Yeonjun Kim, a trained pianist of 12 years, is used to playing his instrument alone.

But the second-year bioengineering student has found that when he plays the public pianos on the Hill, his solo piano sessions sometimes become more social affairs.

“We end up doing a duet, or they end up singing next to me, or we do a four-handed sight read together,” he said. “It’s a great experience.”

The student-run UCLA Piano Project initially stationed four pianos – donated by the Herb Alpert School of Music – across campus and on the Hill in January 2019.

The Hill pianos are located at Bruin Plate and Covel Commons. However, the piano outside Covel Commons will be unavailable for the duration of the winter because of broken strings, according to a sign posted on it.

[Related: Student hopes to weave sense of togetherness through piano project]

Philip Kang, a pianist and composer of five years, said the community he saw around the pianos when first visiting campus encouraged him to choose UCLA.

The first-year psychobiology student added that he was quick to make friends with people who were curious about the music he played.

“I would just play piano, and then people would go up to me, and they’re just like ‘Hey, cool, man. What song is that?’” he said. “I’d eventually become friends with some of them.”

Kim said he often enjoys playing the public piano outside B Plate to unwind from a long day. He added that he appreciates the freedom of playing in an outdoor setting.

He has performed classical pieces such as Beethoven’s “Pathétique” sonata, but he also enjoys playing pop songs using scores he finds online, he said.

“Out here, it’s kind of free-for-all,” Kim said. “It’s a chill place.”

Jack Bergman, a pianist of six years, said he often goes out of his way to pass by B Plate to check if its piano is available.

The time between meal periods – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at B Plate – is when it is easiest to find the piano free, Bergman, who works at the dining hall, added.

“I’m still in the B Plate uniform, and I’m just out here plucking tunes,” Bergman said. “It’s just funny … seeing me, apron and chef hat, just playing the piano.”

However, Kim said he wishes UCLA put more effort toward tuning and repairing the pianos on the Hill, including the ones located in reserved music rooms throughout the residence halls.

Kim said that he believes there are dissonant and broken keys on the piano outside B Plate, adding that he considers a piano’s ability to play in tune to be more important than its size or cost.

Kim also said he believes the recent rain has affected the piano’s sound.

A UCLA Media Relations spokesperson said the pianos are tuned annually, and repairs are made when needed. They added that UCLA plans to call a vendor in to inspect the pianos and address any issues.

Kang said he makes a regular effort to play piano on the Hill. He added that he – and many other musicians – find playing an instrument to be source of relief.

“Once you start playing an instrument, it’s like you have to play an instrument for the rest of your life,” Kang said. “It becomes a part of you.”