K-LOVE’s Positive People – by Rafael Sierra, Jr. (complete podcast available) (more Positive People stories)
Chuck Behm from Boone, Iowa, has built a special ‘outside piano’ for use by the community. He even made the piano weatherproof, so people could enjoy playing it throughout the year.
“If it inspires a family to purchase a piano or if they see their kids enjoying it and people are more inclined to think about having an instrument for their kids to enjoy, that would be great”
Building the outdoor piano wasn’t easy. First, he decided to put two different pianos together to make one. Then, he tried making the keys out of plastic and aluminum, but that didn’t work too well. He finally decided on 3D printed keys, which he says, “would do better outside.”
After trial and error, Chuck’s efforts paid off. He admits building an outdoor piano was something he really didn’t have a clue at the beginning of how he was going to accomplish. But now that it’s built, he is looking forward to having people come and try his colorful piano out.
Chuck hopes his outdoor piano will get “played a lot and enjoyed for what it is.” And if he ever gets around to building another one, he says, “I’d be fun to have several of them [playing] around town.”
Click the full interview below