Help Idriss Achieve His Piano Dream

This is Idriss. He works at our regular grocery store. He is aways helping everyone--taking out their groceries, talking to families, giving fresh fruit to kids who want a snack. In the couple years that I've known him we have struck up many conversations. I learned that he has a big family, and also holds down three jobs. I also learned that he is dreaming to learn the piano. Being a pianist, I said I could teach him. He asked me about books to learn with for adults. I decided to purchase him one and surprise him with it at the store the next time I went in.

When I did, he was really grateful, but said to me that he didn't actually have a piano. He said he was looking to buy an electric one, electric for cost, portability, and also so that he could bring it up to his home office upstairs and have volume control when he was using it so as not to disturb anyone. That was a year ago. Every time I ask about how his search for a piano is he tells me he is looking, and always asks about the latest gigs that I have. It seems to me that he might feel that it may be too late in life for him to learn how to play, and also may be difficult to cover the expense of an instrument.

I'd love to surprise Idriss with an electric piano, and will offer up lessons to him once he gets one. The model I'm looking at is a simple Yamaha P-143 , which retails at about $500. I think learning music at this point in life would bring him a lot of joy, and give back a little of what he brings to everyone in this community that he serves in his jobs.