Main fundraiser photo

Andrea The Piano Restoration Fund

What is "Restore Andrea" about?
This campaign is about restoring an antique Steinway piano.  Very simply, it's about retoring a work of art, a piece of music history, a piece of Steinway history, a piece of American history.

Who crafted Andrea The Piano?

Andrea The Piano is an American made instrument, crafted by Steinway & Sons. The Steinway company first gained infamy as master piano builders with the Square Grand piano, like Andrea. 

When was Andrea The Piano crafted?
This piano is dated at 1872. She predates cars and airplanes. She has traveled by horse & wagon on more than one occasion.

What makes Andrea The Piano so special?
This piano is made of Brazilian Rosewood, which is endangered.  Import & export of rosewood is prohibited from most countries in the world, including the United States. As such, she is an American made beauty that will never leave the U.S.A.

This piano is hand carved and features hand stenciling inside. So, she's not just a piano. She is a work of art.

While we have no documented proof, we firmly believe Henry Steinway chose the wood for Andrea. You can read here why we think this is the case.

This piano is 143 years old. We think that makes her pretty special. But even more, antique experts and  piano specialists have confirmed Andrea The Piano as something to be treasured.

Where is Andrea The Piano?
Andrea The Piano is in a little house, which is actually a piano and music studio, in the beautiful city of Wyandotte, MI.  She actually shares studio space with two artists, one whose work is featured in River's Edge Gallery.

Who uses/plays Andrea The Piano?
Obviously, we, her caretakers, enjoy Andrea The Piano. Young piano students also are given the opportunity to play Andrea. Piano students also learn about piano history, music history. . .and even a little bit of American history with Andrea The Piano.

Can I come see Andrea The Piano?
We welcome visitors for Andrea The Piano. Just message us and we’ll set up a day and time for your visit.

What will Andrea The Piano look and sound like once restored?
She will look and sound something like this . Please note the piano in this video is a Knabe and Andrea is a Steinway. And the piano in the video is an Empire style while Andrea The Piano is Rococco, but we think you'll get the idea of the possibilities for Andrea The Piano.

How long will the restoration process take?
Once the necessary funds are raised, we will formally make the arrangements to send Andrea The Piano off for her restoration. The complete restoration process will take one full year to complete.

Who will restore Andrea The Piano?
We have plans of sending this piano to The Antique Piano Shop in the state of Tennessee.  We've done the research and they are really the only place in the United States that can do ALL of the work that is needed. We have been in contact with the owner of this shop and he seems genuinely excited about getting Andrea The Piano into his shop.

There are some places in Michigan that can do some of the work. However, moving this piano in and out of the Little House several times does not sit well with us as in the best interest of this antique piano. In the end, all of the restoration work needed cannot be done in the state of Michigan. 

As you go through The Antique Piano Shop website, you'll see the section on Square Grand Piano Restoration. We hope for the Grade II restoration.

How much will restoration work Cost?
The full restoration will cost $31,800.00
You can read the full list of work that will be done here.
This will include restoration/repair and refinishing of all the wood. This will include the player piano action.  This will also include all repair/restoration/replacement of the inner mechanisms of the piano. This also includes the cost for moving Andrea The Piano to and from The Little House as well as a Victorian period piano stool.

How much of total costs are we, the owners and caretakers of Andrea The Piano, prepared to pay toward restoration?
We do have some money tucked away for the restoration project. However, as many are aware, running a crowd fund campaign such as this one is not cost free. The crowd fund platform does charge a percentage. We specifically chose GoFundMe because the percentage charged is considerably less than any of the other platforms we have investigated.

That being said, if we are able to raise the entire amount needed to restore Andrea The Piano, the fees for using this platform will be $2,544.00 At this point, we are prepared to pay all of the crowd funding fees, which means your gift to Andrea The Piano will go 100% toward restoration.  We have also recently saved a few pennies and have added $2,500.00 toward Andrea The Piano's Restoration.  And so, the total that we, ourselves, have put into this project is $5,044.00.

We are doing other things, like The Shop With Andrea pages, to raise funds. As we raise more funds we will add them here to our total to keep everyone aware of how much money is raised, whether by your generosity or our own efforts. Thus far, the Shop With Andrea pages have added a total $306.00 in funding.


What if I can't donate at this time, is there something else I can do to help?
Yes! You can share this link (RestoreAndrea.org) on your facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.  You can post on your blog or website.  Message me and I'll give you the code for a widget you can use.

Offline, we'd appreciate word of mouth support, and even posting of flyers on community bulletin boards. Message me and we'll email/snail mail flyers out to you.

Who are you?
My name is Rubi Martinez-Bernat. I’ve been involved in music and music ministry since forever. I’ve served in many Detroit/Downriver churches: St. Francis Xavier (St. Andre Bessette) ,  Ste. Anne de Detroit, St. Elizabeth, St. Alfred. I’m currently the music director at St. Gabriel.

You'll also find me at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Major Seminary, directing the Spanish language choir comprised of seminarians. The Spanish mass at The Seminary is on Friday mornings.

I’m a piano instructor. I’ve taught at two Detroit performing arts schools: COMPAS - Center of Music & Performing Arts and Garage Cultural. I currently teach from The Little Piano House, where Andrea The Piano is housed.

I've directed adult choirs, children's choirs, women's choirs. I teach piano. Over the years I'm certain that I have served as a musician for well over 600 funerals, and probably just as many weddings. I've been the musical leadership for First Communions, Confirmations, Quinceaneras and more.

I've taken choirs and musical groups to Chicago, Alburque and even Mexico City.

Has Andrea The Piano been in the Newspaper?
Yes. You can read an article about her here:
Andrea The Piano in The News Herald

Had Radio taken an interest in Andrea the Piano?
Yes.  WWFM, a classical music radio station in the New York/New Jersey area recently interviewed Andrea's caretaker.
You can hear the interview here,  but be sure to scroll to about the middle of the file as there is another interview first.

And so, I ask you all now. . . .

Won't you please help us restore Andrea The Piano?
Maybe it’s because I’ve accompanied you as a musician
during life’s special moments.
Maybe it’s because you have a love for music.
Maybe it’s because you treasure antiques.
Maybe it’s because you appreciate works of art.
Maybe it’s because you live in or near Wyandotte, MI
and would love to help in a local project.
Maybe you’re one of Andrea’s Twitter followers
have enjoyed her wit, humor, and wisdom.

Whatever the reason
I’m asking you to help us
Restore Andrea.

Thank you.

Andrea The Piano on Twitter

Andrea The Piano on Facebook

Andrea The Piano on Google+

Andrea The Piano on Youtube

Andrea The Piano on Ask

AndreaThe Piano on Blogger

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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Rubi Martinez-Bernat
Organizer
Wyandotte, MI

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