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The piano

I past the piano down to my children as my father pasted it down to me. My name is Simon and my dad taught me everything I know. I was only 3 years old when I learnt how to play. When I am lonely I sit at my piano and play my favourite song, because it brings all my wonderful memories back. I am thinking about stopping because sometimes it reminds me of the hard times.

It wasn’t long ago when my wife, Victoria, and I used to sit at the piano and play our wedding song. I gave Victoria piano lessons, she said it was her first ever time playing a piano (but she was pretty good). As we sat at the piano we played a few notes, then she kissed me on the cheek and went up to bed. Sometimes I still feel her warm kisses on my cold cheek. When I play I can see her reflation (as though her spirit is sat next to me). She wouldn’t sleep if I didn’t play the piano.

Back in time to the war, I was a medic. I still feel guilty because I told my best friend to go out and distract the enemies but sadly he got shot… “IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!!!!!!” I cried to him. I tried to help him but it was too late, he died there and then in my arms. He was one of my closes friends. It was all my fault!!

On my 4^th birthday my dad handed me a box, covered in blue tissue paper and a blue ribbon. I was so excited I quickly ripped it open. I know my mum and dad aren’t rich but it was the best present I had ever been given. I said I always wanted a wooden horse, and I got it. That was one of my happiest memories I wasn’t really expecting anything at all.

On my horse I rode around the piano twice then stopped and got up on to the chair and played a few notes. I still feel like I have got my family beside, me but I am alone.

      Jessica Kimberley

The Piano past- Gibbons

I’m Rodney Brown, I’ve been gifted with piano playing since I was a very little boy. At this moment in time it helps me cope with traumatic memories. It is the only thing that has been and stayed with me for 70 years. I somehow feel like I can connect with her, like she is the only thing that listens and talks through the keys. I’m devoted to her. This song seems like it describes what the past couple of years has been like.

I met Sheila when we were 12; we’ve had so many memories together. I learnt her piano when we were 25 and she carried on playing until February 14^th when she passed away in my arms. I can still remember how she used to kiss me gently before we went to bed, how caring our relationship was, but in one blink of an eye, it’s all gone.

That brings me to 1975 (war) when I lost my brother.  Behind the wall my brother and I stood. I signalled him to go out, worst mistake ever. As a tear ran down my cheek, he fell backwards, into my arms. Since that day, I blame myself for his death.

Now for a happy memory. I were 4, my granddad and I were having a laugh. He gave me a huge blue box, my adrenaline rushed as I began to wonder what was in it. I opened the box to find the most beautiful hobby horse ever. It was the best day of my life.

Just like the piano, that got passed down until this very day in 2013, when I gave it to my grandson. I will always remember this day my grandson and I played harmony on the piano as a grand finale of Sheila’s song. At the end he looked up at me and smiled, then said “I love you Granddad!”

the piano

Even when I was a young boy I played piano and now I am here and she is still here with me. She listens to me as I play here. Her song helps me get through my past. My whole family has been pianists and has been passed down for generations. She has been here for all through when I was a boy all the way to now. The beat of her song brings back memories happy and emotional.

My wife Mary was an amazing pianist we would sit for hours on end just playing all the songs we knew. When I play I feel her with me. On hour wedding after the party we played the piano. She was so good at playing from the first time her fingers touched the keys she was outstanding.

Going even more back when I was a self-medic. I told my friend to go that it was safe to shoot. He was shot the second he stepped away from the wall. I pulled him back he died in my arms!!! It should have been me I deserve to have this burden forever until I die like he did because of me.

I remember my 6^th birthday when I got the best present in the world. I wasn’t really expecting to get anything because my family where very poor. My hobby horse would keep me entertained for hours. It came in a blue box with dark blue ribbon and a smart blue bow on top. I would play games with my friends about cowboys and in the end the horses would come and save us.

All my memories disappear I keep playing like I always have. My grandson playing with his toys under the piano in a world of his own. He stops and comes to sit next to me. I give my head a jolt at one of the keys he nodded back, he put a little finger on the key and the song ended. My son is teaching to play piano every time he plays he sounds like Mary. He reminds me of her his eyes especially.

The Piano

My name is Steven and I’m going to tell you my story. My piano has been with me since I was a little boy. It holds a lot of memories from over the past 80 years. It is the only thing that gets me through the hard times. I stare at my reflection while I play and every now and then I feel a hand gently touch my shoulder. I spend most of my time at the piano.

Sitting here bringing back the memory of how I met the love of my life (Alison). I bumped into her at the dance hall. She was sat opposite me looking enchanting. I floated towards her, held out my and asked if she would like to dance. From there our relationship took off we’ve had our ups and downs but I was devoted to her and I still am today.

Going back even further, I remember the war. I nod at my friend (Andrew) to give him a signal to attack. He started to shoot frantically, somehow all of his shots missed. Suddenly he fell to the ground with a thud. At that point I realised he was shot. He died in my arms I tried everything to try and save him but nothing seemed to work.

When I was younger I remember receiving a blue box tied with a pretty bow. It was one of the best toys around.me and my mates used play with my hobby horse pretending we were cowboys. It was the best thing ever. I loved my horse and then it got passed down the family all the way to my grandson.  The skill of playing the piano got passed down also.