The hills were alive with the sound of music this week after hikers in search of sweeping views of Southern California were surprised to find a piano on a lookout in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The piano was discovered on top of Topanga Lookout, near Stunt Road in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.

Several photos posted to Instagram indicated the piano was hauled up Tuesday to the ridgeline for a music video shoot involving Seatlle-based artist Rachel Wong. Wong was a finalist in Ford's 2012 "Gimme the Gig II" contest, according to her biography.

The photos showed the five-person crew using a rope to pull the piano up a narrow trail, part of a two-mile round trip hike with about 160 feet of elevation gain. They used a moving dolly on some parts of the rugged trail, a job that took about 45 minutes, said videographer Michael Froton.

Aerial video Thursday afternoon showed hikers playing the piano on the graffiti-covered concrete foundation of an old fire tower and taking pictures of the instrument with a dramatic natural backdrop.

"It shows how different we are," said hiker Nick Herron. "Where else do you hear about a piano on top of a ridge?"

A representative from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy told NBC4 Thursday they were not aware of the piano. The agency said the land likely belongs to a water district.