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Sometimes, you have to take your piano apart.

Because something gets stuck between the keys and the only way to reach between the keys is to remove a bunch of the front parts.

piano taken apart

It’s frugal and handy to be able to do this myself, but I learned this skill in a not-so-frugal way.

Back in 1997, when my piano was brand spankin’ new (I spent all my savings on it, actually!), I painted my fingernails, and then when I thought the polish was dry, I sat down to play the piano.

Except, the polish wasn’t dry and I got some on a key.

Panic ensued.

I got the brilliant idea to use nail polish remover to get it off, and that did work, but the polish remover also removed all the gloss on that particular key.

Cue more panic.

I called the guy I bought the piano from and he was kind enough to walk me through the process of taking the piano apart and removing the key, and I was able to go to his shop and get a new key.

Fun fact: I have never painted my fingernails since that day. I think I’m too scarred.

Anyway.

A piano sounds really lovely with the front taken off (it’s so nice and loud!), so Joshua and I both played it for a while before I put it back together.

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Monique U. (A Half-Baked Notion)

Wednesday 18th of December 2013

Wow, Kristen, I found this incredibly touching (*TeeHee* not the nail polish part, never wear the stuff either)... but you gave me an AHA moment :) My piano was purchased new for me when I was 13, by my late father. He paid cash for it (I still have the receipt), but then again he always saved and paid cash for everything, even a new car every ten years. The piano is still with me after 40 years, ten moves, and four kids... and I had NEVER thought of taking it apart until now. This will be my next project. Forty-year-old pianos can get a little banged up in a household with four boys!

Sloan

Thursday 21st of November 2013

This made me laugh! I don't paint my nails often, but I usually think it makes me look more "finished." But I would probably be the same way!

glory Lennon

Thursday 21st of November 2013

Too funny!

Tracey Hand

Thursday 21st of November 2013

There's also something very beautiful about watching a piano played with it's front off, of course!

Interesting that you've never painted your nails since. Shows a greater desire for the creation of music than for vanity, I think :-)

Kristen

Thursday 21st of November 2013

Also, I am downright terrible at keeping nail polish looking good on my fingers. I do so much cooking and dishwashing and such, they get dinged up almost immediately. So, it's not a horrible loss to not paint them...it turns out to be a waste of time anyway.

Molly F.C.

Thursday 21st of November 2013

You haven't painted your nails in 16 years? Wow! (This is big talk from me as I rarely do that myself. I'm terrible at it). Glad your piano didn't suffer. :)

Kristen

Thursday 21st of November 2013

Full disclosure: I have had two manicures in my whole life, and they've both happened since that fateful piano key event. However, the manicures were completely dry by the time I got home, and so they felt less dangerous.

Still, while I have nail polish on my fingernails, I feel a little scared to play the piano. Hee.

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