I’m embarking on a Go Fund Me campaign to restore my 1917 Steinway Model O grand piano.  The first phase will cost about $2,000 - $3,000, primarily for new strings.  Everyone who gives $30 or more will be invited to a recital next spring, free of charge!


The Piano

My piano was built in the Steinway factory in Astoria, Queens, NY in the middle of World War I.  He has a beautiful satin black finish, ivory keys, and an extraordinary sound board, and all original parts. He is 5’10 ¾” long and fits nicely in the downstairs rec room.


The Steinway Model O

This particular model was designed by Henry Ziegler and introduced in 1900, and was made only until the year 1924. They are approximately 5’10 ¾” in length. It was replaced in 1924 with the model L which is ¼” shorter.  The model O was re-established in 2006 and now has replaced the model L.  These particular O models are highly sought after both for its rarity, and also as they were considered smaller scaled down versions of the Model D 9-foot concert grand. The sale price for a new Model O ranges from $79,000 to $130,000; a basic piano to art case style respectively.


How he came into my life

I acquired it from my high school prior to the school’s closing. When I was a freshman, I saw that gorgeous piano on the stage in the gym/auditorium, and made a beeline to check it out.  After playing literally a few notes, I was so amazed at the incredibly rich and warm sound and the ‘perfect’ touch, that I instantly fell in love with it, and I ‘just had to have this piano’.  Well, if you know the phrase, “speak it into existence”, I literally shouted it into existence.  

When we were informed that the school would be closing, the immense sadness and tears were overwhelming. Both teachers and students were heartbroken.  The principle had approached me and asked if I’d be interested in the piano, and that she wanted to offer it to me first as I was really the only student who played decently.  There was no price set as yet by the school’s board, but I had hope that the principle would put in a good word on my behalf.  I called my mom and told her the great news.  I remember thinking that it might cost my parents in the neighborhood of $7,000-$10,000 at least,  

Later that week, I met the principle and she informed me that the piano would have to sell for $2,000. So without reservation I accepted her offer, and told her that I’d take it.

That same day, my best friend Nina and I ran down to Children’s Hospital where my mom worked and got a $200 deposit check to give to the principle. The deal was sealed for me, and the principle handed me the keys to the piano.  I locked it up and went home very happy.


The past few years

I recently was able to move him into my living space in East Mt. Airy after he had sat unplayed for the past two years at my parents’ home and time has taken a toll on him.  There’s moisture damage to the strings and felts resulting in rust and 30 broken strings so far.

It’s not that I did not want to play him, it’s that I was so paralyzed with grief from the loss of my mother that I was unable to enter the house after she died.  

In the past month or so, I have been able to approach the house and remove some of its contents.  Getting my piano out and with me has made me feel like I can begin the transition to the next chapter of my life in which my piano plays a major part.  

I missed playing him terribly, and I think that my playing has changed due to this, but it’s nothing that cannot be remedied.  

 
What my piano means to me

My piano and I have spent literally thousands of hours together; which is more time than I’ve spent with any single human being. We’ve formed a bond so strong as if he were an actual person that I share a soul with. He has been with me through wonderfully joyful times as I’ve prepared for college entrance auditions and various performances, holidays, in-home recitals that my mom used to arrange, detailed and lengthy practices in which I discovered how to play a single note perfectly, and all of the music learned with my teachers Eugene List, Karl Ulrich Schnabel and Aldo Ciccolini.

 He has also been my companion on the saddest of days. The day my father died, I returned to my parent’s home to inform my mother that her husband of many years had passed away. After comforting her, I went straight to my piano and played some of my father’s favourite pieces; music that he always asked me to play for him which made him happy.  

I’ve spent hours angry with my piano, and crying with him.  Loving him and hating him, which somehow gave me relief from so much grief from the feeling of abandonment when after losing both parents, I became an orphan.

He’s all that I have from my past, but with a lot of TLC, we will continue to make wonderful music together, and he can live on past my years for the future generations to enjoy and make wonderful music with.


What he needs

Today I have to replace about 30 strings, but over the next few years he will need new tuning pins, pin block, action, hammers, and dampers(the soundboard is in fine shape). I have always done the basic maintenance on my piano such as cleaning, tuning and minor adjustments to regulation, and felt work. Although I am able to assess what needs to be done, I am not an officially licensed piano technician.
 
Thank you for reading my story, and I hope that you will be able to help out with saving my piano. Every little bit helps.