Spreading hope and smiles through music with stunning views
(Part 2)

Kelvin Smith / Pianist

The performance that inspires wonder and joy.

Kelvin Smith got back on track with the piano by performing weekly at a hotel bar-restaurant. Two and a half years later, he started playing in outdoor settings like scenic spots in the city or by the sea. Open-air concerts are his way of “creating wondrous, joyous moments” for others.

The best stages are out in the open.

The idea of playing the piano outdoors came up during a conversation with a friend who ran a delivery business.
“What’s a good place to put a piano for a concert?” I asked. “What sort of place would be out of the norm?”

“Outside,” my friend replied.

The pieces all came together to make that happen. A generous woman gave me her piano on the condition that he play it in beautiful places. And my friend was happy to haul it around for me on the back of his truck. I soon gained the ability to move it by myself. I chose Kingston Beach, a favorite walk for locals, as the venue for my first open-air concert, in December 2019. The choice was probably inspired by the film The Piano.

I hold an outdoor concert two or three times a month. Every time, I choose a spot with a beautiful view. When I start playing, the people around react differently. Some are surprised, others treat me like a part of the scenery. The audiences outside have more freedom than the audiences I play for in the bar-restaurant. People stop and listen, giggle at my funny gestures and the absurdity of hauling a piano into such unusual locations, and wander off as freely as they arrive. I feel more liberated and less pressured. There may only be 5 or 6 people listening at a time, or it could be 70. Once, as many as 300 people stopped to listen to a one-hour concert I performed. Adding to that the people who see me on social media, and my audience has grown to the thousands.

Cornelian Bay is one of the best places to play piano outdoors. This beautiful beach located to the north of Hobart is a place of relaxation for the locals.

I want people to discover the beauty of Tasmania through my performances.

Since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, growing numbers of people have come to watch my performances online. They need moments to enjoy themselves, to forget the hardships in their lives. More and more people are yearning for things to smile about. I move my piano to places that I hope are unexpected. I want to lighten people up by knocking them off guard.

Today our local authority granted me a sponsorship that will allow me to expand my activities. So far I’ve played in some very scenic spots. Once I played on a sailing boat. Another time I played on a famous SkyWalk which is a suspended bridge overlooking a splendid natural panorama. I have many friends to help me haul the piano to the locations. Tasmania is an island of great scenic beauty that attracts many tourists. Sadly, our tourism industry has been struggling due to COVID-19. For now, with travel restricted, I hope many people across the world will discover Tasmania and its beautiful sites by watching my video broadcasts. Attention and recognition from around the world will nourish our communities in the future. This is another of my reasons for choosing scenic concert spots.

Kelvin hauling his piano to a concert venue. His bricklaying “training” pays off. Physical feats are another type of challenge he enjoys.

My piano reciprocates my love.

It has been a few years since I started the outdoor concerts, and these days I get invited to perform at various interesting places. I’m happy to go anywhere, if someone requests it and there is a beautiful view. I’m unruffled if sometimes an audience is small. I count myself lucky to have rediscovered the piano after all these years. The instrument has a special place in my heart. Whenever I play, the stresses and pressures of my life melt away. The melodies put my heart at peace. After two decades of absence in my life, my piano has become a source of great happiness for me. And I have no doubt that my piano reciprocates my love.

The coronavirus crisis has put so much strain on people’s lives. Hope is difficult to conjure in times of such stress. But the world will always be full of beautiful locations and music, more than we can ever know. My message for the world is to hold onto hope. My passion is to express that message by performing, by sharing small moments when people feel love and hope.

Kelvin at Gordon Dam, a Tasmanian landmark known for its spectacular view. The video of the performance is currently on various social media channels of “A Piano of Tasmania”, where Kelvin showcases the beautiful wonders of Tasmania to the world.

Read the Part 1

Kelvin Smith / Pianist: Kelvin is a Tasmania-based pianist with many other faces—a jeweler, a church/community leader, a bricklayer. He takes his piano into the open air and gives concerts on the beach, in the street, on a boat. His unique performances against beautiful backdrops have gained him a following through streaming services and social media.

Interview Date: Nov 2020