AFTER I’d played (the short piece from Chopin in the book) – I realised that I made it on the last day!!!
10 July 2010, 11:50ish pm!!!!

a group of tourists who were being given a tour of london were nearby when I played – the guide mentioned the piano and said “im not sure if the guy playing it is official – though he is quite good” – it was nice to have become a fixture in London – especially as I was playing my own music:
http://www.myspace.com/redcablesunday

People tell me as I relinquish the piano stool to them how long it is since they played the piano, or that their parents used to play the piano. (I am impressed when people can use both hands to play the piano; my left hand is for one-finger chords on my keyboard). Then there are the seriously good pianists.

One young man sat and explored the entire length of the piano keyboard, putting notes together, and listening to the combination. Then he tried another set of notes. It was very relaxing to watch and listen to; it was something my keyboard tutor told us to do.

I had no trouble locating this piano, since there was already a big crowd of revellers having a sing-a-long!
And the sing-a-long kept on. People came and went, pianists came and went, and somehow the music kept going. The crowd didn’t really thin until after 11pm. The musical repertoire varied from jazz classics to the Beatles and Elton John, to Beethoven and Miss Saigon. When I finally relinquished the keys sometime around midnight (to miss the last tube home), it was to another piano player and his friends.

As an added bonus, this piano is in excellent shape. All keys are working and responsive, the pedal works fine, the sound projection is lovely and warm…*fingers crossed for no rain nor humidity to warp that sound.

To everyone that was there that night, thanks so much – I had a blast!

Then a young couple who seemed to be headed for the station obviously got distracted by the piano. They proceeded to take turns playing anything from Chopin to Michael Buble, and it was absolutely lovely! It really made my day and I’m sure it entertained those who passed by. I congratulated them as they got up to leave (an hour later!) but I just wanted to leave a message on here in case they ever saw it! It does however make me wish that the pianos could ‘visit’ every summer as it is such a welcome installation that can really bring Londoners together.