My name is Lin Cheong.  I am 62 years old and I am learning to play the piano using YouTubes and have purchased a couple of piano tutorials.  I never gave up thinking I would one day play a nice classical piece.  I look forward to simply enjoy my level of playing as I grow older and would be a great pastime when I retired.    "I have a Wurlitzer at home that I bought for my kids years ago.  Because I love piano so much I hunt around and found a free console Mason and Hamlin.  I made an enquiry and was told the piano doesn’t play but after researching about this brand I decided I want to bring it home to try to get it fixed.  So I sent a mover to go pick it up without seeing the piano.  The mover upon arrival called and asked me if I am sure I want the piano, he is happy to just leave without charging me.  I told him to bring it back anyway.  When it got here, none of the keys worked.  I found a piano technician that came to the house and he reshaped the hammers and tuned up the piano.  It has being a joy to play since with the exception of one key that sticks when the pedal is pressed 😀 but hey I know it can be fixed, maybe with the next tune.  So this is the Mason and Hamlin story.

Here is the Richard Lipp Piano Story
For someone who can’t really play I was browsing around for pianos on KSL again after the M and H and found someone selling a few of her refurbished pianos.  We went to the house and she showed us a few in the back of her house with very dim light.  I was talked into buying a $500 upright black piano.  I don’t know the brand and I don’t know anything about it except trusting the seller that she is a piano technician and she tunes piano for an orchestra in China.  I was sold because delivery is also free.  The day when they delivered  the piano I saw the piano in broad daylight and realized that the black paint looks like someone had poured a can of paint over it,  you can see streaks of paint on it and I have no choice but to accept the disappointment.  The husband and wife team couldn’t get it down the slope to my basement and they quickly hailed down a few google fiber guys to help and that was hilarious as they tried very hard to prevent the piano from flying down the steep concrete slope (I have a video of the candid moment).  Once we got the piano settled I started poking around and found that it is a Richard Lipp and Sohns piano that I have never heard of but I was fascinated by the ivory keys and I joined a piano forum and got to know a lot more about this piano and how well built it is. I have actually contacted and spoken to Brigham Larson a few years ago to find out from him about restoring but unfortunately I just don’t have the means.  To this day I do not know what else to do but it plays but sounds like a tin can sometimes.  I know this will be a great piece of antique instrument if it is restored.  IF I win (crossing my fingers and toes) this giveaway this piano is a going to shine and be enjoyed for the rest of my life.  

I would like to the team of judges to know that my level of piano playing is very basic but for some strange reasons I have an immense passion to learn the piano.  I can’t really read music notes but I would translate them into alphabets because then I know which key to play.  Pick me because I will not fail you (I will play and not let it sit). Pick the piano because it is an amazing German built antique piano that’s worth restoring.  I have a video but I couldn’t upload it.  I will see how to send it separately.  Thank you judges, music is therapy and music gives energy. 

• YEAR 1910-1920
• MAKE Richard Lipp & Sons
• FINISH Black / Ebony
• CATEGORY CONTESTANT