The streets of Parramatta and Sydney's CBD will sound more joyous this January, as British artist Luke Jerram populates the streets with 30 pianos for his public piano project.

Play Me, I’m Yours grew from Luke’s observation of how we see the same people every day on our streets, around our workplaces and in our parks but rarely stop to say hello. Out of this came a plan to use music as a catalyst for strangers to talk and to connect with one another.

The idea is simple – place playable pianos in public areas and invite everyone to come, play a tune or accompany a song.

In previous cities Play Me, I’m Yours has brought hundreds of pianists out of the woodwork, encouraging people in a modest yet potent way to engage, activate and claim ownership of their city streets.

Luke Jerram previously surprised residents of Western Sydney during the 2007 Festival with an ‘orchestra’ suspended from hot-air balloons. This year’s earthbound intervention is sure to capture the imagination once again.

Check out each piano’s journey online. Upload films and photos of your street piano to streetpianos.com.au

PLAY ME I'M YOURS - PIANO LOCATIONS

- Australia Square - 264 George Street Sydney
- Centennial Park - Paper Bark Grove Roberts Road, Centennial Park
- Charles Street Wharf - Charles Street, Parramatta
- Church Street Mall - Church Street, Parramatta
- Circular Quay, out front of MCA - West Circular Quay, Sydney
- Darcy Street - Darcy Street Parramatta
- Glebe Library - 186 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
- Harry's Café de Wheels - Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
- Illustrated Man Tattoo Parlour - 228A Elizabeth St Surry Hills
- Lennox Bridge Bus Stop - Church St Parramatta
- Manly Ferry
- Market City (outside) Cnr Hay and Thomas Sts Haymarket
- Macquarie Street - 119a Macquarie Street, Parramatta
- Opera House Monumental Steps - Bennelong Point, Circular Quay
- Oxford Square - Cnr Oxford and Burton Sts, Darlinghurst
- Parramatta Swimming Centre - O'Connell Street, Parramatta
- Parramatta PCYC - 12 Hassall St, Parramatta
- Peace Park - Cnr Myrtle and Pine Sts, Chippendale
- Phillip Park - College St, Sydney
- Prince Alfred Park - Cnr Church and Victoria Sts, Parramatta
- Queen Victoria Building Square - Cnr George and Druitt Sts Sydney
- Redfern Community Centre - 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern
- Salon Noir - 251 Church Street Parramatta
- Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital - 8 Macquarie St Sydney
- Taylor Square - Bourke St, Darlinghurst
- Victoria Park Pool - City Road, Camperdown
- Wayside Chapel - 29 Hughes St, Potts Point
- Wynyard - Bus Stops Stand J York St, Sydney
- Yefsi Café - 140 Church St Parramatta
- 420 George St Project - 420 George St Sydney

If you have any queries or questions about Play Me, I'm Yours, email the event coordinator here.

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“One of the real joys of this year’s festival.” – The Daily Telegraph – 14 January

“Willing maestros and dilettantes are invited to play the blues, tinker through ragtime, knock out Chopsticks or show off with Chopin, for as long and whenever they like.” – Alive – 8th Jan

"On the eve of his 19th birthday, Marvin Forbes did something which completely shocked his mates: he sat down at the piano which had appeared overnight on the corner of Orphanage and Mason roads, and played a few bars of Offenbach ... more" - The Guardian

“The idea of an international arts festival only really works if at least some of the art engages with members of the public that wouldn’t normally step into a theatre or concert hall.” – The Drum Media

"So far, the two other places this project happened was Birmingham and Sao Paulo and lots of people came out of the woodwork and played...more" - ABC-CBS News

"This is all about putting apinao in everyday places and getting people to stop for aminute and talk with each other" - Daily Telegraph

 

 

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COMMENTS

Maai 21/12/08

This should be very interesting, but where about in the CBD or Parramatta is this event going to happen? It only says various location throughout Parramatta and Sydney CBD.

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Lucio 28/12/08

When the project goes live www.streetpianos.com.au will have a map that will show you the location of your nearest piano. enjoy X

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Joanne 28/12/08

I'm looking forward to tickling the ivories in the CBD !! Do tell me that the pianos will be locked away each night in a eg. nearby Loading Dock? so that some 'fruit cake' doesn't have opportunity to 'take one home' !!

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Cooper 31/12/08

I'm sure there will be some level of security, Joanne. I'd be more worried about them being damaged than stolen. At least stolen pianos can still be played. I'm looking forward to this program too, should be fun to hear chopsticks all round the city.

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Gayle Adams 04/01/09

What a brilliant idea. So much more fun than being in the audience watching someone else on stage but not being involved.

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Sherry 05/01/09

Can everyone play those pianos? As my daughter, 7 years of age asked me whether she can play during this time.

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Jeff S 05/01/09

Where in CBD we can find the piano to play?

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Sydney Festival 06/01/09

Dear all! Yes anyone is welcome to play the piano's- after all they are 'yours'. The whereabouts of the piano's will be available during the festival.

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pianoman 07/01/09

The pianos are for everyone and anyone to play and will be open day and night. some have recommended times for playing eg 'Play me 9am-9pm' Non are being locked away at night but most are being fixed using cable to stop them from being stolen. We invite you, play, decorate your new piano..and to document its use here... www.streetpianos.com.au The pianos now belong to you

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lisa 08/01/09

love the idea!! Locations are posted on the link, streetpianos.com.au.

