(no subject)
The little piano doctor came and gave my darling a checkup today. The tuning didn't take long, but he charged more than he did 2 years ago. And after he was done, he played some of the Rondo from Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. My parents thought it was me, as I played it quite often after Ryan first lent me the score. He was much more fluent though.
So after he left, I was very happy. Literally jumped up and down in delight, waving my fists around like an idiot. It felt damned good to play with those 15-or-so screwed up keys working again. You see, my piano began making strange noises on its own a while ago. It sounded quite like the "crack" of a rifle. Just as sudden, just as loud. It freaked me out the first time. Worried me to death the second. Made me say "F---!" the third, because I had just in stuck my head to take a look. Said that in front of my mum too. She had no reaction at all. I was almost disappointed. So much for that glorious first time.
Anyway, since then, my keys have been malfunctioning one after the other. I compiled a nice little list. The worse it got, the more frustrated I became, and naturally, my playing deteriorated as well. Not that there was much room to sink any lower. And my dad said that there was no point in tuning the piano. Since I played so horribly, and I am often too busy to practise, why bother tuning it? I don't think it occurred to him that he had me trapped. I don't want to play if the piano's not tuned. But if I don't play, it won't get tuned. Maybe he realized and did it on purpose. The point is, though, that it did get tuned in the end, so let's not dwell on all that.
So the little doctor did his work and left, and we had dinner. Then I finished a few urgent things, and went to my old newly-patched-up buddy. Boy it was weird. We were like strangers once again. The high notes were slightly muffled, yet somewhat sharper at the same time. Which doesn't make much sense, but the changes were rather inexplicable. I think my notes are all higher-pitched, but I can't be sure. The pedal seemed to be squeaking louder than before, despite the pungent shoe-polish-smelling oil that he used. And as I was still getting used to the new touch, my low B got stuck in the middle of Quiet Life.
And then the high C started sounding weak. Wouldn't sound properly at the end of my Liebestraum where I needed it for the melody.
And then suddenly it seemed as though the entire keyboard was uneven -- some notes were too loud, some too soft.
I figured the last two might just be me overreacting, but the B was definitely not my imagination.
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I can't imagine what university would be like without my piano. I'd like to say that I'll miss it much. But I know I won't. Not as much as I'd like to anyway.
Sure'd be a lot less heartache. But I'd miss the occasional good day too.