To make music more accessible in daily life, Taichung’s Cultural Affairs Bureau has set up a public grand piano—a Yamaha C7—in the lobby of the Tun District Art Center for the first time. Until May 18, visitors can play the piano for free during opening hours. The C7 is one of the most widely recorded pianos in music history, and it will be featured in special flash mobs by the Taiwan Youth Band as part of the Parent-Child Arts Festival. Furthermore, an online giveaway is running on the center’s Facebook page. People of all ages are welcome to showcase their piano talents, enjoy the performances, and create joyful memories together!

Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chen Jia-jun shared that the debut of a public piano at the Dadun Cultural Center in 2024 was a big success, drawing praise and encouraging interaction with arts and music. It quickly became a stage for people to show their talents. Building on that success, the Cultural Affairs Bureau is expanding the initiative in 2025 by rolling out public piano programs at four cultural centers (Tun District Art Center, Huludun Cultural Center, Dadun Cultural Center, Seaport Art Center). The bureau aims to turn each cultural center into a space for artistic connection among citizens through the resonant sounds of pianos.

The “Play Together” piano event at the Tun District Art Center gives the public a chance to try out the Yamaha C7 grand piano, known for its excellent tonal expression. During a school field trip, a student surnamed Ai from Toubiankuo Elementary School in Taiping delighted everyone with an impromptu piano performance, instantly energizing the crowd. Their teacher, Ms. Zeng, was also amazed at the talent on display. On May 10, the Taiwan Youth Band, an outstanding performing arts group in Taichung, will perform Fairy Tale Salon: Dinosaur Academy outdoors, and since the timing aligns with the public piano event, they’ll be adding spontaneous piano, flute, and clarinet pieces—featuring solos, duets, and trios in the lobby. Ms. Chen, a member of the Taiwan Youth Band, praised the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s efforts in providing such a great piano for the public and encouraged fellow music lovers to come showcase their skills!

The Tun District Art Center warmly invites everyone to join the “Play Together” piano event featuring the YAMAHA C7 grand piano, available now until May 18 (closed on Mondays). The piano is open for use daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with each session limited to 5 minutes per person. Visitors are kindly asked to follow a few guidelines: remove hand accessories like watches and rings before playing, and keep bags, phones and drinks away from the piano. Please also avoid hitting the keys or using the instrument in any way that might cause damage. For more information, visit the Tun District Art Center’s official website or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ttdac/).