Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Meet my baby...

Isn't she beautiful?

We were able to buy our first piano back in August, and I absolutely love it! Each time I play I grow to like this piano a little more. When we were first thinking about buying it I played it a ton in the piano store to make sure I really liked it, but I still had my moments of doubt and wondering if it was really worth spending most of our savings on (scary purchase, I assure you!).

But I really do love it. I love the color, I love that it is very simple and stately, I love the action which is not too soft, but not too hard, I love the crisp sound it can get, I love that it gets a really big sound, even for an upright.

I also love that I can teach piano lessons in my house for the first time ever, and I've really enjoyed being able to take more students and try some new things.

I also love the handy adjustable stool (for the students too short to reach the floor) that Chris made me for my birthday and stained to match the piano. You can see it under the piano stool in the picture at the bottom.

There are only two things I don't like about it. It shows dust and fingerprints like crazy. The fingerprints seem to breed. It's kind of amazing. But...as the good points vastly outweigh these negatives, I am still very happy with my purchase. I figured that once we are ready to upgrade to a grand piano we would trade this one in, but now I'm not sure I will ever be able to give it up. We might just have to keep it AND buy a grand :).

Moving on...

For the last couple of months my friend Halsey (she plays the violin) and I have been working on some music that we are going to play in a recital this Saturday. We did one a couple of summers ago, and decided that we needed some motivation to practice again, and I know it would have been completely impossible for me if we hadn't bought this piano.

If anyone would like to come to the recital, you are invited and welcome but I have to explain a couple of things:

#1- Please understand that between the two of us we have a 3 year old and two 1 year olds and so our practice sessions together usually consist of 5-7 minutes of practicing, followed by 10 minutes of taking care of the kids, repeated for one hour at which point William is tugging on my arms whining for me to be done, Isaac is crying to get up and play the piano, and KJ is trying his very hardest to knock over Halsey's music stand.

#2- Finding the opportunity to practice on your own with kids is extremely difficult. When I was in college it was normal to practice 3 hours a day 6 days a week. Now, if I am able to practice 4 days out of a week for more than 20 minutes I think I had a great practice week.

#3- Sometimes you listen to yourself play so much that it's hard to know what to change, or how to make it better, but getting feedback from a teacher costs a lot of money and requires a babysitter for the kids etc. etc. etc.

So if you want to come, you are welcome. Please enjoy the music and don't judge too harshly :).
Here's the info:

January 29, 2011
3:30 pm
Piano Gallery Recital Hall

We are playing music by Mozart, Sibelius, Brahms, Debussy, Bach and Gershwin.

Have I mentioned that I love my piano yet?

7 comments:

Kelsey said...

LOVE the piano! It's so pretty! And I can't see one fingerprint or a speck of dust!
I know what you mean about trying to practice with kids...mostly it just doesn't happen! I volunteer to play for a musical every year over in Nampa (we just started Hairspray) because it MAKES me practice...at least during rehearsals! :) I've often thought that it would be handy to have an electric piano because I could practice with headphones on when Logan is asleep. Maybe someday!
Good luck at your recital, I'm sure it will be great! I wish I could come!!

BriANDaleen said...

Very beautiful! I'm glad you finally got one!

Cutler Family said...

Kelsey- I dusted it before taking the pictures, and actually photoshopped a few fingerprints out. :) Thanks for liking it anyway though!

Mo and Kristi said...

I SOOOOOOOO wish I could hear you two play!!!!! Love the piano color.

Kelli and Derek Hill said...

I'm so insane with jealousy. It's beautiful!

Danielle Bateman said...

It is beautiful! And I am impressed with how handy Chris is. I would love to take piano lessons- I bet you are such a great teacher.

Parker and Alexis said...

My mom told me how amazing of a pianist you are and that you were phenomenal. So sad I had to miss it!