In the middle of USC's outdoor Campus Center plaza sits a worn, wooden upright piano. Its music can be heard flowing through the square, orchestrating the soundtrack to students' lunchtime breaks and study gatherings. Many enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the plaza created by the piano's soft notes accompanied by sounds of trickling water fountains.
The outdoor piano has been a permanent fixture at USC since 2012, but students have not tired of its magic. On any given day, many individuals take a seat to play or practice one of their favorite tunes.
Byron Challoner, a USC senior, is one such individual. After working up the courage to play USC's public piano, Challoner shared his reasons for performing: "I want to convey what I'm feeling. I'm not really there yet because that takes a long time because of the technical difficulties. But once the technical difficulties go away then you can really start expressing yourself on it."
Another frequent player is Nozomi Nishida, an international student from Japan. She dreams of one day becoming a professional pianist. Although she sometimes struggles with English, her music translates clearly and resonates with her fellow classmates.
As Nishida played her lighthearted tune, Brandon Lowe listened intently. "When I hear somebody playing a great song it reminds me of how so many students at USC [have] different career paths [and] different passions. It's just interesting to know that everyone has their own talents," he said. Lowe also believes the piano brings a sense of community to the campus.
While many frequently enjoy the piano, few students actually know its history.
The piano was originally added to the Campus Center in April of 2012 as part of an art installation entitled "Play Me, I'm Yours." The exhibit installed 30 pianos at various locations throughout LA including USC, LA Live, Union Station and the Santa Monica Pier.
After just three weeks, USC's piano was removed when the art exhibit officially ended. However, after seeing the positive response from students, administrators wanted to bring in a more permanent replacement.
That's when Debbie Wong, a USC alumna who graduated in 1975, decided to donate her childhood piano to the Campus Center plaza. She said returning to campus and hearing students play was the ultimate reward.
Annenberg Media