I agree with this:

After watching a couple hours of TV, or playing a video game for a few minutes, I feel unfulfilled. I feel like I'm wasting my time.

If someone made a bumper sticker that said "I'd rather be playing piano" instead of "I'd rather be fishing" I'd probably put it on my car.

If I have the energy, I prefer the wonderful art of making music to sitting on the couch letting the TV ocupy my mind.

To follow up on Tyrri's comment. I think buying a piano for status is the wrong reason to buy one. While I am aware that there are alot of pianos bought just to be impressive furniture its not a good reason. Besides you have to have lots of people in your house just to see it to get any status value out of it. As for the size of a house I had a C3 in a 1200 sq foot house with room left over. You can make the room if you really want to. I think in the US its hard to get the kids involved with all the organized sports and all the video out there. The shame of it is that piano is not taught in school to everyone.

We haven't owned a TV in over 12 years. No computer games either.

But with a family of four, we own two pianos, one electric keyboard, two cellos, rent another, one beat up violin, and one classical guitar.

It's all about values and what you do with your time on this earth.

TV is the root of all evil. (Maybe I overstate myself. Whatever.) I have always maintained that the problem with TV, regardless of content, is that it is a strong reinforcer of passive behavior. Passive physical behavior and passive intellectual behavior. It's addictive, too.

Watch children watching television and you will see a perversion of nature. Kids sitting still, not talking, imaginations unengaged, passively waiting for the next image or sound. Do-it-to-me mode. That's ain't natural folks. For better or worse, kids weren't meant to act like that.

I would submitted that the culture we find ourselves in today is certainly a product of TV. Learning to play an instrument takes patience, focus, discipline, teamwork, and hardwork, all of which are short circuited when TV reinforces the exact opposite of each of those values.

There is nothing to be gained by impeding the formation of these values. Whatever content is passed along via TV can never negate the passivity that has been reinforced.

To be, or to watch a facsimile of being, that is the question dear Hamlet.

Rant over and out.

If you want to see the depths to which our culture
has stooped to embrace completely passive behavior look at the latest TV fad:

"Reality" TV.....

Now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one....

I totally agree with you hiracer...

~pianocliff

Talking about class:

All of my neighbours have a better car than me. New cars all over for 30000 EUR and more.

MY luxury is a Steinway. I paid the same as for a new car. But in 5 years, the new car will be almost worthless while the Steinway is still an expensive item.

Not to talk about the much greater pleasure I have from a Steinway compared to a car

Thomas, now if you could have your car and your "Tier1" then you would really be someone!

Your fancy car/piano is still expensive. You just don't get back what you paid for it.

Hey... aren't you all looking forward to the chance to become Paris Hilton's family? Maybe Piano playing will be the ticket!