Charlotte Foster
Music

“Incredibly gifted”: Homeless man stuns with piano talents

A homeless man who sleeps in his car has amazed onlookers with his “incredible” piano talent. 

Shane has been taking to the piano every day and night in a pedestrian tunnel underneath the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in South Brisbane. 

The “incredibly gifted” man has drawn attention from listeners for his musical talents, despite never having any lessons, and never owning a piano. 

“I was just walking past and had to stop, absolutely amazing - it blows me away to be honest,” a man walking past told 7News.  

“One of the best piano players I have ever seen,” another onlooker said. 

Shane said playing the piano has a therapeutic effect on him, and helps him escape his harsh reality of living in his car a few streets away from the theatre. 

“It takes me to a place out of reality, away from beyond whatever is around us. I can hear an orchestra in my head, the piano plays me rather than I play the piano,” he said. 

Shane doesn't know how to read music, or know any of the names of the keys, but couldn’t help being drawn to the instrument that is available for public use. 

After hearing the sound of a piano coming from a local ballet school in the area when he was a child, he has been enamoured by the piano and dreams of performing with others one day. 

Shane’s talents have gone viral online, with commenters being “gobsmacked” over the man’s “beautiful music”.

“Wow! So incredibly gifted. I hope he gets his dream of playing with others,” one impressed viewer said.

“We need more stories like this. What a remarkable man,” another wrote. 

“I hope someone can help this man, he needs a job in a restaurant playing nice music and getting well paid so he can rent a place to live and a happy life,” a third said.

Image credits: 7News

Tags:
music, piano, homeless, talent