona Judd and Emmylous Harris are in this one.

A few other recent Hallmark movies in which music plays a role:

"It's Christmas Eve" (2018):
About shutting down a school's music department

"Home Coming for the Holidays" (2019)
About a country singer

"A Christmas Duet" (2019)
About an innkeeper rekindling her love of music

It'd be great to see more movies and tv shows like these!

Jeanne W

I almost never watch tv but usually around the holidays I like to find a movie or two to watch, maybe I'll try to find one of these.

Thanks!

Hi. I found 3 more movies with music themes on Hallmark:

"Our Christmas Love Song" (2019)
About a country star accused of plagiarizing

"A Christmas Melody" (2015
About a young girl seeking help from her music teacher

"A Christmas Song" (2012)
About two music teachers vying for the same job

Hopefully these movies will inspire some number of viewers to play piano and/or take up music in one way or another.

Jeanne W

I have to confess that the Hallmark Channel was a guilty pleasure of mine for a while. We channel surfed across a Christmas movie one night while Mrs. Retsacnal was sick, and found ourselves back on the station repeatedly. The movies are what they are: formulaic and hammy, but they always have a happy ending, and we certainly needed that while she was terminal (and we were hoping and praying for a miracle).

I even kept watching them for a while after she passed--something comforting and familiar about them--but cut the cable cord a couple years ago and haven't seen any since. When I really clung to them, I'd check out the schedule online and it got to the point that I'd think, "seen it, seen it, seen it..." as I ran down the list of the day's offerings. And then I discovered that they premiered a new movie most Saturday nights (and Fridays?). I'd try to catch the new ones, and re-watch some of the others if I liked them.

There were a couple of the staple actresses that Mrs. Retsacnal really did NOT like. It was kind of funny. I don't know what it was about them that she disliked. She'd still usually watch the movie, if I wanted to, but critique the hammy acting.

Normally, I don't watch much TV either. My wife was always good at negotiating the cable price down after each "two year deal" would expire. About a year after she passed I realized I was spending $200+/month for TV that nobody was watching! Normally it was only me in the house, but the girls would just stream from the various services when they were home. So I decided to cut cable back to just internet, and research the streaming services to see what was best for me. Ironically, I never signed up for anything. And I'm back to hardly watching it at all (sometimes I'll watch whatever the girls are watching--they've been home since March due to Covid).

Hi Jeanne!

Great to "see" you here. I miss your input, Jeanne, as well as your piano enthusiasm.

I am not a big TV guy, but my wife told me about the "Christmas in Vienna" movie. Vienna is my favorite music city, so I watched it with her.

I was happy to see some scenes done outdoors within the Ringstrasse, but the inside scenes were not in the buildings they were supposed to be in and it was a typical "Hallmark Movie", so I was overall disappointed. Sorry to give a bad movie review, but I am SO GLAD to see you here Jeanne!

Retascnal,
Christmas tends to be the time when memories seem to come alive.It is as all the "ghosts of past Christmases come to visit"
Happiness,joy and sad memories all in a big "Christmas Cake" We have no relatives in Canada ,so every year we take car and the ferry and stay over in Victoria.at Christmas (we have friends there) This year because of Covid we are staying home . The ferry a few days before Christmas would be too much of a risk.
We shall spend it alone .No carol singing ,no Church , no friends.It will be difficult but we shall survive.

WE all must make it's,,,

ShiroKuro: Thanks for chiming in. If you watch any of the movies, I hope you enjoy them. : -)

Retsacnal: My condolences to you on the passing of your wife. Regarding the Hallmark movies, they are, as you say, "formulaic and hammy" and many of them share similar story lines, are variations on a theme, which can be a little off-putting. Still I enjoy them, as long as I don't overdose on them!

Rich: Hi! I'm glad you are sticking around here. It's good to see posts from those of us who frequented here back in 2004 or so. I miss seeing posts from Bee Lady, Lily Lady, Terry Tunes, Axtremus, John Citron, Pique, and many others.

Maximillyan: May we get through this difficult time and, hopefully, soon.

Lady Bird: Everything is awry because of Covid for so many of us. I send you (and all of our PW friends) all good wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Jeanne W

Thanks, Jeanne. A little can be ok. We're actually watching "Christmas Inheritance" right now. It's not on Hallmark (the girls' streaming services don't get it), but it's Hallmark-ish.

Yes, sir! That's for sure.

Yes, Lady Bird. Christmas can be a magical time.

It's nice to have relatives around, but friends can be even better. Sounds like you have a nice Christmas tradition there in BC. Life changes sometimes. Our tradition used to be to visit my hometown for the holidays, but since my dad passed in '13 we've made our own traditions here in Virginia. I love Christmas Eve, and carols too.

Sorry you won't be able to visit Victoria this year. Covid will probably curtail our tradition this year too. But we'll make the best of it. I'm sure you will too!

Hi Retsacnal
Is it Thanksgiving in the US at the moment? Well if it is ,Happy Thanksgiving to you and your girls !
My son is in Calgary so he will not see us anyway except by Zoom. Perhaps one of my friends may come to us on Christmas eve. She is an asthma sufferer so I never see her and my other friend anymore.(she is also rather afraid) We have been advised to only be with people in our own household since these infections have taken off in the Fraser Health region in such an aggressive way.

We are still allowed to go to the recorder group in the Rec centre.
There are only four of us and our leader. We sit far apart in a big hall ,so we can social distance. In fact the leader and his wife suggested we have the recorder group over Christmas eve, so it just tells you that a number of people here will possibly have a rather different Christmas.
Thanks Retsacnal for your message.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the U.S. My oldest daughter and I just got home from the grocery, picking up supplies. Usually we have a pretty big crowd, but this year will just be the three of us. For the most part, we stay home and are careful when we venture out.

I'm getting deja vu of deja vu, because I know I've said this here before, but I love the leftovers: turkey sandwiches in particular! I didn't buy a whole turkey tonight, just a big turkey breast, but I may try Piano*Dad's turkey soup recipe if there's enough left for it.

Retsacnal
You are making me hungry and its 9.37pm here ! Now where are those chocolates ? 🤪