Is your piano the focal point of your home? Do visitors naturally gravitate toward it? Since I bought my "new to me" grand, everyone, including Girl Scout saleswomen, and trick of treaters ask about it looking in the doorway. My house is very contemporary and austere, but the piano is definately the "Wow Factor" these days. What about you?

An other factor to consider, When visitors demand that I play it, suddenly it becomes not so great! HAH!

We need to see pictures!!

I can't seem to be able to post pictures on this site, I'm probably not with the program, however, if you go to Flicker, you should be able to see photos going to thetandyman.com. Let me know if it works?

I don't think of it as a focal point...it's just my piano. But I think my guests do. They're unused to seeing grand pianos, let alone 9 footers.

Tried going to Flickr and typing thetandyman.com, but nothing was found.

Gatsbee13, try this formula:

flickr.com/photos/thetandyman1

Neighborhood kids seem to gravitate towards it but I don't think anyone else pays much attention. Of course mine isn't all that impressive looking I guess.

Mine usually gets a comment from people that have not been in our house before. Of course, it's near the front door, so it's impossible to miss when you come in.

As for focal point, my wife and the cat both leave the room when I start playing - with her permission, of course (the wife's, not the cat's). So I guess it's only a focal point for me.

Don’t know about others visiting my home, but when I walk into my home and see my Yamaha C7, I’m the one who is in aw… it is a fabulous sight to behold, not to mention an amazing musical instrument. So, it is, in essence, the focal point of my home, to me at least.

Of course, my pocket knife collection is pretty nice too.

Rick

ventil, hilarious! I'd keep the cat. Strangely enough, when I was married, we had 2 twin Sons that were very talented musically. they played the drums and Bass guitar. And they eventually played all over the Mid Central states. However, I could play the piano or theater organ and our three dogs would lay around the room, but when the boys played, we had to put them in the backyard. Good canine taste, I tell ya!

I have an old Barlow that belonged to my Dad. You have any Uncle Henrys?

Mine isn't the focal point. In fact, it is hidden upstairs in a small bedroom because my wife isn't too fond of my mediocre playing. Still, whenever I visit someone's home and there is a piano, it's all I can do to keep my hands off of it, so I imagine a beautiful Mason-Hamlin seven foot BB in polished ebony like mine would be a focal point if anyone could see it. Oh well, I am self-conscious when I play so I also prefer that it is in a room where I can close the door and relax when I play.

Might have something to do with what is being played. Mine strongly prefer gentle and sweet to clanging.

Generally when I play the dogs gather round the piano and lie down on the floor near me, just listening. I think they like the vibrations. It's so cute! Last night it was Schubert D.935 No. 1 which is particularly sweet.

I had a cat who would jump on my lap while I played, but only when I played the Arietta from Beethoven Op. 111 (badly).

I had a teacher whose cat would only condescend to listen to her play Mozart. The cat would leave the room when my teacher started playing anything else.

The cat would sit on top of a stereo speaker when Wolfie was playing, also.

Yes, I do have an old Uncle Henry as well as a couple of old Barlows, Queen Steel, Buck, Schrade, Kabar, and Case. I like the newer Kershaw and Gerber knives too.

Of course, I don't handle them as much anymore because I don't want to cut my fingers and impair my piano playing more than it already is due to lack of skill.

Rick

Rick, that could be a topic as well! "How many pianists on this site own or use a chainsaw?"

They walk into my house and wonder if it is a piano store. LOL

The amount of clutter in my house pretty much prevents anything from becoming a focal point.