All Around London, an Invitation to Make Music

[babylonsister]

All Around London, an Invitation to Make Music

Hazel Thompson for The New York Times

Trying out one of the 30 pianos placed around London, this one at the Millennium Bridge.

By SARAH LYALL
Published: July 10, 2009


LONDON — The piano was standing innocently near the Millennium Bridge, minding its own business except for a cheeky come-on — “Play Me, I’m Yours” — printed on its side. For a 24-year-old Australian tourist named Lauren Bradley, it was as alluring as a sign saying “Free Chocolate.”

“I live away from home and don’t have my own piano, so any chance I get to tinker, I take it,” Ms. Bradley said, spotting the piano after crossing the bridge. Without even sitting down, she pounded out the beginning of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” as passers-by recorded her brief performance on their cellphones.

Ms. Bradley then walked on, but the piano remained, ready for its next customer and its next song. (Rachmaninoff? “Chopsticks”?) All around London its fellow pianos were waiting, too — 30 of them in all — part of an interactive art project meant to challenge people to come out of their urban insularity and also to provide some summertime music.

“They’re out there to get people talking to one another and to claim ownership and activate the public space,” said the creator of the project, Luke Jerram, an artist who lives in Bristol. He previously brought incarnations of it to Birmingham, England; São Paolo, Brazil; and Sydney, Australia. “It’s a blank canvas for everyone’s creativity.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/arts/design/11pianos.html?ref=todayspaper

[Cant trust em]

1. Great picture with St. Paul's in the background.

I love London. I'm really excited for my trip there next year.

[Cant trust em]

2. I would love to hop on a drum set out there.

I've always wanted to try out the drums, but have never had the chance.