Rosemont’s Public School Piano
By: Elliott Deyto
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” said Billy Joel, a very famous American songwriter and pianist most prominent during the 80’s, famous for his hit songs Piano Man, Uptown Girl, and We Didn’t Start the Fire. This quote from Billy Joel explains the connection music has with people, it undermines the barriers that disconnect people from each other and builds bridges between people. Rosemont Middle School has a handful of groups that may build barriers between one another and music is the solution to this problem. The addition of a public piano at Rosemont that anyone could play would be fulfilling.
Around October a Piano was left in the indoor lunch line and the P.E gym. People were heavily drawn to playing the musical instrument. Whether it was a small but funny jingle someone learned from Tiktok to impress their friends in the lunchline or a full piece that someone had been learning for a week, the playing of the keys connected people. Students would laugh, gasp, give compliments, and clap each time another student finished playing, and it filled the room with joy. However, they took the piano away from both the P.E room and the lunchline earlier this year.
Michael Choi, an 8th grade student was questioned on what he thought the piano players felt when they were playing, “When I heard the students play piano at the lunch lines a while back I thought they felt happy, joyful, and excited… However, I wouldn’t personally play it myself because I felt scared whenever someone was near me playing the piano because I thought I could be blamed for playing the piano when you’re not supposed to.” The joy of playing the piano came at a cost, though you were not able to play in peace because you could get into trouble with the security guards. The addition of a public piano in Rosemont Middle School would allow students to feel connected and joyful and at peace all at the same time without any repercussions.
Eighth grade student, Renia Zhadoorian, says, “My friend Khloe used to play the piano in the lunch-lines while we were waiting, I felt happy and it was really fun watching her play.” A piano would allow students to feel happier and build connections by using music. The center for the arts program states, “Some researchers believe that it is the rhythm in music that synchronizes our brains and coordinates our body movements with others, creating a sense of unity within a crowd.”
Just as Billy Joel claims music lets us build connections and unity, the Rosemont community would thrive with an addition to a public piano. The joy that has been seen when the old piano was being played clearly demonstrates how a public piano would be good for our community.
