At UCLA, the hill echoes with melodies from the hit musical
UCLA students and visitors alike are finding a new rhythm on campus, thanks to The Piano Project. Four pianos have been installed at Covel, Bruin Plate dining hall, Luskin Conference Center, and on Bruin Walk, creating a space for musical expression and social interaction.
The initiative, launched by Jeremy Barrett, received funding from the UCLA Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center, donations from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and support from Chancellor Gene Block and UCLA Housing. Barrett's vision for The Piano Project is to create a space where students can connect, break down barriers, and build friendships through music.
One such student is Alethea Sung-Miller, a sophomore electrical engineering major at UCLA. Sung-Miller, who chose UCLA because she enjoyed an electrical engineering class she sat in on, has a diverse set of interests including novel writing, hardware hackathons, film scoring, coding theory, ballet, and nanorobotics. Her passion for music is evident as she regularly plays the piano and has made new friends as a result.
Sung-Miller often plays her own classically inspired compositions on a piano near her UCLA dorm room. Her music has made the area alive with beautiful melodies, and impromptu performances have been non-stop since the pianos were installed. Watching the social interactions of passersby with the pianists has been heartwarming.
Peter Angelis, the assistant vice chancellor of UCLA Housing and Hospitality, notes that the presence of pianos on The Hill has made the area more vibrant. "The pianos have added a unique touch to our campus, creating a welcoming and creative atmosphere where students and visitors can connect through music," he says.
For Sung-Miller, the piano serves as a "home away from home," providing a respite from her chronic migraines. "Playing the piano helps me to relax and forget about my pain for a while," she says. "It's also a great way to meet new people and make friends."
Outdoor pianos at university campuses, including UCLA, are often installed as part of community engagement or arts initiatives. They are intended to encourage spontaneous musical expression, foster social interaction, and create an inviting, creative atmosphere where students and visitors can connect through music. The impact on student interaction is generally positive, as outdoor pianos provide a shared space for creativity and casual gatherings, helping students to relax, bond, and express themselves outside formal settings.
The Piano Project at UCLA is just one example of how music can bring people together and enrich campus life. As more students discover the joy of playing the piano, it's clear that The Piano Project is making a significant impact on the UCLA community.
The Piano Project has successfully created a space for students to connect, break down barriers, and build friendships through music, as evidenced by Alethea Sung-Miller's increased social interactions and new friendships. The pianos have also fostered an inviting, creative atmosphere for education-and-self-development, as Sung-Miller, with her diverse interests in engineering, novel writing, film scoring, and ballet, uses the piano to hone her music skills. Furthermore, the outdoor pianos have been instrumental in enhancing the entertainment opportunities on campus, with impromptu performances and beautiful melodies filling the air.
