重たいピアノを３人がかりで動かす

　以前なら私一人でピアノの位置を動かせましたが、最近は体力が減少し、ビクとも動きません。昨日、長女夫婦が我が家を訪れたので、予てより予定してた作業を手伝ってもらいました。それは推定４００～５００Kgあるピアノを写真のようにホームコンサートができる位置に移動してもらいました。私を含め３人がかりでも簡単には動きませんでしたが、１０分程でどうにか目的の場所に移せました。

　以前の位置は右の象が見える北側でしたが、昨日からは西側にしました。これにより、お客さんがこの部屋に入ると正面にピアノが見えるようになり、恰もステージのようです。そして、その上に私が２０代の青春時代にインドで描いたヴクトリアメモリアルの絵を据えました。果たして、これで年末からピアノ練習に身が入るでしょうか。

　幸いこの部屋の天井はアーチ形をしており、周囲の壁は漆喰で、床は硬い木材で出来てるので響は良いです。ですから、音色を楽しむには向いており、私のようにあまり上手でなくともピアノの音色を味わえます。弾きたい方は弾きにいらして下さい。

　実は、最近、私がピアノを弾く気持ちが高まったのは、厚労省によると、６５才以上の５人に1人が認知症とのことなので、私の推測ですが、７０才台では４人に1人、８０才代では３人に１人が罹るのではないかと考えるからです。一度きりの人生、人生の後半を自分らしく精神面でも健康で生活したいです。

　難しい速い曲はなるべく避け、有名な小品に挑戦です。例えば、高齢男性が弾く「乙女の祈り」も正に乙なものでしょう。夢は友人・知人、近所の人に来て戴き、ホームコンサートを開くことです。この部屋は１８畳の広さなので、椅子を並べれば１５人以上入れます。また一つ年齢を重ねますが、年末から新年はピアノを頑張ります。

Dear my overseas friends who like piano music

　I used to be able to move the piano by myself, but lately my physical strength has decreased so that I can't move it alone. Yesterday, my eldest daughter and her husband visited my home, so they helped me the work I had planned for a while. The piano, which weighs an estimated 400 to 500 kg, was moved to a location where home concerts could be held in the future, as shown in the photo. It wasn't easy to move even with 3 people including me, but we could move it to my hoping location in about 10 minutes.

　The previous location was on the north side where you could see the statue of Indian elephants on the right, but yesterday we moved it to the west side. As a result, when customers enter this room, they can see the piano in front of the room, therefore, it looks like a stage. And on top of the piano, I placed a picture of Victoria Memorial that I drew in India during my youth in my twenties. Will I be able to start practicing the piano from the end of the year to new year?

　Fortunately, the ceiling in this room is arched, the surrounding walls are plaster, and the floor is made of hard wood, so the sound is good beyond expectation. Therefore, it is suitable for enjoying the tone quality of the piano, so that I am not good at playing the piano, I can enjoy the sound of the piano. If you want to play this piano here, please come and play without hesitation.

　In fact, the reason why I have recently become more interested in playing the piano is that according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, one in five people over the age of 65 has suffering from senile dementia, so my guess is that in their 70s, 4 people will be dementia and in their 80s, 3people will be dementia. We humans only live in this world once, therefore, I want to live in good mental health during the second half of life.

　I will avoid difficult fast music as much as possible, and try famous pieces. For example, the "Maiden's Prayer" played by an elderly man is truly a witty playing. My dream is to invite my friends, acquaintances, and neighbors and hold a home concert. This room is 18 tatami mats in size, so it can accommodate more than 15 people if I line up the chairs. I'm getting older again, but from the end of the year until the new year, I'll practice the piano.

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