August 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 84

Park Bench

'In Tune' with the
Community
By Maureen Acquino
The city of Ames, Iowa, hit all the right notes
this summer with the installation of two donated
public pianos. The aim of this public piano project is to promote the joy of music making while
advocating for the benefits of music on the brain,
bridging the link between the arts and sciences,
commonly known as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).
Through a partnership with the City of
Ames Parks and Recreation and Patricia Izbicki, a graduate student studying neuroscience at
Iowa State University (ISU), the pianos came
to life. Izbicki's inspiration came from her involvement with a public piano project while
an undergraduate in Florida. " Music, just like
park and recreation activities, has beneficial effects on the mind and body, " says Izbicki. " The
combination of the two make for a very special environment to not only be outdoors, but
also to be able to make music outdoors. "
The community has been involved from the beginning, with
volunteers jumping in to spruce up and weatherproof the pianos. An ISU Focus Artist Grant paid for the moving expenses, paint and other supplies to decorate the pianos, and middle
school students who participated in a summer " Neuroscience
of Music " course at the university and campers from the First
Baptist Church of Ames Music Camp did the artwork.
The first piano was unveiled at Tom Evans Plaza on June 2
during the annual Ames ArtWalk, with the second at the Campustown Court during the city's Summerfest on June 3. Both
unveilings had quite a large community turnout, with people
taking turns playing the pianos. " It seems the pianos have been a
hit with the community. I've seen them played while bystanders
listen and even sing along, " Izbicki adds.
The city of Ames will assess the pianos at the end of the summer to decide the next step. If they are still in playable condition,
they will likely be stored or used at a local business for the winter. If they are not in great condition, they will be disassembled.
While the city is unsure if the pianos will become an annual summertime tradition, they've at least brought the arts alive in parks
for one musical summer. To read more about this project, visit
www.amestrib.com/news/outdoor-public-pianos-coming-ames.
- Maureen Acquino is the Assistant Editor for
Parks & Recreation magazine.
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August 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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