Sexually Assaulted Piano Needs Counseling

[chopintod]

Hope the title grabbed you.   

I live in a dorm buidling, and the only piano we have is an old, beat-up upright that looks like it's been raped several times by a very large and heavy hammer.  About 10% of the keys don't work at all, and a lot of the others stick randomly, then start working again (also randomly).  Finally, several of the keys have gouges in them, and one of the high F#'s simply isn't there.

so, two questions + one subquestion.

First, is it any good practicing on this thing?  I NEED to play the piano, but the closest really working one is in town, up this huge hill, and in this university center.  Not sure if they want me practicing there all the time, cause of meetings, conferences, etc.

Second, my RA said that we will have a meeting about said sexually assaulted piano and what to do; he said that we could look into fixing it OR getting a different one.  Does this piano sound fixable, or should we lobby for a different one?  And, about how much would fixing it/getting a used upright cost?

Danke.  Spasyebo.

Whatever.

Terry

[BoliverAllmon]

fixing it would cost nearly as much as getting a new one. go for new.

[alzado]

No, this one crosses the line.

Next time your dorm buddies hold a "beer n' bonfire," throw the piano on the blaze.

[phil13]

I must agree with alzado.

I've played on some really crappy pianos, but never one where the damn KEYS aren't there!

Better idea:

Bash the piano into splinters and use it AS the bonfire!

Phil

[jeremyjchilds]

fixing it would cost nearly as much as getting a new one. go for new.

A proper upright rebuilding will cost about 10k

Go see what 10k will buy you...it will be better than what you will end up with at the end.

[rich_galassini]

Just a thought - there is a music prof. at a Philly school that wrote a sonata for burning piano. The whole idea is a little morose, but it doesn't get performed very often.

What kind of fundraiser would that be? Lots of college coeds would pay $5.00 to see that, I bet.  And think of the publicity the music program might get. Press, public awareness, pianorights groups - the possibilities are staggering.

[Siberian Husky]

u can get a decent upright for like 200-300 bux...tuning, voicing, and repairs on sticky keys and such would cost you more in the long run..
just get a used upright or spinet and if money is tight dont even tune it..

[c18cont]

Sorry,

This taste in posting is the reason I am basically absent now....

John Cont

[chopintod]

Sorry,

This taste in posting is the reason I am basically absent now....

John Cont

...OK....that really didn't make much sense...but OK.

Terry.

BTW, we're doing a fundraiser to get a new one.....cross your fingers....

[Bob]

Aren't there grands at the school to practice on? 

This is a lot of worry about an upright. 

If it was a grand, I would go for repairs.  Since it's an upright, scrap it and get a new one.


Huskie, a decent upright for 2-300 dollars?  Where?  I want one.  That sounds extremely low.  I would think 5k at least or 10k for a nice upright.  I am not an expert though, obviously.