Comments on: Baker House Piano Drop

By: Pete Materna '74

Pete Materna '74 — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:57:02 +0000

I can confirm that the piano dropped during the original 1972 piano drop, which has often been described as “non-functional,” actually was both functional and wanted.

During autumn 1972, I had that piano in my room on loan from its owner. Even though a few keys were broken and it certainly was not pretty, I was quite happy teaching myself to play simple songs on it, because I had never before had access to a piano. I repeatedly offered to buy it, but its last owner (David Bok) was determined to donate it to be dropped instead. At the present time I am happy to have a piano safely in my house (even though I can’t really play it), and one of my children enjoys playing it.

I understand that for recent piano drops, Baker House people have searched widely to find pianos that were truly broken beyond repair. That is somewhat reassuring. However, the YouTube videos, by themselves, could give a distorted impression about MIT. MIT in fact values artistic talent, and nowadays three-quarters of incoming MIT freshmen have prior training in some form of the arts.

I do not understand the lack of respect for the artistry, and even the technology, represented by a piano. A piano drop seems to me to be sort of like a book-burning. Does piano-dropping really meet either of the two traditional criteria for an MIT hack (reversibility and cleverness)? I do appreciate the MIT fascination with fun and quirkiness and rooftops, but, really, why a piano? Maybe the residents, or somebody, could finally think of something else to drop that has a different symbolism. I think Stephen Leslie’s posting above hits the nail right on the head.

By: Mark Nowitzky '79

Mark Nowitzky '79 — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:00:44 +0000

Beware of the ambiguous unit of measurement:

Bruno – A unit of volume resulting from a piano falling six stories onto Amherst Alley from the roof of Baker House. [How To GAMIT 2004]

I used to wonder whether “volume” was space or loudness. Come to find out, it’s both! It’d be nice to see graphs of year-versus-cubic-meter and year-versus-decibels.

By: Johnny's blaaaa

Johnny's blaaaa — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:11:19 +0000

I think that pianos are cool but dropping them???!!!! really people.

By: Scott Berkenblit '86

Scott Berkenblit '86 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:05:05 +0000

We salvaged a black key from the Fall 1982 piano drop and used it to fix the handle on the fridge in our quad (purchased at the Baker Refrigerator Auction, of course). Technique that year had several photos of Bakerites wearing suits and ties standing around the wrecked piano; the drop actually took place on Yom Kippur but was conveniently scheduled during the break in services so that the Jewish residents–still dressed for shul–could attend.

By: Jim Rutt

Jim Rutt — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:08:16 +0000

ah Baker in the 70s: the Baker 5th West crew, the “degeneracy party”, the shit hack, the trojans flag football team that spanked the fratboyz, and above all else Bruno’s piano drop. Life was good!

By: A.C. Ross '74

A.C. Ross '74 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:06:04 +0000

I watched the original piano drop from Amherst Alley with Bill Short as he filmed it. It took him days to edit the 8mm film in those entirely analog days, especially because it was so difficult to get the moment of impact on the film to coincide with the final chord of “A Day in the Life” on the soundtrack. But all that painstaking effort cutting, gluing, and re-recording was worth it.

Definitely a classic moment. The “performance” and the film are both pieces of art in their own rights, and any MIT retrospective worthy of the name should include them.

(And hi to Candy, Trip, Andy, and a bunch of others…)

By: Jon Kass '74 graduated in '78

Jon Kass '74 graduated in '78 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:29:31 +0000

That first piano that went off the roof of Baker House in 1972 was my piano. It was a functioning piano I had bought for about $15 and kept it tuned myself. I had it in my coffin (or was it a pie?) and had built a loft for my bed over it. When I chose to move out, no one wanted it so it was decided that it should go off the roof. I’m not sure exactly who came up with the brilliant idea. Maybe it was Charlie Bruno, or Nick Vasilatos, or someone else from that amazing group on the second floor, the Zoo Crew. Unfortunately, I missed the actual event as I had a gig that day. This is the first time I saw any footage of it. Very cool! I painted the ACME sign on it as soon as I got it into my room.

By: Nikhil N

Nikhil N — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:25:05 +0000

I observed the revival of the tradition in 2005, and helped get the piano for the following year’s drop from a generous donor. This nice gentleman – an engineer, of course – had seen the coverage in 2005 and wanted us to throw his old piano off the roof the following year, and emailed us about it. So four of us hauled out to Central Mass on a rainy Friday night in an ancient UHaul to pick this thing up. The piano was molded shut, and it weighed some insanely heavy amount. As hard as it was getting it into the truck, it flipped inside the truck when coming back (when making a turn), so getting this beast out of the truck ended up being exhausting. In the end, it made for a good piano drop, and the frame of the piano didn’t even break.

By: marlon weiss, '80

marlon weiss, '80 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:14:26 +0000

Still have a key somewhere from either 1979 or 80 drop. I think one year was missed. I even remember the aiming mattress. This is one of the best Baker house stories for non-MIT people. They just can’t believe we would do such a thing.

By: Frank Murphy

Frank Murphy — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:02:20 +0000

Life at Baker House in the 1970′s was a time full of wonderful memories. The water fights, the loud stereos on 5th central, parties every weekend, there was even an elevator party with Paul Malchodie bartending in the elevator, intramural sports, Nafi and Helena, rice with every meal for a month in the dining hall, the pizza truck every night. But one thing always was Baker, the piano drop. Back then the elevator only went up to six, now thanks to ADA to the roof. How many tools back then were body builders? Through sheer brain power those pianos made it up the stairs. Go Baker House, keep up the traditions.