Christmas music is echoing through the halls of a Christchurch hospital thanks to some generous pianists.
Almost every day, musicians have volunteered their time to play the piano in the foyer of Burwood Hospital to spread some cheer.
“I think it’s great and it’s a beautiful atmosphere so you can hear the piano all over the hospital – literally,” one woman said.
The instrument was given to the hospital by an anonymous donor.
Volunteer Aynsley Ward, 89, said tapping on the keys “has been a lifesaver for me” since his wife’s death four years ago.
“It’s something I could do, something I could get out, about and meet with other people and have some purpose in life,” he told 1News.
While the 89-year-old is unable to read sheet music, he’s taught himself to play by ear.
“I just practiced, and it just came to me. It was a gift, no doubt,” he said. “I take it as a gift from God that helped me to do this.”
In one ward, patients and staff sang along to volunteer Don Brown’s playing.
“My late partner was here in Burwood in the last month and received excellent treatment from all the staff,” he explained.
“That’s just my way of just giving back, saying thank you, you know?”
It’s also helped many staff and patients to reflect, and those with severe dementia to remember.
“It’s really, really good for them and even if they can’t read the books, they still remember the songs that’s back in their brain,” Burwood Hospital’s Sue Johnson said.
“Music’s really good for them and it just lifts their mood and it’s great.”
Even professional pianists like Anna Maksymova enjoy popping in to play a few tunes.
“Mostly people just come up and say thank you, but there was a couple once who, I think the lady was a musician or a piano teacher in the past, and then they just sat and listened and I really appreciated that as well,” she said.
Ward said the gratitude is why he keeps showing up time after time.
“My greatest reward is when somebody comes up and says ‘thank you for playing’.”
