Page 86 - Jan Sun Rays

THE SHINY BLACK
Grand Piano
Ialways admired people who could play
the piano. I could watch and listen,
amazed at how the music just poured
out, almost as if the notes were dancing
across the top of the piano and floating
throughout the room. I always wished I
could play like that - unfortunately, we
did not have a piano at home when I was
growing up.
When I was about 29, I went for a walk
through Red Bird Mall in Dallas, Texas.
Right there in the mall display window of
The Melody Shop was the most beautiful,
shiny, black grand piano I had ever seen.
After staring at it through the window
awhile, I casually walked in, climbed up
into the window, sat down and started
pressing on different keys, listening to
the richness of the tone of the piano. Next one, anyway. We’d bring you one out of
thing I knew, a salesperson was there in
84 | SUNRAYS JANUARY 2016
By David Clary
the window with me. I had no idea about
pricing of pianos. With nothing to compare
that price to - except maybe a new car - I
walked away.
The following week, that piano was still
on my mind when I discovered another
music store in Arlington. There, I spotted
a black grand on the showroom floor.
Playing around on the keys, I could tell
this piano did not have the other piano’s
richness of tone, its feel to the touch or
even its same luster. As I considered this,
a fast-talking salesman (who probably had
a second job selling used cars) strolled
up and began his pitch. I mentioned to
him my concern that this piano seemed
to be lacking in certain qualities, to which we will sell you.” Well, I got it.
he replied, “Well, you wouldn’t get this
the warehouse.” Excuse me, but when I
want something - especially something
that costs as much as this piano - I want
the something I am looking at, not a false
representation! What an insult.
I immediately left and made my way back
to The Melody Shop at Redbird Mall,
where the piano still sat in the front
window, right where I left it. I stepped
up there again to listen to the piano’s
sound and admire its black finish and
brass trim. The salesperson remembered
me from the week before, and I told her of
my experience at the other place. “Every
instrument is as individual as the person
buying it,” she said, adding, “If this is the
piano you like and want, this is the piano
I began taking piano lessons, and over
time I think I got pretty good. My piano
teacher even told me the way I played
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