What will happen to all our painstakingly restored treasures after
we are gone?  Children are growing up with different surroundings and
music than we did.  Much of it is simply not suited for piano.  Have
you ever tried to play the theme to "Pok'emon" on the piano?

Our time was different.  Many great pianists did perform on prime time
television.  This encouraged children to learn, and to aspire.  Also,
more families went to church, and again, pianos were everywhere in a
youngsters life.  Piano teachers were no problem to find.

Pianos are much more fascinating to children than any keyboard is!
There are hundreds of parts moving around in a piano while it is
played.  Children are fascinated by the action, a spectacle that is
not present in a keyboard.

Although I don't condone letting a wild bunch of kids loose in valuable
collection, I certainly don't like the "don't touch that" mentality,
although I can understand why many feel that way.  Pianos were made to
be played; as long as the children do not damage the keytops, or play
the keys too hard, I have no problem with that.

We labored long and hard to rebuild these things, but we should
remember to include the youngsters.  Restrict the accesses to the
player action, and encourage them to play the piano manually.  Over
time, something amazing will develop.  All of a sudden, you will start
hearing chords, and melodies.  Later on you will hear the birth of a
style.  This will not happen if you do not allow youngsters to play it.
After my child has practiced, only then is he rewarded with playing a
piano roll of his choice.  _Pianos were built to be played!_

It is also a fact that the better the piano sounds, the more
fascinating the piano will be to the youngster.  It is always a bad
mistake to buy a spinet to encourage youngsters to play.  The little
pianos do not have the power, and even children who can not play can
sense this.

Our seven-year-old is a hyperactive.  I have found the perfect
treatment for it: it's called a $25 Ellington upright.  This is Ben's
piano.  I gave it to him with the understanding that if I gave him that
piano, he would quit "tuning" mine!

This thing keeps him busy for hours.  He tunes it all over, has not
broken any strings or hammer shanks (I can't say that about myself),
and the worst he has done is to pull the keys out and mix them up.
A few days ago he installed his first set of bridle straps and didn't
break anything (although his key leveling needs work).  He has his own
toolbox full of old felts and parts I have thrown away.

This one old piano has made a tremendous difference in his behavior.
Since he has been really good, I told him that as soon as I get caught
up, I will help him restring the unit and repair the soundboard.  This
piano has the brass flange action, and the treble section is showing
signs of fatigue.  I guess I will have to pay up for new rails.  It
will be a valuable learning experience, and some great "one on one"
time.

I have also learned something myself: hyperactivity does not mean that
something is wrong.  It could mean that the child is very bright, and
needs something to challenge his mind.  The old piano does that,
without having to give the child dangerous drugs that we do not know
the long-term effects of.

"Say, Taylor, are you are letting a seven-year-old loose in a perfectly
good rebuildable piano?"  You bet I am!  Yesterday, I heard him mention
his piano along with the word "Pianomation" ...  Oh oh! ($$$)

Andy Taylor