IF you take a stroll along Main Western Road you may well be delighted to hear the sounds of someone tinkling the ivories of a 1920 Chicago stand up piano.
The opportunity is now open for anyone with any ability to sit down and perform on Tamborine Mountain’s first ever public piano.
Well known local musician Ludek Nemecek is the man budding pianists can primarily thank for the opportunity.
“It all came about after I had a chat with fellow musicians about what a great idea it would be to have a public piano in the main street,” Ludek said.
“It fired me up to make the idea come true and I’m pleased to say it’s now a reality.”
Tamborine Mountain’s Public Piano project hit a small stumbling block when it was first suggested to put the piano out the front of the local library.
“Council closed the lid on that because they felt it might be a little disruptive for library patrons,” Ludek said.
“They weren’t against the idea of the public piano project, so we just needed to find a better place and we reached a compromise when we found a location near the local IGA Supermarket.
“Fellow musician, Michael Knopf, played a vital role by donating the piano and we were helped by Barry from the local Bargain Centre and members of the Jiu Jitsu Lions club to get it in place.”
Now the piano is getting a makeover by members of the Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective who have been given the green light to bring it to life with colour.
Ludek said they have also established a Tamborine Mountain Public Piano Facebook page so anyone performing on the piano can upload a video of their efforts good or bad.
“The more people who enjoy the piano the better,” he said.
“Who knows if it proves popular locals may get to see and play other public pianos in our local villages”.
Saturday, April 26 at 4pm will see the official launch of the district’s first public piano with an opening performance by a leading musician.
