Launching Saturday, March 9, The Keynote Project is incoporating more art and music into the Auburn community through a bedazzled and restored piano.
Alaina Marie Guzman is the founder of Auburn's The Keynote Project and working toward her bachelors in Sociology at Auburn University.
"We have rallied the artists, chosen the locations and we have nearly a dozen, donated pianos," Guzman said. "What we need is a larger voice, a call of invitation to share, mingle, play, and celebrate our loveliest village in all its diversity and talent."
The Keynote Project gathers donated pianos, restores and paints them, then places them in various locations around Auburn for the community to use and enjoy.
"Youth groups gathering for hymns, spontaneous jam sessions with a couple guitars or sports fans encircling an impromptu rendition of our fight song," Guzman said. "These are just a few of the beautiful possibilities that the canvas of street pianos can portray."
In 2012, Guzman was chosen for an internship with the Powell Music Group, a tour management agency.
"Across the street from that night's venue was a grassy lot crowned by a gazebo and a beautifully painted piano," Guzman said. "We joyfully crowded around the instrument and held an impromptu jam session, joined by many of the town's friendly, welcoming locals. I thought that this was a great idea and wanted to bring that inspiration back home with me."
In the months since then, Guzman's research revealed that this concept exists around the U.S. and worldwide. In many places, the enjoyment of music is still a luxury and formal music training is impractical or impossible. Even here in the U.S., young children wishing to learn music education often struggle finding practice space or unrestricted access to an instrument.
Carlyn Bridges, an Auburn resident, said she believes that The Keynote Project is important for keeping art alive and diverse in Auburn.
"This project is great because it showcases each artist's talent and provides the opportunity for citizens to play and showcase their talent," Bridges said. "It is a cool way of bringing together artwork and music."
The aim of The Keynote Project is to utilize the resources already in the community to promote arts and music education. The first valuable resource is the pianos themselves.
Nearly a dozen pianos have been donated by Auburn community members, music supply stores such as Spicer's Music and even generous funding from local thrift stores such as Harvest Christian Thrift.
Teams, representing all facets of the Auburn community, design the art for the pianos. These teams are composed of Auburn students, professional and local painters and even groups of elementary school children. Community members can still contact The Keynote Project to be added as a piano art team.
Auburn's new Keynote Project kicks off Saturday, March 9 at The Gnu's Room, at 3 p.m. The design of Sarah Scott, a New Zealand native, will be unveiled. This event is a free, pet and family friendly event and all are encouraged to bring an instrument and celebrate the fellowship of music and arts education.
The Keynote Project currently has a dozen donated pianos they plan to have installed this spring, with each location's details being announced beforehand. Teams of local artists have been selected to get the pianos ready for placement.
To get involved, contact The Keynote Project through Facebook, Twitter or email at thekeynoteproject@gmail.com.
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