New Yorkers play on public pianos
New Yorkers play on public pianos
Amid an urban orchestra of honking cabs, sirens and jackhammers, piano lovers plinked out tunes from Bach's "Minuet in G" to Elton John's "Rocket Man" on the first day dozens of public pianos were placed at New York City landmarks and parks for a public art project.
In bustling Times Square, on a traffic triangle in the East Village and at a park with the Statue of Liberty in the background, players flocked to the 60 pianos Monday as audiences applauded from taxicabs and sidewalks.
"This is the first time I've ever touched a piano," said Lynette Morris, a 52-year-old hospital maintenance worker from the Bronx. She had just sat down at one of the instruments in the East Village, situated at the top of subway stairs.
"I can't play but I'm going to try," Morris said.
Moments later, as construction trucks beeped and traffic roared by, a more experienced player got his chance on the bench. New Yorkers, who don't stop for much, halted in their tracks to listen as he ran through classics like Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" and Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy," otherwise known as the "Peanuts" theme.
During his final number, "Let It Be" by the Beatles, a guy manning a nearby coffee cart stuck his head out and belted out part of the chorus.
"It's amazing how a piano, in the middle of total urban chaos, will make everyone stop to hear the notes," said Dana Mozie, who was visiting from Washington.
The two-week project, devised by British artist Luke Jerram, is making its first U.S. stop in New York. The instruments are open for public play from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in most locations. Each has a tarp in case of rain and has its own caretaker to unlock the keyboard each morning.
A few glitches were reported as the project started Monday. One piano had to be removed from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx because several of its keys were damaged by eager children, organizers said.
Other instruments had a few keys that didn't work, and one spot in Brooklyn did not open at the promised 9 a.m., disappointing some would-be players who arrived on time.
Jerram has done the installation in several other cities since 2008, including London, Sydney and Sao Paulo, but New York City is the largest so far.
In Battery Park, Don Nathman, a retired music teacher from Oregon, sat down and played Elton John's "Rocket Man," his white sneakers pressing the pedals as a crowd gathered around him.
"I saw it and thought, 'Hmm!'" Nathman said. "Anytime there's a piano I like to play."
When he finished, the group broke into applause.
The piano stood along a tree-lined pathway near the line for the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Children in summer camp groups passed by and couldn't resist dragging their hands over the keys. One after another, tourists stopped to play a few notes.
Eleven-year-old Nolan Bonnie, of Danville, Calif., sat down and played Beethoven's "Fur Elise," Bach's "Minuet in G" and another tune he had learned in his 18 months of piano lessons.
"That's about all I know," he told the small crowd.
It was harder to hear the notes in the heart of Times Square, where Aaron George's rendition of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" was nearly drowned out by honking taxis and a fire truck siren.
"It's a little noisy," said George, who plays piano at weddings in Clarkston, Mich. "But this is great. People need to get more music in their lives."
George said he read about the installation online and came to New York City specifically to play one of the pianos.
"I wanted to come here because this audience is huge," he said.
Pedestrians and passengers in passing taxis applauded and gave thumbs ups to the performers in Times Square.
Gili Ely, 43, an Israeli tourist, stood listening to the music.
"This is the perfect place for this," he said.
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- Posted on June 22, 2010
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Music gives hope that very few things can instill. Pianos in the middle of new york? What a great way to express the arts. The fact that rand people were aloud to play was very heart-warming. Many people have never experienced music a woman said "This is the first time I've ever touched a piano," said Lynette Morris, a 52-year-old. People gathered on the streets because this was something unique, professionals, beginners, the inexperienced; all able to play on pianos. Many sang along to songs that were recognized. I think this is one of the great steps that need to be taken in more areas to bring us together and experience the small things that make us happy in life.
I believe that the pinao placed in the total urban choas in New York, is a great way to allow pedestrians
enjoy the beauty and sound of music. People can stop by and relax when placing a finger on the piano and hear the soft tone of the keys. It is great for others to play the piano and feel great about themselves, leaving them positive for the rest of their day.
This was a very great idea and the person who came up with it is a genius! Who knew that just a simple piano could make so many people stop to listen? Especially in the busy bustling New York? That is too cool. People could entertain others on their way to and from work or even at just a leisurely walk.
I think that this project is an amazing idea! The idea of something melodic against the harsh sounds of a large city is very intriguing. I would like to go just to listen to the contrasts of the sounds and to see how many people stop during a moment in their bustling lives just to relax and listen. If this project continues for a while and has such great results, I think that Luke Jerran should try to keep the pianos in such cities for an extended time to see if people would regularly stop or simply stop because it's something new. It's a wonderful idea and I wish that I would be able to witness it.
how can you sit there and pant stuff who is the worker be hied this what did she do this did she fill like just doing someing that time where is she from she from new york city
I think its really cool that they did this throughout New York! The fact that people would stop and just listen, even start singing a chorus is just great. I think it would be a great idea to do this throughout the country... even the whole world at world landmarks.
Art: The article talks about how a man puts pianos in New York public parks to see what reactions he would get from people passing by. Many people stopped and listened to the people who took the time out of their busy day to play. I thought that the lady who had never played a piano ever in her life but still sat down to play was really neat. Also the boy from California that only had 18 months of lessons and was able to see down and play classical music was amazing.
that's really cool! Last year our art club got to paint a piano, but it was much more detailed than the one in the picture. i've been playing piano for a long time and think that its so cool that people can just walk up a nd play the piano!
I think this is a really cool way to allow the musically gifted individuals of the world to step out of the general public and show what they've got. Music is a powerful force that can be used to express any emotion. The fact that the piano is being played amongst the sound of city life is cool in and of itself. Good idea to whomever initalized it.
That is cool because if some people can't aford a piano they can just go outside to town and play and the outside pianos.That is cool.