Celebration for a much-loved instrument

WORLD piano day is set to be celebrated in style at this Saturday.

The community is invited to listen, watch and play the piano between 11am and 4pm with demonstration by piano technician Andrew Vogel of how the instrument works.

Saturday, 1 April, the 88th day of the year, was chosen to represent the number of keys on a piano.

Event organiser Bronislaw Sozanski said the event is meant to have a relaxed feel where people can celebrate and explore the instrument at the Ballarat Anglican Cathedral’s Synod Hall.

“The hall is opening for anyone to come in, they can play the piano if they want to play or just listen,” he said.

“It’s meant to be a light-hearted, good fun day and if we get lots of big performances so be it and if we get lots of kids playing chopsticks that’s fine as well.

“The piano has been such a part of modern music making in the western world and traditionally it was an instrument in so many homes and people used it as entertainment.

“We have such a huge number of old pianos in Australia and everyone had one.”

Mr Sozanski said he hopes the day will encourage people to either start, or continue learning, playing the piano.

“The piano is also a good starting point for children to learn music. As we know, scientifically learning music is good for the brain and good for the soul,” he said.

“I’m hoping that people will want to listen to more piano and go to concerts because it’s really important we keep all sorts of music alive.”

Entry is free and donations will support music in the Anglican Cathedral.