- Title: Barefoot trombonist serenades neighbors under coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 11th April 2020
- Summary: PEARSON WALKING, PLAYING TROMBONE
- Embargoed: 25th April 2020 02:57
- Keywords: COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown musician trombone trombonist
- Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES
- City: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA00BC91Q43R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Musician Christian Pearson, like 90% of Americans, is living under a stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For his permitted daily walks in his hometown of Oklahoma City, he decided to do something different: take off his shoes and play trombone, entertaining his housebound neighbors on the way.
"Going out where people can hear it, it can be cool because it's sort of it invites people to be a part of it. And I think now is especially a good time to do that," he said.
Pearson, 29, a professional pianist, is honest about his abilities on the instrument.
"I don't really play trombone," he said. "So every day I just find a couple of new things to play and pick out a few new melodies and I'll walk to the Plaza District, which is my my favorite spot. And if people ask me to play for them, I play for them."
The reactions to his limited repertoire have been positive, he says.
"There was an older guy in a Beemer (a BMW car) and he said, do you know 'Amazing Grace'. And I said, you know, actually that is the only song that I know, yes. And so I played it and he gave me five bucks. So that was kind of cool."
Pearson observes social distancing guidance as he walks, serenading his neighbors from the sidewalk while they stand on their porches.
"Part of why I do it while I'm walking instead of staying in one place is because I'm not trying to pester people with it, but people get a taste of it. You know, they just get a few notes and then I'm gone," he said. "If they like it and I like doing it, I was like, well I might as well just keep doing it."
And if the lockdown continues and he tires of the trombone, Pearson has a plan B.
"I'll be playing trombone every day until I feel like playing saxophone. And then I'll be walking around with a saxophone," he said.
(Production: Nick Oxford/Jane Ross) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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