I’d like to take you on a journey of self-discovery and awakening I recently embarked on last week. Now, I may be exaggerating the spirituality of this endeavour… But “I’d like to tell you about a drunken night out in town, where I spent over two hours at a train station” doesn’t have the same ring to it! 

Last Saturday I went on a rare night out with colleagues. As a man who typically chooses a cosy night in with my family, I opted for leaving the evening early instead of going to the next venue where the night would almost certainly develop into something I would consider “out of hand”. So, when I started travelling home at a sensible hour, it raises questions when I get home at 1am. But when I got to Reading train station and discovered I had 45 minutes to wait for a train, equipped with a burger and soft drink from a late night fast food spot, I needed something to pass the time. 

As I wandered almost aimlessly, the only focus being to find something to pass the time, I was both intrigued and relieved to hear the distant sound of somebody playing the upright piano on the upper concourse of the station. Instead of sitting on a cold bench at the platform, I could sit on a cold floor upstairs. The difference was a musician, I would later learn to be called ‘Rohan’ (and if I have that wrong, I apologise tremendously… please refer to my first paragraph for explanation!). Rohan was performing various songs in rapid succession. Verse, chorus, next. Repeating songs from the charts, movies and a plethora of singalong tunes.

Rohan playing piano at Reading Train Station

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The piano was played with enough confidence to draw me in from the floor below, but I actually didn’t realise he was singing as well. I sat down on the floor with my legs crossed, close enough to hear the almost secretive singing Rohan was accompanying his piano with. I had planned to quietly eat my burger and enjoy this private show all made possible with a piano I typically rolled my eyes at. Instead, Rohan asked if I was waiting to play, and it kickstarted a deep conversation about our musical backgrounds, experiences and most importantly: projecting your voice! 

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Rohan and singer at Reading Train Station playing piano and singing songs

We were joined by a singer specialising in Broadway, another unique moment only possible thanks to the piano that stood in the middle of the station. Again, we discussed performance, and the importance of projection. Eventually, in my drunken state of over-confidence, I sat behind the piano, belting out a Coldplay cover with my new friends. I’m not ashamed of playing music in public. But at midnight, leaving a piano after a dreadful drunken performance and bumping into two good friends, was an insane offering from the magic that is the public piano. 

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Rob from IAAS Music playing piano at Reading Train Station

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It was doubled by the above image being sent to me by my sister-in-law, who randomly stumbled upon it on the Street Pastors Facebook page. It had me wonder, was this another example of the importance of conviction when performing? Whether you’re on stage at a festival in front of thousands, or sat at a piano in the middle of a train station at midnight, people will see you playing!

I’ve never been one for sitting down on a public piano. When I’m travelling or commuting I’d rather keep my head down and listen to my music. But what am I missing? Are these pianos secret gateways into the music community, or hosts to unique random collaborations? 

Maybe the piano, typically unoccupied, should be viewed like a busker on the streets. Most will walk past and pay no attention, but every now and then a beautiful connection may happen. It could be a violinist playing a perfect rendition of 24 caprices, or the man busking on the streets in 2008 that made me beg my father to buy me my first guitar. Perhaps next time I’m walking through a train station i’ll sit down without the need of Dutch courage to play a song or two!

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