I’m a mother of three, with another on the way, and music—especially the piano—has always held a special place in my heart. My love for it began with my mom, who played the piano and passed that love down to me and my two sisters. Now, my own daughter plays, continuing a tradition that spans generations.

What makes it even more meaningful is that we’ve all played on the same piano—the very one my mom learned on. It’s more than just an instrument; it’s something that connects us together. Since my mom’s unexpected passing in a tragic car accident five years ago, many of our family stories and cherished memories that go along with the sentimental items that she kept were lost with her. But this piano remains—a living piece of our history and one with a known story.

To me, it’s one of the most precious things I own. It connects my mother, myself, and my daughter in a deeply personal way, and serves as a reminder of the love and legacy she left behind."    "I reached out to my mom’s older brother to see what memories he could share about the early days of the piano. This was his response:

I reached out to my mom's older brother to see what memories that he could share about the early days of the piano and this was his response, “I remember going to Salt Lake City with my parents to tour the factory. We had an old upright up to that point but it didn’t look very good. Mom wanted a nice piano she could put in the living room. The Astin-Weight company’s claim to fame was that they had a grand piano-sized sound board in their console-sized pianos.  I remember it was a stretch to purchase. I think it was $2000 back then in about 1970. Mom (my grandmother) selected the wood type and color and they built it for us custom. That is how they did business. I had mostly given up on piano when we got it. Janet (my mother) played it most.”

The piano remained in my grandparents’ home for just over 20 years. Once their children were grown, they decided to give the piano to my mother, Janet, since she had played it the most and now had young children of her own. Around that time, my parents were relocating from California to Canada. They adjusted their route to pass through Utah so they could bring the piano with them to their new home.

Since then, the piano has traveled many miles—first from Canada to New Jersey, and eventually back to Utah—as it remained a constant part of our family life. My sisters and I all learned to play on it, just as my mother had. Years later, when my parents decided to purchase a digital piano, they gifted the Astin-Weight piano to me, knowing how much I had loved and played it.

Now, my own daughter and son are learning on this same piano. After decades of use and multiple moves, it’s begun to show its age. While it’s still in working condition, I worry that the wear will eventually make it harder to restore. I've always dreamed of having it refinished one day—not just to preserve its sound, but because it remains the heart of our home and continues to be played and loved every day.

• YEAR 1970-1980
• MAKE Astin-Weight
• FINISH Wood Finish
• CATEGORY CONTESTANT