Richmond’s street piano is all keyed up for its new home at Connings Food Market.
Over the past few months it has tried a few different homes - moving from outside Kmart to Perky Peche to the Tasman District Council, and now Connings is giving it a three-month trial at its boutique grocery store in Appleby.
It is a huge relief for the piano’s owner, Stephanie Buck, who has been searching for a business to care for the piano and put it outside every day for the community to play.
The piano made its debut on Richmond’s streets 14 years ago and has been used for gigs, and been played by concert pianists, students and anyone who wants to run their fingers along its keys. It sat outside Kmart for years until their head office said it had to move.
Stephanie says it is now on a three-month trial at Connings and with the high number of customers flowing through its doors, she is hoping there will be many who stop and play the piano.
“It creates that sense of fun and light heartedness – everything that music does for people. That is the whole point of the piano. It generates well-being.
“With so much negativity making the headlines in today’s world, we forget about the positive, good news things that happen in the community.”
She says the response from the community has been wonderful, from suggestions for rehoming it, to the donated cover to protect it from the weather, Van and a Man for delivering it free of charge and the ongoing expertise of piano tuner Mike Beever.
“It’s that community spirit and I’m hugely grateful to the community.” It is reason she perseveres with the street piano.
“I’ve said I’m not doing this again, but famous last words!”
She is already planning a gig as a way of thanking Connings for giving the piano a home, albeit a trial.
