It was about ten years ago when Jody Sweet first started tickling the ivories of a rattletrap piano on the sidewalk of downtown Truckee. He’s worn out three pianos since. Thousands of people of all ages, from dozens of countries and all walks of life have stopped to listen, given impromptu concerts, and signed their name on our beloved piano. Filling the streets of Truckee California with boogie woogie and showing kids how to do it too!
Dr. Heidi Kuzma has a real PhD (in science) and a real job - but she’d rather play the piano. She started studying with Jody Sweet three years ago and now she plays on the bench at Pizza Piano - often as the top half of a raucous duet. She also plays solo around town, in Tahoe City and in Squaw Valley. Dr Heidi loves old fashion ragtime, stride and jazz. She also loves physics and wave-mechanics. She’ll happily tell you all about the “real” theory of music, how piano actually works and how information theory explains musical taste - sometimes more than anybody wants to know!
Mission critical to the pizza piano is giving Jody’s students (and everyone else) a place to play. Thousands of kids have taken a turn at the piano and Jody lets them keep the tips they make. (So far the record is $83 in 45 minutes). Come by and play!