Respect for The Piano

By

The Original Party Pooper

Once upon a time, when a child set a beverage on the family piano, a good scolding wasn't far behind. In those days, parents taught respect.

For banging on the keys and otherwise abusing the schoolhouse piano, the rambunctious earned a swat on the behind. (The penalty for sitting atop, even more, doing The Piano Lid Bop, is too severe to print.) There was no such thing as "time out" back then. Teachers taught respect.

When The Great Piano Trouncer came to town, one dealer refused to rent a piano - any piano - not even a Smith & Barnes with a cracked plate destined for The Old Piano Graveyard. For one dealer, respect was of greater value than profit.

When The Trouncer's successor came to town - The Young String Popper - one piano tech refused to remain behind stage feeding fresh new bass strings to The Hybrid. The piano technician had respect, even for Universal Bass Strings.

Yes, there is still respect for the piano, if only for the lowliest among parts.

At least something lived happily ever after.