Maybe you saw the Washington Post opinion piece today, “It’s hard to sell a piano these days. It’s even harder to contemplate junking one.” Author John Ficarra, who was the editor of Mad magazine from 1985-2018, was lucky and ended up using it as a trade-in for a new instrument.

Ficarra wrote: It hasn’t been the best of times for pianos. A fixture in middle-class homes throughout much of the 20th century — as a source of entertainment and a status symbol — pianos have gradually fallen out of favor. They’re bulky and expensive to maintain properly. Sales in the United States peaked in 1910, when nearly 365,000 were sold, and even in 1980 they were still a healthy 228,000. But by 2020, only 20,870 were sold. It’s hard to compete with inexpensive electronic keyboards that come with programmable bass and drum accompaniment.

Other people are not so lucky when trying to get rid of their old pianos:

It’s also hard to sell a used “acoustic” piano, as they are now called. People trying to get rid of their piano quickly progress from trying to sell it, to trying to donate it, to begging someone, anyone, just to take it.

In 2012, the New York Times published an article about a graveyard for used pianos where workmen would push them off the back of their truck, bust them up with sledgehammers and sometimes use them for firewood.

There are foundations created for rescuing old pianos: One is The Beethoven Foundation: The Beethoven Foundation was founded in 2008 by pianist and composer Ian Mulder. He currently serves as President (Pro Deo) of the Foundation. They provide free pianos and grand pianos to uniquely talented young people who otherwise would not be able to follow their dreams to become successful musicians. Donate your instrument and they will find a happy new home for it!

Another is Pianos for Education: Make a tax-deductible donation to promote piano education.

For those creative types, you can check out Courtney Constable’s “12 Creative Ways to Repurpose Piano Parts.” Few things are quite as sad as when a beautiful musical instrument becomes too old or damaged to be used. The idea of throwing something so artistic out feels so wrong! This is especially true when if comes to big, intricate instruments like standing or grand pianos. Luckily for us DIY enthusiasts, however, there ways to salvage what you can of such an instrument in order to give at least parts of the gorgeous original a new lease on life. The projects might not be easy, but they’re worth paying homage to the music!

Among the interesting projects you can repurpose a piano into are a tool bench, a desk, a headboard, a glass-covered piano coffee table and a mini-bar!

More great ideas are shown here.

Over the 48+ years that I have lived in Hawaii, I have received many calls from people and churches wanting to get rid of their pianos and organs. However dear they may have been to their original owners, the instruments are now basically worthless, and luckily I have “placed” over 2 dozen instruments in homes of students.

For example, when Sacred Heart Church on Wilder Avenue, was trying to get rid of their old electronic organ, they called me and it became the practice instrument for then-budding organist, Joey Fala who has become an accomplished church organist and concert artist. When Joey went off to college, his mom called me and I was able to place the instrument in the home of Andrew Moore, grandson of Bud Klein, long time choir director of Waiokeola Church. And then when Andrew graduated from college, his family called me and the organ was then donated to Megan Mueller, a young organist now studying with Ina Young. As I said before, this is only one instrument out of more than two dozen organs that I have rescued and placed with a new family.

In saying that most instruments are worthless, of course there are exceptions. Go back and read my posts about the extraordinary Estonia piano which is now residing at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu: “The story of the Estonia piano,” and “The making of the Estonia piano.”

All of this brings me to another article that was shared with me today. Vreni Griffith, my Spanish tutor and long-time friend and early music lover, sent me an article about a city which PAYS for its children to take organ lessons! The very small city of Sursee in Switzerland pays for the first 6 months of organ lessons to children, using part of the “church tax” which is levied on residents to pay for the program. “There are a lot of organs in Swiss churches. That’s enough for anyone who wants to practice,” says Daniela Achermann, founder of the organ school.

Music teacher Andreas Wüest hopes that the project will result in the church organ losing some of its dusty image and that younger people can also get excited about it. “People should perceive the instrument as diverse and not just associate it with the church,” he says, adding enthusiastically: “The organ should shine.”

Eight children are now in their second year of lessons, which means their parents are now paying for the lessons.

There’s hope for the organ yet!