From the outside, Pianos for People looks like an old-time piano store. And inside the Cherokee Street storefront, there are plenty of pianos -- but they're not for sale.
Pianos for People provides free pianos and lessons to anyone in the community who wants to have the opportunity to learn and play, but can't afford it.
Matt Brinkmann is the executive director of Pianos for People, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. He told KMOX they've given away 351 pianos.
"Our founder, Tom Townsend, was a great piano player himself, loved playing, and had a dream that anybody should have the opportunity that he had to learn how to play," Brinkmann said. "He also found out about a lot of pianos that were just getting tossed away. People weren't playing them anymore. And they were going into landfills. And he just hated that idea."
Brinkmann said that now, Pianos for People is actually offered more pianos than they can accept.
KMOX's Debbie Monterrey stopped by to talk with Brinkmann and some potential pianists who came by the store. Listen to the full interview:
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