Sledge hammer to piano
 

What’s the story with pianos these days? We have almost completed our two yearlong move from Ohio to TV. During this time we have been trying to sell and or give away our seldom used piano. Everyone in the good old days needed a piano at home to learn music. Today, you can’t seem to give one away. I would hate to take the sledge hammer to it to make it fit into a dumpster. Any suggestions?

I remember when all the really fortunate kids took piano lessons. Maybe parents don't have the time to get them there with both working. That is sad. I so admire anyone who can play a piano.

If your into charity......

Maybe you could donate it to a school music department,
or a church.

Or a YMCA or youth group......this would be a great opportunity for maybe some underprivileged kids, and maybe you could even give lessons....

just a thought......use it as a tax deduction.....

IMHO, inexpensive but otherwise very usable electronic keyboards have taken the place of pianos for many people. They are smaller and therefore easier to place in a home, easier to move and/or store, don't need to be tuned, and perhaps most importantly, cost thousands less than a piano. And for children, they are easier to learn to play because your fingers don't have to be as strong to depress the keys. They certainly aren't the same in terms of sound, and perhaps for many people aren't as satisfying to play, but still a strong alternative to an actual piano.

Songs in the key of free: More tips on what to do with an unwanted piano - The Washington Post

Google what to do with an unwanted piano.

The Freecycle Network

Society of Unique Artists >> Donate Your Piano

What's happened is electronic keyboards that are less expensive, take up less room, don't have to be tuned and can be kept in a closet if you don't want it out all the time. In addition, thousands of different instrument sounds can be gotten from them. Many have the option of a weighted keyboard so they play just like a real piano.

The demand for old pianos dropped when wood burning fireplaces were replaced with gas.

Just fling it ! 1990's Northern Exposure style....

Piano Fling Scene - YouTube

We donated ours to a retirement facility.

I am probably like many people here. I would LOVE to have a piano, but no room. Gave mine to our daughter before we moved here.

I agree; if you can't get someone to buy your piano, you may as well donate it and get the tax benefit.

Donate it; get a tax deduction. My mother-in-law has an upright that is approx. 55 y/o and in 2 weeks will be the 4th time we've moved it in 7 years (mid-Missouri to Arkansas, back to Kansas City, to TV and now to another location in TV); plays it all the time and has it tuned ever so often; it keeps her happy. That darn thing is heavy......

If you can't find a home for it and no organization is willing to take it. May I suggest sticking with the sledgehammer but charge people a dollar a whack, then donate the $$ to your fav charity. Could be a fun party.

My former neighbor had an old one in his barn. He took it apart, sold the metal parts for scrap, gave me the wood parts and I made picture frames out of it. Gave one to him with a picture of his piano in it and another with a picture of his barn init. He loved the frames and the irony.

I suggest you do the hammer thing.
Look what was found in this old piano...........
Gold Sovereigns – ‘Treasure’ Trove Found In UK – Don’t Be The Piano Owner << SGTreport – The Corporate Propaganda Antidote – Silver, Gold, Truth, Liberty, & Freedom

Craigslist
 

Before you give up and destroy your piano, I suggest you list it on craigslistocala as a free item.

I frequently see free pianos on craisgslisttampa. Presumably, some of them get picked up.

Regarding why you have had no luck getting someone in The Villages to accept the piano, it is likely that space in the home is an issue, as well as the fact that few people sit around and play the piano when there is so much to watch on TV, and so many activities to get involved in throughout the retirement community.

The piano is in our Ohio house. Craigslist has several listings of free pianos in our area. As we have ten more days to move things out of our sold Ohio house, the piano has ten more days to live. Thanks for all of the advice!

Ask the moving company. Someone there will snag it. If you want it wrecked call my mover or GE's mover they will turn it into splinters for you! Good luck.....hurry up though we need more pictures. Concentrate on the piano it will make you forget all the other stuff you're facing. It will be done before you know it.

That's a great story.

I'm still in trouble with my kids for giving our 1929 baby grand away in the mid '90s. Man can they hold a grudge.

My baby grand piano is from 1926 and I play it when I can, but there's something about the humidity and dust down here that it seems to need tuning too often.

We posted ours on Craigslist and had many responses. Eventually gave it to a family (via their piano teacher) who had two boys who were training on an old electronic keyboard. Family extremely happy.

Part of the issue with getting a "real used piano" (I just got one) is the COST of moving it - I got 3 quotes and the lowest was $240. They went up from there. So, on top of purchasing it, you have to pay the movers and then you have to pay to get it tuned ($100-150), at least twice (right after the move and then 3-4 months later). So, that adds to the "Nope, I'll just buy an electric keyboard" syndrome!

After pledging a substantial donation to my old Rotary club if a member would remove the piano from my house, a younger member accepted the challenge to my great delight. I was going to make a donation to Rotary in any case as I truly believe Rotary does help people locally and around the world. Again, thanks for all of your suggestions and to alert me to the difficulties of piano purging.