PROGRAM 23 ‘ Music! Music! Music!”

INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we are in the living room at the Stewart hoe. Mr. Biondi, a piano tuner, is tuning Ellen’s piano. She tells him that she will be playing the piano more often. She may even be teaching piano again soon. When Philip comes home, he is happy to hear of her plans.

ACT I
Mr. Biondi: [ He plays musical notes on the piano.] Mrs. Stewart, next time, don’t wait so long to tune your piano.
Ellen: It has been over a year since you were here.
Mr. Biondi: It’s been almost two years. That’s not good for a piano. Hear that?
Ellen: Ooh, it’s flat.
Mr. Biondi: Right. I’ll sharpen it. Now it’s in tune. [ He stops tuning the piano.] Are you teaching piano these days, Mrs. Stewart?
Ellen: No, I haven’t been teaching much recently.
Mr. Biondi: You know, it’s too bad you’re not teaching anymore.
Ellen: Ellen: What makes you say that?
Mr. Biondi: It’s hard to find a teacher as good as you are, Mrs. Stewart. My daughter Anna learned a lot from you.
Ellen: Oh, thank you, Mr. Biondi. I enjoyed giving Anna piano lessons.
Mr. Biondi: You have a way of making music lessons fun.
Ellen: Thank you. I think children practice more if they enjoy their lessons.
Mr. Biondi: That’s true. That’s true. Are you planning on giving lessons again? [ He starts to tune the piano again.]
Ellen: Well, actually, I am thinking about teaching again.
Mr. Biondi: Now, I call that good news.
Philip: [ He enters the house.] Hello, honey. I’m home!
Ellen: And that’s good news for me. My husband’s home.[ calling ] We’re in the living room, Philip. Mr. Biondi is here.
Philip: [ He enters the living room.] Hello, Mr. Biondi. Nice to see you again.
Mr. Biondi: Hi, Dr. Stewart.
Philip: How’s the piano?
Mr. Biondi: Now it’s fine. But this piano was badly in need of tuning .
Philip: Well, Ellen hasn’t been playing much recently.
Mr. Biondi: Yes, she told me. But now one of Riverdale’s best piano teachers has decided to go back to teaching.
Philip: What’s this?
Ellen: Oh, Philip, I was going to talk to you about it tonight.
Mr. Biondi: I think she deserves a well-turned piano, don’t you? [ He finishes tuning the piano.] All done! Mrs. Stewart, would you care to try it out?
Philip: Go on, Ellen. I think it’s great that you want to teach piano again.
Ellen: I’m glad you think so, Philip.[ She begins to play.]
Philip
ACT II
Jane: [ She plays a tune at the piano.] How’s that, Mrs. Stewart? Did I do al right?
Ellen: Yes, Jane. You hit all the correct notes.
Jane: I didn’t make a single mistake?
Ellen: No, you didn’t. But let’s try it again.
Jane: OK.[ She begins to play the tune again.]
Ellen: Wait a minute. Let’s do it another way.
Jane: Different notes?
Ellen: No, the same notes. But let’s pretend that we have to play very quietly.
Jane: Why do we have to be quiet?
Ellen: Because there is a sleeping baby in the room.
Jane: There is?
Ellen:[ She laughs.] We’re only pretending. So play very quietly.
Jane