Pianos give downtown Iowa City some heart and soul

There was the curly haired boy who, upon seeing the piano in the downtown Pedestrian Mall here, struck a wide grin and walked over and tickled the ivories before quickly moving along with his family.

The middle-aged man who played for hours under a hot afternoon sun, practicing for what he hopes is a music comeback. The band that brought along a small drum kit and set up a microphone.

For nearly three weeks. two pianos have sat outside in downtown Iowa City for anyone to play.

Except when it has rained or been oppressively hot, they've been in use more often than not. The pianists come in all levels of ability and play all styles - classical, jazz, honky-tonk, pop.

“It's just happened so much faster and with so much more quantity and quality than I expected,” developer Marc Moen, one of the project's organizers, said of the response.

One of the pianos is outside his Plaza Towers. The other is a couple of blocks away in front of the M.C. Ginsberg store. Mark Ginsberg and West Music in Coralville are partners in the project.

They were inspired by the public art project “Play Me, I'm Yours,” which has placed pianos in open spaces around the world to challenge people to interact.

“It sort of forms a common bond between people that otherwise would just pass without saying hello,” Moen said.

That may sound idealistic, until you see it happen over and over.

Darron Rodgers mostly kept his head down as he played outside Plaza Towers recently. But he glanced up to acknowledge passers-by.

“I like that, man,” one young man said to Rodgers.

“Is that Luther (Vandross)?” another asked.

Rodgers, 39, of Iowa City, played mix of pieces for more than two hours under a blazing sun. He said he used to play professionally and also produced and promoted shows. He's trying to get back into the music business, and the street piano was practice.

“Right now I feel like I'm in a very comfortable position,” he said during a break. “I can express myself musically.”

The pianos are courtesy of West Music. One is a studio piano and the other a smaller spinet. They are well-crafted and stay in tune outdoors, said Ryan West, senior vice president of the family business. Both pianos eventually will be bolted down. They have custom-made covers to protect them from the elements.

The city has OK'd the project for 90 days, allowing the pianos on public space from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays.

Organizers want to add several more pianos on a permanent basis. Interim City Manager Dale Helling said the city has received no complaints about the pianos.

Downtown Iowa City is no stranger to music, but while you can carry around a guitar or small drum, pianos have been kept in the home or recital hall.

“Here it's really laid back and casual,” said Kait Coffin, 15, of Iowa City. She played a piece by her favorite composer, who writes soundtracks for video games.

“Music is like a bridge between people of all different walks,” said Jennifer Ettema, 15, a former Iowa City resident now living in Wyoming.

As if to prove Ettema's point, Patrick Rhomberg, 25, of Iowa City, played classical works that evening while a few people eating ice cream stopped to listen.

A friend who plays the trumpet met a guy who was playing one of the outdoor pianos, and they have scheduled a gig together.

“Hooray for awareness of the arts,” Rhomberg said.

There was the curly haired boy who, upon seeing the piano in the downtown Pedestrian Mall here, struck a wide grin and walked over and tickled the ivories before quickly moving along with his family.

The middle-aged man who played for hours under a hot afternoon sun, practicing for what he hopes is a music comeback. The band that brought along a small drum kit and set up a microphone.

For nearly three weeks. two pianos have sat outside in downtown Iowa City for anyone to play.

Except when it has rained or been oppressively hot, they've been in use more often than not. The pianists come in all levels of ability and play all styles - classical, jazz, honky-tonk, pop.

“It's just happened so much faster and with so much more quantity and quality than I expected,” developer Marc Moen, one of the project's organizers, said of the response.

One of the pianos is outside his Plaza Towers. The other is a couple of blocks away in front of the M.C. Ginsberg store. Mark Ginsberg and West Music in Coralville are partners in the project.

They were inspired by the public art project “Play Me, I'm Yours,” which has placed pianos in open spaces around the world to challenge people to interact.

“It sort of forms a common bond between people that otherwise would just pass without saying hello,” Moen said.

That may sound idealistic, until you see it happen over and over.

Darron Rodgers mostly kept his head down as he played outside Plaza Towers recently. But he glanced up to acknowledge passers-by.

“I like that, man,” one young man said to Rodgers.

“Is that Luther (Vandross)?” another asked.

Rodgers, 39, of Iowa City, played mix of pieces for more than two hours under a blazing sun. He said he used to play professionally and also produced and promoted shows. He's trying to get back into the music business, and the street piano was practice.

“Right now I feel like I'm in a very comfortable position,” he said during a break. “I can express myself musically.”

The pianos are courtesy of West Music. One is a studio piano and the other a smaller spinet. They are well-crafted and stay in tune outdoors, said Ryan West, senior vice president of the family business. Both pianos eventually will be bolted down. They have custom-made covers to protect them from the elements.

The city has OK'd the project for 90 days, allowing the pianos on public space from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays.

Organizers want to add several more pianos on a permanent basis. Interim City Manager Dale Helling said the city has received no complaints about the pianos.

Downtown Iowa City is no stranger to music, but while you can carry around a guitar or small drum, pianos have been kept in the home or recital hall.

“Here it's really laid back and casual,” said Kait Coffin, 15, of Iowa City. She played a piece by her favorite composer, who writes soundtracks for video games.

“Music is like a bridge between people of all different walks,” said Jennifer Ettema, 15, a former Iowa City resident now living in Wyoming.

As if to prove Ettema's point, Patrick Rhomberg, 25, of Iowa City, played classical works that evening while a few people eating ice cream stopped to listen.

A friend who plays the trumpet met a guy who was playing one of the outdoor pianos, and they have scheduled a gig together.

“Hooray for awareness of the arts,” Rhomberg said.