Public places with playable pianos

[PeterY]

I've noticed at several railway stations St Pancras, Marylebone and a shopping centre, Harlequin Watford, pianos.

The piano at St Pancras was actually being played by a young girl Friday (30th Jan) and quite a few people watching/listening.

Have pianos been seen anywhere else?

 

[ryan125hst]

There's one in the concourse at Sheffield station and there's a sign saying that it is for customer use.

 

[crehld]

Stoke-on-Trent station too!

 

[yorksrob]

I saw someone playing the piano at St Pancras.

She was good, but she was no Russ Conway.

 

[table38]

Perfect for my idea for the next London challenge.

It's like an ordinary challenge, but teams have to take a piano with them

 

[deltic]

I can't see any previous threads about this. If so, Mods please delete thread.

I've noticed at several railway stations St Pancras, Marylebone and 1 shopping centre, Harlequin Watford, piano's. The piano at St Pancras was actually being played by a young girl Friday (30th Jan) and quite a few people watching/listening.

Have piano's been seen anywhere else?

When I have been through St Pancras recently someone has always been playing at least one and on one occasion all three pianos were being played at the same time - to my untutored ear they all seem to be very good players as well

 

[CC 72100]

Pianos can be found in major French stations. They actually seem to be 'respected' - some of the clientele at some of the stations are perhaps more challenging, but I never saw one vandalised. You do occasionally get somebody who is really quite good on them as well!

Although that then forms a crowd of people who gather around to watch the performance, totally blocking the corridor because it's not been placed in the most intelligent place. (*cough* Paris St Lazare *cough*)

 

[Oswyntail]

There's one in the concourse at Sheffield station and there's a sign saying that it is for customer use.

I played a few bars of Beethoven when I passed through last week. Could do with a tuning, and the action is a bit loose. But a splendid idea.

 

[Hassocks5489]

Brighton station has had one for about 6-9 months. There was a bit of a problem a while ago when somebody nicked the stool (!), but generally it has proved a big success. It's on the concourse next to the coffee kiosk.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

and at Newcastle,


. . . . . (but without an apostrophe).

 

[yorkie]

. . . . . (but without an apostrophe).

That word crime has been fixed

 

[cf111]

Brighton station has had one for about 6-9 months. There was a bit of a problem a while ago when somebody nicked the stool (!), but generally it has proved a big success. It's on the concourse next to the coffee kiosk.

It was locked the last time I was there, quite put out as I wanted a go!

 

[Yew]

I always feel a little upset, as I'm nowhere near as good at playing the piano as I would like to be

 

[GatwickDepress]

As I gaze wistfully at the battered old early 00s Yamaha sitting on my desk, I wonder if anyone would notice if I stuck a luggage tag on one of those pianos and wheeled it onto a train home...

 

[Heinz57]

There used to be one in Victoria Center in Nottingham, this posh grand piano affair. It wasn't for customer use though. It was roped off.

 

[dgl]

Not been near any stations with pianos yet but I'm surprised they are real pianos. They must not keep in tune very well that (and space) is one reason why i'd never have a real paino (although my Yamaha organ is not exactly tiny and probably takes up the same amount of space of an upright)


Instead of a piano though I'd like a nice Rodgers digital pipe organ (although if space was available a traditional pipe organ with a good amount of stops would do me) in each main station (you could stick it in the centre of the first floor shops walkway if available), just make sure it's nice and loud :grin:

Lastly no need to steal the pianos, if you look in the local freeads there is quite often an advert for a piano free to a good home, no one really want's them anymore and is possibly better quality than that nicked form a station (although if you really want a new(er) piano you can get them new from about £1,150 but probably not the best quality).

 

[swt_passenger]

Perfect for my idea for the next London challenge.

It's like an ordinary challenge, but teams have to take a piano with them

That could be a grand idea...

 

[Tubeboy]

I remember being at Sheffield late last year with Mrs Tubeboy, a couple of chaps were playing the piano, very pleasant it was too.

 

[33056]

There was one at Brussels Midi last time I passed through but it was set up to play automatically; suppose you could say it was a modern version of a pianola. It was a bit weird watching all the keys being activated without a human touch!

 

[Minilad]

The last time I passed through St Pancras there was a guy playing. He was more Les Dawson than Liberace though, sadly. Fair play to him for having a go in such a public place mind you

 

[dgl]

There was one at Brussels Midi last time I passed through but it was set up to play automatically; suppose you could say it was a modern version of a pianola. It was a bit weird watching all the keys being activated without a human touch!

Possibly a Yamaha Disklavier
http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/disklaviers/

 

[Welly]

There is a video of one at Chicago station which plays automatically - watch the annoyed businessman around 1 minutes in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9BOTXFCpQA

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Part of a world wide project - using "unwanted pianos" - on Radio 4 this am - you get some excellent players at St Pancras - even at 0700 !

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . you get some excellent players at St Pancras . . .

Yes. I can confirm this, sometimes playing on two or even three of the pianos at the same time.

It may be coincidental, but the several music industry businesses which had been housed together in Berners Street until December, are now right next to St Pancras in the new Pancras Square (i.e. PRS, BASCA, MPA etc.).

. . . - even at 0700 !

That early? I can't comment.

 

[yorksrob]

Yes. I can confirm this, sometimes playing on two or even three of the pianos at the same time.

They must have long arms then

 

[306024]

They must have long arms then

Have you not seen the St Pancras piano playing octopus?

I actually stopped to listen to someone at St Pancras the other day. To a non-musical numpty like myself the ability this guy had, he looked 70 if not older, was wonderful to both watch and listen to. A young girl at Brighton a few weeks back was equally good.

Perfect for my idea for the next London challenge.
It's like an ordinary challenge, but teams have to take a piano with them

Comedian Tony Hawks hitch-hiked round Ireland with a fridge, (and wrote a quite amusing book about it), so why not? OK maybe not, before anyone tries it

 

[SS4]

There was one in Amsterdam Centraal when I was there, if memory serves it was near the entrance on the exit side of the barriers near the main entrance

 

[90019]

[youtube]g9fHqTOYpm4[/youtube]

 

[AM9]

Yes. I can confirm this, sometimes playing on two or even three of the pianos at the same time.

It may be coincidental, but the several music industry businesses which had been housed together in Berners Street until December, are now right next to St Pancras in the new Pancras Square (i.e. PRS, BASCA, MPA etc.).That early? I can't comment.

Surely one day they will send their RPOs around to collect when copyrighted music is played!

 

[edwin_m]

Surely one day they will send their RPOs around to collect when copyrighted music is played!

I imagine the station would have to pay the PRM for a license, just as any premises hosting live or recorded music does. However I expect the fee would be a tiny part of the turnover of the station.
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They must have long arms then

It's Mr Tickle!