How to Tune a Piano by Ear, well, not really

Boy playing piano

Bard Dad Joke #2

“Why did I stop playing piano by ear? Because now I use my hands.”

the Bard Dad

The Pianist with the Musical Ear: A Dad’s Tune-tastic Adventure

Once upon a time, there lived a dad named Kevin who had a very unique talent. He could play the piano by ear! And no, that’s not a metaphor. He didn’t learn by listening to the music; he literally played the piano with his ears. You see, Kevin had incredibly flexible ears, able to stretch and bend like a gymnast, dancing across the piano keys with ease.

One sunny afternoon, Kevin decided to entertain his children with his ear-piano-playing abilities. He sat at the piano, tilted his head, and let his ears dance on the keys. His children watched in amazement as the familiar tunes of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” filled the room, played like they’d never heard before.

But then, a problem arose. Kevin’s ears started to tickle! Each time his ear touched a piano key, he felt an overwhelming urge to giggle. Soon, he was laughing so hard that he could no longer play. His children joined in the laughter, creating a symphony of giggles that echoed throughout the house.

Seeing their dad’s predicament, the children had an idea. They fetched a pair of mittens and handed them to Kevin. “Try using your hands, Dad,” they suggested, still chuckling at their father’s musical ears.

Kevin laughed and decided to give it a try. He put on the mittens, placed his hands on the piano keys, and began to play. To his surprise, he found that he could play just as well with his hands as he could with his ears, without any ticklish interruptions!

From that day forward, Kevin became known as the Dad who played the piano with his hands… and sometimes with his ears, for a good laugh. The children loved to tell their friends about their dad’s hilarious musical adventures, often prompting the question, “Why did he stop playing piano by ear?” To which they would reply, “Because now he uses his hands, and trust us, it’s less ticklish that way!”

And so, the tale of the dad with the musical ears (and hands) became a beloved story in their home, a reminder of the day when laughter, love, and a little bit of silliness created a symphony of family joy. And isn’t that just music to your ears? ???????????? #BardDadWisdom

Tuning a piano vs playing
author avatar
Kevin B. Leigh Director
Just a little boy from Ireland, who became a staunch American while raising three boys, creating three companies, and being married for 30 years
Just a little boy from Ireland, who became a staunch American while raising three boys, creating three companies, and being married for 30 years