Impromptu public performers have attracted the ire of a prominent newspaper columnist. But they say they play for the sheer love of it

Since British artist Luke Jerram launched the idea just over a decade ago, public pianos have appeared in railway stations, airports and parks across the world. They have inspired impromptu performances by countless amateurs as well as flash mobs, professional orchestras and well-known musicians such as John Legend, Elton John and Jamie Cullum.

While recitals often prompt passers-by to smile or clap and cheer, not everyone is a fan. Last week a national newspaper columnist caused uproar on Twitter after declaring that adults playing public pianos were “attention seeking” and made him “cringe”.

There are two pianos on either side of a parade of shops in London’s St Pancras International station. They are tuned every Sunday by a man who voluntarily did the job until he was scouted by management. The Observer spoke to some of the pianists entertaining commuters and tourists as they passed through the station.

Marc Mathijsen, 51

Brussels

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marc Mathijsen. Photograph: Sonja Horsman/The Observer

With his briefcase and suit jacket resting beside him, Mathijsen (above) glances at the display boards for his train back to Belgium while playing some Schubert. A hobby pianist of 20 years, he’s in London for a job interview.

“I like playing the piano because it’s relaxing. I was in a very stressful situation this morning, so I have to get rid of that stress. If there’s a chance to get on a piano, I play it every time,” he says.

The trick for him is to focus his attention solely on the piano. “I don’t care about people passing by – I just play, keep myself alone with the piano. I like to do that.

“This here is Scott Joplin and this one is Chopin. Voila.”

Xiaoxiao Ma, 25 London

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xiaoxiao Ma. Photograph: Sonja Horsman/The Observer

On the St Pancras parade, Xiaoxiao expertly plays Liszt’s Hungarian rhapsodies. Three of the keys have been knocked out of tune by heavy usage, but it’s barely audible. Xiaoxiao, from China, is studying for an MA in music education at University College London. She started learning the piano when she was just four and has taken a detour on her way home to put in some practice.

“Sometimes people come and sit down with me and we’ll play some four-hands pieces,” she says. “I’ve been coming to practise here since I started studying in 2015 because I don’t have a piano in my dormitory.”

Ben Sharvit, 23 Hertfordshire

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ben Sharvit. Photograph: Sonja Horsman/The Observer

Dressed as a holidaymaker, Sharvit plays a mini medley which incorporates Michael Bublé, beatboxing and Mozart. Close by, his friends – one dressed as the Hulk, the other with a wig in a Tesco bag – wait patiently before they set off for a fancy dress party in Shoreditch, east London.

“I’ve been playing since I was 12,” says Sharvit. “He learned by ear,” adds the Hulk.

Sharvit says he likes playing in public and he gets all kinds of reactions. “Some people dance. When I played here three weeks ago, I had people slow dancing next to me who were on their way to get married. I played Mozart, my own song and some other stuff.”

Louise, 4 & Maxime, 7 Geneva

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Louise and Maxime. Photograph: Sonja Horsman/The Observer

Performing the most carefree duet of the day, the youngsters pound the keys together, making experimental music. Neither has been taught to play the piano, and their mother giggles as she listens to them adding “crash, whoop and bang” sound effects.

The duo have just arrived in London as part of a tour of Europe. They are grinning, despite the plonking. Do they want to learn to play? “No, because it’s too noisy,” says Maxime. “Yes,” shouts Louise, smashing her way down the keys.

Thabo Mkwananzi, 37 & Aron Kyne, 30 Huddersfield

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Aron and Thabo. Photograph: Sonja Horsman/The Observer

Mkwananzi and Kyne are seated at the Yamaha piano donated to the station by Elton John in 2016. They are in a world of their own, rehearsing songs for a gig at the 100 Club next week with their soul band. Thabo sings while Aron plays.

“I started playing when I was 13,” says Aron. “He [Thabo] has just arrived on a train, so I came to meet him. We’re about to go to Stratford to meet our bandmates so we thought we’d squeeze in some practice time.

“If people want to watch and record it’s fine. But I just saw this unmanned piano so I was like, ‘right, let’s do this’.”