Colourful, textural music



David George with his sensory piano at Unit 1, Dandenong.

A new piece of equipment is gratefully welcomed at any ward, but rarely are they so colourful and visually striking that people are instantly drawn to it.

For the staff and clients at Unit 1 at Dandenong Hospital, their new addition is hard to miss; a wonderfully bright and intriguing upright piano.
This ‘sensory piano’ is the work of Mental Health Registered Nurse – Adult Bed Based Service David George who, with the help of some friends, brought this wonderful project to life.
“I used to bring my guitar in a bit to play in the ward, but I was always keen to have a piano here as a more permanent fixture,” he explains.
“Then one day I saw this piano available online and thought it could be great for the ward, so I contacted Kelly Isle (Nurse Unit Manager – Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit) and told her my idea, and thankfully she was really supportive.”
With the help of friend Sasha Brandt, David arranged to collect the piano, and was immediately hit with a further idea.

“The plan was really just to collect the piano and find a way to get it tuned so we could use it in the ward. However, when I saw it I started to get a whole lot of different thoughts, largely built around the work we’ve been doing in sensory modulation. From there, the plan quickly grew.”
At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that the piano is just brightly painted with some fabrics and textures adhered to the panels, but every element has been carefully planned and designed. Each key has been individually coloured, there are strips of felt on either side on the piano wall, and a coarse sandpaper feel adorns the top. A similarly bumpy set of hand prints have prominence on top of the keyboard cover, while a patch of chalkboard allows for some interactive creativity.

“I love to work with clients about how they are feeling, and then associate those feelings with sounds,” David says. “With this piano I get to take that to another level. Along with the sound, there is a smooth end and a rough end, along with the colours and textures – all of which provide an avenue for someone to explain how they feel.
“Some clients find it is incredibly difficult to talk about their emotions. The piano opens up a new way to communicate with them. I can get the individual to play a note, point to a colour, or perhaps highlight a texture that they relate to, and then use that as a basis to understand how they feel and plan a way to move forward.”
While it still needs a tune, David has already been able to put the piano to work, drawing praise from clients and fellow staff alike.
“David’s passion, drive and energy for music, along with the individual approach to his work, are commendable,” says Kelly Isle.
“He repeatedly brings fresh ideas and approaches to the ward to enable the patient group to express, vent and learn about emotions in a constructive way – and this benefits them through their treatment journey.
“The ward has engaged in initiatives this year such as the Safewards, which aims to reduce conflict and containment on the inpatient unit. David’s sensory piano compliments our aspirations to continue building a safe, engaging and therapeutic environment for our patient group during their time of crisis.”

If anyone knows of a piano tuner who may be willing to donate their time to bring the piano back to full musical glory, contact Kelly Isle at Unit 1.