25th Annual Toy Piano Festival
Join UC San Diego Library for their 25th annual Toy Piano Festival. This annual event pays homage to UC San Diego’s history with the adorable instrument, which dates back to 1966 when composer Robert Erickson wrote a piece for toy pianos and bells that premiered on California’s PBS television stations.
Performers include Scott Paulson, Kenneth Herman, Christian Hertzog, Barbara Scheidker and special guest Sue Palmer, known as “The Queen of Boogie-Woogie.” This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Fun Toy Piano Facts:
The first composer to write a “serious” work for toy piano was John Cage, who visited the UC San Diego campus several times, including a two-week stay as a Regents lecturer in the 1980s. Alumnus Scott Paulson, who was on campus for Cage’s lectures, cites Cage’s influence as a major impetus for this festival, of which Paulson is the director.
In 1999, a missing service bell at a Geisel Library help desk spawned a long streak of toy piano activity at UC San Diego. The bell was replaced by a playful, tiny keyboard and a sign: “Please play on toy piano for service.” And play they did!
The resultant flurry of toy piano activity led to the establishment of The Toy Piano Collection at Geisel Library. The collection consists of actual instruments, commissioned scores, and existing literature and recordings. Most of the commissioned scores in the collection have been composed by UC San Diego alumni.
In May 2001, the Library of Congress issued a subject heading and call number for toy piano scores because of the commissioning activities at Geisel Library. The collection can be viewed under the call number M 175 T69.
