Trembling the coffee cups of students and shaking the glass of the windows in the lounge area of Caldwell Hall are sound waves that could only come from the keys of a grand piano. Caldwell Hall boasts a Yamaha grand piano that adorns the student lounge among many seats and tables, occupied by students doing their afternoon work. It is open for all to play, and there will usually be an audience of working students there. Unfortunately for piano connoisseurs and appreciators, most of the action received by the piano consists of busy students walking past as they go on to class in Tompkins or Winston Hall. However, piano fans need not be discouraged, as they still face the lucky chance to come across the piano being graced by the presence of music students and others that are talented in the trade.
NC State’s associate professor of piano, Olga Kleiankina, claims that though she has never seen the piano herself, she is aware that her students practice on it from time to time.
“I wanted to make sure that I had practiced up a few times before I actually played,” said Sydney Schieffer, an alumna who has been playing for nearly her whole life. “It is kind of daunting to play when there are a lot of students studying, and nothing is worse than when you’re trying to focus with someone banging around on the piano playing badly. Plus, you can really only play whatever you have memorized because I don’t think I ever saw someone bring music sheets in there.”
Furthermore, Sydney said that it was nice to relax and play before tests, and it helped her to break up studying sessions. She goes on to say that the best part about it was someone going up to her and thanking her for playing, since she thinks it is always nice to hear that she plays well.
The piano continues its relationship with students. Sasha Rogalski, a freshman studying exploratory studies with a penchant for piano playing, said that she plays the Caldwell piano once or twice a week. When asked what she enjoyed playing on it, Rogalski said she is particularly fond of performing Beethoven’s Sonata in C Minor Op. 13, which is not too loud or brash.
The grand piano proves an excellent amenity for NC State, as it satisfies the roles of an artistic outlet and a relief from the busy academic atmosphere. For students who should find themselves curious about it or interested in playing it, Caldwell Hall is between Winston and Tompkins Hall, adjacent to the Court of North Carolina on North Campus.
The piano found in the lounge of Caldwell Hall is available for students to play throughout the day.
