'A big, wild experiment': Saskatoon sidewalk piano strikes a chord
A piano outside Broadway Avenue store is striking a chord by giving anyone a chance to share their joy of music.
“Mostly they’re just happy,” said Corey Neufeld.
He’s owned The Better Good for 13 years. It specializes in sustainable products, so when a friend gave him a used piano, he wanted to get as many hands on it as possible.
Since pianos can be expensive and guarded instruments, having it accessible to anyone attracts a wide audience. He sees between 10 to 20 people a day sit down to play.
“The kids love to tinker around. Many have never played so that’s fun to see. Lots of people just want to hammer out a couple bars of chopsticks,” he said.
But the effect this piano is having out on the street goes far beyond the music for Neufeld — who doesn’t play any instrument.
“There’s definitely something bigger. We’re trying to bring the street to life. We’re trying to get people talking and out of their regular thought patterns, engaged and this is how you do it. Someone starts playing and you have a conversation,” he said.
Finn Day-Wiggins, stops by regularly to play.
“For me it’s meditative and just to let all the ideas out, it feels good,” he told CTV News.
Day-Wiggins used to be a professional keyboard player, playing with bands around the city, but gave it up about four years ago. He appreciates the opportunity to play.
“It’s great to have more music on the streets any old time. Saskatoon can be dry from time to time so it’s nice to have something cool going on,” he says.
The piano has been out for about a month according to Neufeld.
“People have been thrilled, they are stopping on the street, and now that it’s been painted, they want to just look at it and take pictures and of course, people want to play it,” he said.
The painting was done by another Broadway business, Alt Haus. Staff there wanted to get in on the positive vibes and pitched in to add colour to the piano.
Some who play are just passing by, while others work in the area and frequent the ivories.
Neufeld even gets skilled musicians who play with the symphony to hammer out a tune.
Future plans for the piano will be taken one note at a time.
“It just sits out here until it starts getting cold and then we’ll give it away. Why not. We’ll see. It’s just a big wild experiment.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.