Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Hello! I'm a newb!

This looks like an excellent forum! I've been browsing here since yesterday, and people seem really helpful! I'm not up to par with 99.9 percent of the people here I'm sure, cause I only know how to play one song by rote, which is Schubert's Serenade, hence my login name. It comes from the John Thompson's 3rd grade book.
I badly want to take piano lessons, just have cold feet I guess. My mother plays the piano, and I now have her 1965 Baldwin Acrosonic console. It has sentimental value; my grandfather, who purchased it for my mother, passed away when I was quite young, and I loved him dearly. I also have fond memories of my mother playing when I was younger, but she has given it up.
Now I'm going to find out how to post a pic of my piano!

Hi SchubertSerenade and welcome to the forum! I wouldn't let cold feet stop you from taking piano lessons if that's your desire. Believe me, anyone who has taught piano for any length of time has seen students worse than you! A good teacher will be able to assess where you're at and give you things to work on that will address both your needs and your goals. Finding a good teacher is tough but if that's what you want go for it!

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your piano.

Welcome to the forum,

Jump right in and get those lessons!!!!! I did. I hemmed and hawed and I finally did. It has been the best thing I have done for myself. I have two little ones under foot so my lessons and playing the piano are my "Me things" that I have done for myself. Also, playing the piano has been a very rewarding experience for me. As a mom I have found that nothing is ever finished, so when I finish a piece that i have been working on I get that very "accomplished" rewarding feeling. Anyway, sorry to ramble, welcome to the forum.

And enjoy the journey...... KaylaX

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ken=6c1294b8-f5bd-4b34-be0b-ac26d2689f54

Well, not sure if this will work, but here is a link to a picture of my piano! Does it look dark on everyone else's screen?

The link doesn't work for me. The best way to post pictures is to upload them to a site like flickr or picasaweb and then copy the text under 'embed' directly into a post here. Then it shows up directly.

Nope. No good. Myspace wants you to log in to see the pics. You can add Photobucket to the list of options.

I just looked at how you do it in picasaweb (which, btw you already have if you happen to have a google account). And you have to first view the picture, then click on the right hand side 'link to this photo', then select the size (large is best), then you have to copy the text under 'embed image' and paste it in a post.

"cause I only know how to play one song by rote, which is Schubert's Serenade"

This would make 99.9 percent of us cry out in jealousy

Welcome to the forum! I had a Baldwin Acrosonic of that era for a good long time, and I think it's a solid piano that stays in tune very well.

I recommend lessons--as my own mother used to say, "You'll never do it any younger!"

Nancy

SchubertSerenade,

Beautiful self-introduction and welcome to the best Internet forum on the web. I hope you'll learn to love the ABForum as much as many of us do. You'll find support from some of the nicest people in the world here.

Good luck with your Baldwin and your lessons,

Sincerely,

Lisztener

"I badly want to take piano lessons, just have cold feet I guess"

Then you better put on some socks and get to work!

Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part. I bet once you get started there will be no stopping you!

It's nice that you have that piano and that it means so much to you.

Can't wait to hear a sample of your playing.

Welcome to the forum.

Better late than never!
[URL=http://s734.photobucket.com/user/AudreyBurns/media/Acrosonic_1965.jpg.html]Photobucket[/url]

Just a few details that I neglected in my original post. I cannot read sheet music, but I have some instructional materials on the way. Also, this piano has not been tuned in over 15 years. I have a man coming to tune it in November, plus he'll do any necessary maintenance/repairs. It's been moved more than I care to admit in that span (my sweet husband is steadfastly keeping count, he's up to 5), but this is its final resting place for a good long while; we bought this house last year. And, the best for last, my daughter is seven years old and very excited about the prospect of us learning to read music together.

Is there any way you could speed that up? 15 years is a _long_ time.

. Charles

considering it was 6 years between posts, 15 years for a tuning doesnt sound that bad XD lol.
im just joking, but i do find it very funny how long it took to upload the pic.

Better late than never is right!

He lives two hours away, and is planning on it being an all day job. I'm sure it will be.

He also said that these pianos are hard to work on. Is that true? What makes them different? He said he may have to pull the action.

Hi SchubertSerenade (and fellow Kentuckian!), welcome to the forum!!

It is true that spinets are more difficult to work on, primarily because of how they are so short which makes the action hard to get to. Some technicians even refuse to work on them for that reason. But while spinets tend to have a bad rep in general, the Acrosonic is considered among the best of the breed.

Reading music seems intimidating at first, but--trust me on this--with time it will become as natural as reading printed text. You just have to keep at it. And if you have the time and resources for lessons, I encourage you to do so. While many of us have self-taught with reasonable success, I think it is safe to say you will make better and quicker progress with regular lessons, assuming you find a teacher who is compatible with your goals for piano.

Why hello! Always nice to find someone close to home.
Yes, after some research, I've learned that it is indeed a spinet. I originally thought it was a console.

My F# key is sticking (up from middle C), and after opening the top I can see why. After the hammer strikes the string it leans slightly to 'hang' on the hammer for G. I imagine that there will need to be a good bit of work done in order to get it back up to speed. It sounds like something out of a horror-show right now, especially in the lower and higher octaves.

I've moved it too many times, and it's been neglected far too long. My mother grew tired of playing and let it fall into disrepair (long before I got it.)After I acquired it, my living situation was never long term. Just moving it from place to place was a grave concern. However, things have stabilized and calmed down considerably.

Welcome to piano world!

I highly recommend biting the bullet and getting lessons. You will learn much quicker and with less frustration with a teacher.

Welcome!