Celebrating International Piano Day at the Windsor Park Library
In honor of International Piano Day, celebrated on the 88th day of the year, March 29th, Kelly Overton arranged for Nick Litterski, a Registered Piano Technician and the owner of Austin Piano Tex, to visit the Windsor Park branch of the Austin Public Library to tune the piano located just outside the library doors.
As the piano was opened for tuning, it was fascinating to see its inner workings, including the harp—the metal frame that holds the strings taut. This particular piano, which dates back to 1927, has certainly stood the test of time.
During the tuning session, I had the chance to observe Nick at work, adjusting the piano’s action—the intricate mechanism comprising the hammers, dampers, and various parts that strike the strings to produce sound. As he worked, Nick took the time to explain the inner workings of the piano and pointed out some of the parts that were in need of repair. Some of the bridal straps, for instance, were almost worn through, while others had already broken.
After the repairs and tuning were finished Nick and some other residents and visitors each took turns playing the piano. One guest, Henry, who regularly comes from South Austin to use the piano because it is one of the few publicly available pianos in Austin shared a rendition of the 1899 Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin.
Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, the necessary repairs to restore the piano to full working condition are not currently possible. We’re still negotiating to see how we can help, so, if you would like to contribute to the cost of repairs and help bring this beloved piano back to its best, please reach out to info@windsorpark.info and we will let you know how to contribute. Your support would be greatly appreciated!
Seven of our eleven 2023 Scholarship recipients being recognized at our June WPNA meeting.
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