The Pianist

The man came in and asked to look at some pianos; he was a pianist and said he need to invest in a new instrument for himself. The employee took him over to wear they hung. There were 5 of them. The man smiled and began to look.

Now the employee stepped back and looked as the man picked out a piano, now the employee was also the piano teacher in the store. He watched the man run his hands over the keys. The man turned around, "Do you mind?"

The employee replied, "No go right ahead." The man began to play. Although the man was very good the teacher couldn't help but notice that his wrists were very high up from the piano and it seemed as though his fingers were straight, it wasn't drastic but it could be fixed.

"Excuse me, sir," said the teacher,"could I offer you some advice?"
"Oh well yeah sure I guess," the man looked a little confused.
"Well I teach piano and have played for about 20 years now and I can suggest maybe moving you wrists down closer to the piano and curving your fingers a bit more," said the teacher.
"Oh, ok well thanks."

He continued to play some more and the teacher was surprised how well he caught onto his instruction. The man stopped suddenly and said, "I'd like this one please." The teacher nodded and put a "SOLD" sticker over the price tag. He took the man up front to pay. He stepped behind the counter and said, "That'll be $7,355.09." The man nodded and took out his checkbook and wrote a check for the whole amount. The teacher was impressed, he was rich but still could practice. Talent doesn't come from money, he thought.

"Thank you, sir," he said as the man handed him the check. He left quickly. Confused, the teacher looked down at the check. He was curious as to who this man was, he hadn't seen him around. He could barely make out the signature. It was signed, "Duke Ellington."