A grand reason for a new piano

After attending happy hour at Upcycle Piano Shop several times and admiring the pianos on the showroom floor, Mary Ellen Farney of Independence, Missouri, “kept dreaming about getting a newer grand piano. Bram Wijnands, who keeps my piano in tune, confirmed that I would really enjoy a better piano.”

As a result of volunteering with Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Farney and her husband occasionally invite jazz musicians to play for friends at house parties. “One of those amazing musicians is Joe Cartwright, who found this piano for Upcycle as it belonged to a student of Joe’s.

“I had heard Joe play this piano at a party and knew how much he liked its magical tone and touch, but as I was shopping did not realize this was the one until after I was lucky enough to purchase it. I tried out several pianos that I liked but knew this one was special.”

Farney has played piano since childhood. Her mother, a classical piano teacher, insisted that she learn to play.

“I am forever grateful to her for this opportunity. Later I was fortunate to take lessons from the legendary John Elliott, who taught me theory and how to apply it to jazz. That opened up a whole new delightful world of music to me. I have always owned a piano but never one as perfect as the refurbished Yamaha I found at Upcycle.

“Whenever I walk by my music room I cannot resist the desire to sit down and practice as it gives me those thrilling round tones — so long as I touch the right notes!”