Category: Mr. York

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A Table Style Piano with Three Leaves–the whole story in lurid detail

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Two days following my encounter with the towering no name upright, I was drawn to a Fresno Bee Classified ad, that listed an antique ”Counsel piano” for sale at “$1500 or best offer.” (First thing that popped into my head was Indian pow-wow- tribal "council?") What on earth was a Counsel? I snatched up my… Continue reading A Table Style Piano with Three Leaves–the whole story in lurid detail

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A Day with Two Piano Finalists

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

A Kawai and Chickering were in a tight race, until one took off and surpassed the other. My whole Saturday was consumed with evaluating two pianos: a practically brand new "Kawai" 5'1" grand and a larger, nearly 5'8" size "Chickering," 1980. The Kawai captured my interest because a smaller studio upright of the same brand… Continue reading A Day with Two Piano Finalists

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Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Buyers and Sellers (Dream Piano’s last Chapter)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

DO’s for Buyers If possible take along a Registered Piano Technician and performing pianist with a good pair of ears to evaluate a used or new piano on the market. You can find a list of RPT members at your Piano Technicians’ Guild online site, or look in the business or Yellow Pages for the… Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Buyers and Sellers (Dream Piano’s last Chapter)

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On the Meat Rack of used pianos: One that Never Left Its Home

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I received a phone call on a June morning from a man who inquired about my piano-finding services. He sounded like he might be from India, but I wasn’t sure. “Do you help with selling a piano?” he inquired. "On occasion, I do," I replied. "It depends on the quality of the instrument." I could… Continue reading On the Meat Rack of used pianos: One that Never Left Its Home

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Recording on a SLEEPER Dream Piano

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

On a whim, I had decided to make an hour long trip to Visalia about 50 miles south of Fresno to sniff out the stock over at the “Piano Gallery.” (This was before it went out of business) A medium size establishment in an upscale shopping mall, it was owned by “Ginnadiy Merkerin,” a Russian… Continue reading Recording on a SLEEPER Dream Piano

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Piano Tuner, York on Mice, Rats, Moths and Cats (Video, part 2)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

In this part two follow-up to York's World War II Memoir, the seasoned piano tuner relaxes into his emblematic animated conversation, telling the world how to eradicate mice, rats, and moths from pianos. Oldsters watching better have a fresh pair of Depends, because York lets loose with some mighty over the top, funny lines. Throw… Continue reading Piano Tuner, York on Mice, Rats, Moths and Cats (Video, part 2)

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York’s World War II Musical Memoir (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

York had shown me burns on his arms that he'd sustained in Hiroshima following the US attack. The blisters sprang up rapidly on the afternoon he'd been dispatched to the scene. I had always surmised that York's deeply embedded scars were from piano strings "poppin'"on him. But one morning he told me the indelible piano tuner marks were intermingled with the effects of the A-bomb. York dropped off a newspaper photo that showed him embracing his… Continue reading York’s World War II Musical Memoir (Video)

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Mr. York in his own voice, a Musical WW II Memoir

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Without giving away the content of this video before it is seen, suffice it to say that the viewer will long remember this tender World War II story as recounted by 84 year old, Connell York, piano tuner, in his own words, and through a memorable song. Enjoy! Kirsten Productions Aviva Kirsten, Director and Video… Continue reading Mr. York in his own voice, a Musical WW II Memoir

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Fujie Finds her Dream piano, but Buyer Beware!

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Fujie's Suzuki Digital piano, purchased at Costco, predated her starting lessons with me. Prior to entering my sanctuary with its two Steinways and wall-to-wall, piano emblem nick knacks, she had been enrolled at Fresno State's Group classes. Seated at her electronic station with a full deck of 88s mounted on particle board platforms, among rows… Continue reading Fujie Finds her Dream piano, but Buyer Beware!

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Samick, York, Tofujie and me: On the piano-chasing trail

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

York called me from a client's home in Clovis right after our great treasure-seeking adventure under the Kawai 7-foot grand piano. He'd been appraising a Samick studio upright manufactured in 1990 that was owned by Joel Van Ginkel. "I'd appraise it at about $2000," he said, "but between you 'n me, he'll unload the piana' for a lot… Continue reading Samick, York, Tofujie and me: On the piano-chasing trail