Roundhay Mini-Piano-Shed
The Roundhay piano shed getting its first use (while still under construction)
Key notes of a pianodrome journey.
Dora Goldsbrough, Forest School Leader, Roundhay Primary, Leeds. Yorkshire.
Extract.
The culmination. The mini-shed.
A seed of an idea, the seeds sown, a sedum roof.
From the first meeting with Pianodrome on the seventh floor in Besbrode piano emporium as part of the Leeds Piano Trail planters project, piano magic sparked and trailed and blazed across the city and weaved its mystical way up to Roundhay Primary via a trio of pianos donated to the school by Besbrode's. One for the top playground, one for the Reception class, and the most wonderful setting of all, was for one in the woodland Forest School area.
Tim brilliantly offered ideas as to how to best keep them dry and playable - and in doing so offered to help create a mini-shed for the woodland one. A living shell of protection, growth and nurture. I took a trip to Granton to assist with the build - a day of play - helping choose the wood, colours, style, and learning from all the discussions; angles and joins, living roof/soil weight and wire hanging basket designs.
In the pianodrome setting - anything seems possible. Creativity, energy, music and conversations flow around the warehouse, and folks drop in and out all day involved in various activities or just having a cuppa. It's a delight to be there, and we make really good time on the mini-shed. A return visit of the pianodrome team a few weeks later in the Yorkshire spring sunshine ensued to install the mini-shed.
Surrounded by an excited group of children, distracted by ladybirds and sticks, the shed, made entirely from reclaimed piano wood, started to take shape. Tim's creative vision coming to life, Matt, Tom and Shona creatively supporting; digging required for stone slabs, saws required for adjustments, conversation and answers for endless children's questions. This is their beginning...the adventure of planting and growing on it come next. Little minds whirling.
And coming beautifully in full circle, as the last screw was in, tools tidied away, as the children happily played and experimented, we all took leave, happy hearts, smiling at the shed in the midday sunbeams. We headed back down to the place where it had all started - Besbrode - to share a communal lunch of joy, gratitude and connection.
Thank you Pianodrome.
The children rush to it, marvel at it, play it.
Open it up, teeny hammers plonking, a pink neon felt line, bug hotel holes. Endless hours of fun. The melodies that now flow and tinkle through the woodland at our Forest School sessions create moments of giddiness, delight, joy, companionship, and calm. It's so beautiful to listen to whilst we potter and play outside. Living breathing connections. Wood within a wood. Music for the soul.
