18 pianos on the block as MacEwan University's west-end campus moves downtown

For someone with an ear for a deal, MacEwanUniversity's piano auction isbeautiful music.

The university's west-Edmonton campus is moving downtown, but has no desireto take along its well-used pianos.

"As we are preparing to move we are getting rid of some of the old equipment that we don't want anymore, including some of these pianos," said the music department's Marcel Hamel.

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The MacEwanCentre for the Arts had been in the Jasper Place campussince 1981 and 15 of the 18 pianos on the block have been there since the beginning.

"We wantto replace them with newer pianos, to give the students the best experience we can, with a brand new building, brand new instruments, brand new everything" Hamel said. "It is going to be a really exciting move."

One of the pianos is a Yamaha C3 grand piano that jazz pianist and former senator Tommy Banks used to have in his home. Banks sold it to the school 32 years ago.

The Yamaha has been in the recording studio and istuned three or fourtimes a year.

"It really is a wonderful instrument,"Hamel said.

While many of the pianos showsigns of wear and tear from the 36 years of use, all arewell maintained and "very playable."

"For families that want to start off with their kids taking lessons, it is an absolutely wonderful instrument,"Hamelsaid.

The Alberta government surplus auction ended Friday.