Public pianos are pianos placed at public places such as streets, gardens, important buildings (as part of various initiatives) that encourage you to play. So go out and play your favorite Mozart piece. Also watch some incredible people and performances on these pianos.
Polka-dot piano in Tokyo building, with a view to die for
With the goal of promoting interaction between visitors and residents, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has set up a grand piano for visitors on the 45th floor of its No. 1 building in Shinjuku Ward. Renowned Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama decorated the 30-year old piano, donated by a Tokyoite, with yellow and black patterns.
Visitors can play the grand piano for about five minutes each. The players also get to enjoy dazzling views of the city from the 202-meter-high South Observation Deck.
Flower Piano event at San Francisco’s Botanical Garden
The Flower Piano event is an annual event held at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the event features intimate performances by invited professional musicians. For others, its an opportunity to play one of the 12 pianos placed in the sprawling 55 acres flower-filled garden.
Mermell and Mauro ffortissimo of Sunset Piano founded the Flower Piano event, which is further hosted by the Garden Society and supported by private, corporate and media sponsors. Admission is free for members and San Francisco residents.
The event has been organised in collaboration with Sunset Piano.
There are even a few ticketed events, such as:
- NightGarden Piano, an evening of all-star performers designed to enthrall visitors while raising funds to support the 12-day festival
- Screening of filmmaker Dean Mermell’s documentary, Twelve Pianos, about the mighty force that is behind Flower Piano.
So head straight to San Francisco’s Botanical Garden, as it becomes more magical during this event.
Summer Of Love 50th Anniversary Sing-Along At SF Botanical Garden
Organization: Community Music Center
Venue: San Francisco Botanical Gardens
City: San Francisco
Homeless Man Plays Street Piano Beautifully
Watch Donald Gould, a homeless man living in the streets of Florida, play the piano beautifully. This performance is proof enough that whatever the world throws at you, it can’t take the music from within you.
‘Play Me I’m Yours’ Initiative
‘Play Me I’m Yours’ is a global project whose intention is to provides FREE access to Pianos on the streets of all the Cities around the world (well, almost).
Brainchild of British artist Luke Jerram, under this initiative, more than 1,000 pianos have already been installed in several cities across the globe in North & South America, Europe, Australia & China.
These pianos have the ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ instruction printed on them, and are usually located in public parks, bus shelters, train stations, & markets, for the public to play and enjoy.
Usually, these pianos are decorated by the local artists/community, and are setup during some important events or festivals.
Wondering if these pianos go junk in a few months because of the weather?
These pianos usually have plastic tarpaulins and are protected from the rain. Piano players are asked to put the tarps back on the pianos when done.
And once the event gets over, these pianos get donated to schools or community groups.
2017 marks the tenth year of the project, which has seen more than 1,700 pianos in more than 50 cities across the globe reaching more than 10 million people.
Please donate to https://t.co/WDqqzlGiS2 so we can fill the streets of Bristol with art & music this summer! #bristolstreetpianos pic.twitter.com/8DLBB35GpA
— sallystreetpianos (@streetpianos) April 26, 2017
It’s really great to know that such projects exists that endeavors to make the arts accessible to people in cities around the world!
When you’re just beginning to learn the piano, you feel like touching and tinkling with the keys of every piano that you come across. Then there are some who, because of their very busy schedule, are hardly able to spend any time with their pianos.
The next time you are on the streets and see one of these ‘Play Me I’m Yours’ pianos, make sure you spend some time with them.
Prague policeman takes a musical break
A policeman in Prague takes a break from his beat, plays on a street piano.
Street piano at the Charlestown Navy Yard
Street piano at the Charlestown Navy Yard! Come play! #streetpianosboston @bostonNHP pic.twitter.com/qdlUjogOBZ
— Ruth Raphael (@NPSUrbanBost) September 20, 2016
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