Day 16 of the A-Z Blogging Challenge and the letter P.
Thanks for Pianos.
Is there a piano in your home? Do you play it?
There’s an art movement afoot that places full, upright pianos, in a public place – often outdoors on a popular street corner or square – so anyone can sit down and play. It’s a trend started by artist Luke Jerram who says:
‘The idea for Play Me, I’m Yours came from visiting my local launderette. I saw the same people there each weekend and yet no one talked to one another. I suddenly realised that within a city, there must be hundreds of these invisible communities, regularly spending time with one another in silence. Placing a piano into the space was my solution to this problem, acting as a catalyst for conversation and changing the dynamics of a space.’
Music does that. Music changes people and places, and pianos parked somewhere unusual are sure to get people talking, and playing, and if we’re lucky, singing, as well. Thanks for pianos in public places and ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ first commissioned by Fierce Earth in Birmingham, UK in 2008.
Just another crazy idea, from a crazy artist supported by one of those government-funded arts organisations – changing the world, one note at a time.
Visit Street Pianos, Play Me, I’m Yours.
Related articles
- All Things Piano…… (pianosmusic.wordpress.com)
- Next Time, I’ll Ask for Two Pianos! (freshcoatofpaint.ca)
- Writers, Musicians, and Artists: Should Our Art Comfort or Disturb Our Audience? (lindathorlakson.wordpress.com)
Alison Amazed 
We do have a piano and yes I play. This is such a neat idea, but I’m worried about the poor pianos being left out in all the weather.
I wondered that myself the first time I saw them in Brighton, U.K. Then they were here in Victoria last fall.
I don’t like to think of pianos being ruined by the weather but I do love the idea of “free music” and the fact that people will be encouraged to explore it!
Music is meant to be played and shared as an activity – pianos in the street are perfect! I’d like to see them there permanently!