The piano is an instrument. In German, it is called das Klavier. Very cool. The Sullivan Student Center piano is an instrument of controversy in our school environment as many believe it to be a distraction to those working. Others believe it to be a nice addition.   

I myself have been doing work in the STU with friends and witnessed a musical performance by St. Lawrence University students. Though public performances can be welcomed, sometimes I, like many others, find them a bit distracting. I especially find them distracting and unwelcome when I am trying to hold a conversation with the people I am doing work with.   

I wanted to get a sense of how other SLU students felt and decided to ask a few students their thoughts on the STU piano. I called up Reid Wilson ’25 to ask him about it. He said to me, “It’s an active student center; you can hear people chatting throughout. Personally, I’ve never heard anyone play badly,” Reid added. “It can honestly drown out some of the annoying voices in the STU.”   

I also asked Cameron Woods ’25, who stated, “There is nothing like a good piano player. However, I can see why a piano would be distracting in the student center for those doing work.”  

Finally, I spoke with Connor St. Peters ’24, while he was hard at work on the third floor of the STU. He said, “I personally like the music, but I understand it can be a distraction.”  

I think the problem of music quality is not necessarily the issue; it is just rather the fact that it is played when some might not want it to be. An interesting comparison would be if elevator music was consistently played throughout the STU. I think most people would find this irritating as they would either not like the type of music being played or want to study without the background noise.   

People have the tendency to ignore the voices of others while they work, but changes in the environment (such as a loud sound or songs switching/starting/stopping) tend to be highly noticeable. A piano player is noticeable, and this warrants a distraction in those at work as it is against the norm (no piano music being played).   

I, like others, do not believe there is ill intent.   

As Wilson said, “I feel like every time I’ve seen someone play, I don’t think it has been anyone trying to show off or practice. It has been someone trying to have harmony and help people study. I think it is generally done as a nice act, non-maliciously.”  

Regardless of these student’s stances on the piano, it seems a little out of place on the third floor of the STU.   

“I think most universities have this idea that the higher you go up in floors in a student center, the quieter the setting should be,” St. Peters added.   

There is a reason the pool table is on the first floor and not the third. There is a reason there are plentiful work spaces on the third floor. As such, there is a reason students conglomerate there to do work.  

When asked what should be done about this problem, Wilson and Woods both had the same simple answer.   

“It should be moved, probably to the first floor, but I don’t know where,” Wilson said.   

“I think it should be on the first floor,” said Woods.  

I personally believe that a compromise is the best solution to this problem. Moving the piano downstairs would help separate the studying side of the third floor from the more recreational and socializing area on the first floor. To all those affected by the piano, I strongly encourage you to reflect on the perspectives of others.  

If you’re a student studying, ask yourself how much a one-song performance really bothers you. Maybe consider going up and asking the piano player to come back another time.   

If you’re a piano player, ask yourself if your performance might disrupt those around you. Maybe consider playing when fewer people are studying or utilizing one of the music rooms with pianos that are out of the public eye.   

Maybe a change is in order for the betterment of the STU, but until then, I think we all just need to be a little more cognizant of others.