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pianoman 08/01/09

Location of the pianos are on this map www.streetpianos.co.au

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Sydney Ferries 09/01/09

Hello all, Sydney Ferries is proudly providing space for this event. A piano will be secured aboard 'Queenscliff' -one of the large vessels that provide services to Manly. Enjoy your journey!

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Marilyn 11/01/09

What are the locations in CBD

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Pat 11/01/09

Jeff http://www.streetpianos.com/sydney2009/

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Jessica 11/01/09

There's one on Church St Parramatta, outside the convinent store located where the fire station used to be. I saw it tonight.

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Aimee T 11/01/09

This is absolutely fantastic! I was in Macquarie St Parramatta on Friday and was rushing from the bank when I heard this music, good music! And there, chained to a wall was a piano, by which a gent had laid his briefcase down and was adding a charm to the street that was truly lovely. It kinda takes guts to do that!

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Nicole DE 12/01/09

great idea, unfortunately I cannot play, but at least I took a fantastic picture of the piano. @ Jeff S - I cannot remember where exactly it was, but around 40-60 oxford street, left side coming from the center.

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Samuel Cottell 12/01/09

Fantastic! I am doing everything I can do to promote this! Play your own compositions, play anything! Just love it! Cheers mate for a great idea Sam

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Christopher Garnett 12/01/09

i would like to say thankyou for this idea i was waiting for a bus on lenox bridge in Parramatta today and there was a piano and i must say that this piano made the world a little better today every one had a smile on their face as people played it was so nice to see people smileing as they heard the music. thank you again there was a little magic in the air regards Chris

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aleksandra 13/01/09

what a brilliant idea!! thanks

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Lauren 13/01/09

The great thing about this project is that anyone can play the pianos. So yes, your daughter will be able to play the piano. It's a wonderful way to share music around.

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Andrew 13/01/09

Just came back from playing the one in front of Market City. It's fantastic connecting with people who play or just like to listen. Kudos to Luke for this awesome project. Tinkering on it just made my day. One regret: The piano in front of Market City doesn't have a seat:(

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eldo 14/01/09

what a lovely idea¢½ i really enjoyed playing piano today. this project make me really happy!!! merci beaucoup!!!

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SUSAN DAWE 14/01/09

How wonderful! Well done to whoever included this in the programme.I look forward to taking our Melbourne visitors on a short tour of the pianos ending at Manly.

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Carolyn 14/01/09

What fun watching people go up to the piano and some people play really well. There is a wealth of talent out there. Some kids had no shame and started bashing on the keys in fascination. Very cute. Much better than the way I was brought up around them. It was a sort of fear!

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Viola D 15/01/09

So glad I figured out what this was - walked past a man setting up and tuning the piano in Peace Park a few days ago. Then yesterday as I walked past, there was a whole band playing there, it was brilliant! Now that I know it is a public project, I intend to bust out some (badly interpreted) Mozart on my next trip past!

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KS 15/01/09

Dear Sydney Festival At lunchtime today, my friend and I discovered the piano nestled serenely alongside the naked tree in the park behind St Mary's Cathedral. It was a sublime experience, listening to my friend play the rickety old piano. It has an angelic sound and my friend's music equalled the vibrance and colour of the piano's wonderfully artistic skin! I was transported to a magical place, far away from the legal world in which I'd spent the morning. I've never felt so alive on a work day in the city! Thanks for a truly inspired idea!! Best regards

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Anouk 15/01/09

It is my new mission to go and find one of these vagabonds and make a noise on it. But what a wonderful noise to find on a city street!

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Brian Kelly 16/01/09

I have now played 5 of the 20 pianos around the city, and it has been a blast. I even appeared on TV one night, on the 6 O' Clock news on Channel 7. But, today was a real highlight, when I played the piano on the construction site at 420 George St, wearing a hard hat surrounded by a bunch of workers singing their hearts out to the strains of "My Sweet Lord" (by George Harrison). Thanks guys - what a great group of guys !

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Bryan 16/01/09

I've just been to some of these pianos today, and they were so wonderful, having a separate feel to each and every one of them. A general question, is anyone allowed to decorate these pianos?

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Morna and Roger 17/01/09

We have had a lovely day driving around Parramatta and playing the pianos. What a good idea to have them so accessable by car. I hope i am successful uploading the photos. Cheers Morna

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Brian Kelly 19/01/09

I had the most uplifting weekend, tickling the ivories on all 10 pianos in Parramatta, where I met and played with some real characters. Then I played 13 pianos around the city in some wonderful locations. So having already played 5 pianos before the weekend, I am now up to 28 in total. This week, I will meet my goal of playing all 30 (which was announced on the news a week ago). My last 2 are the Illustrated Man in Surry Hills (which was closed yesterday at 4.00pm when I arrived - even though its supposed to be open from 12 - 6.00pm on Sundays, and the Manly Ferry.

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Jenny lennox 19/01/09

What a fabulous concept. I have only seen 2 so far, at Queen Vic & Chinatown, but at both people wrwe milling around, playing, laughing & clapping * taking lots of photos. Wonderful!!

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Max 20/01/09

This is such a cool idea! I always walk past the spot at Wynyard on my way to uni but now i leave an extra 10 minutes so i can stop and appreciate people sharing their music.

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Kunal Mirchandani 21/01/09

It was late at night and I was exiting Town Hall station into QVB when I heard a hauntingly familiar tune being played from the street three levels above me. It took me a few moments to realise it was the theme from the French film Amelie (which I adore). You can't imagine the thrill of running up the stairs (two at a time - I felt like I was Nino chasing Amelie through the Parisian streets in the famous find-the-clues sequence) to discover a young French girl beautifully playing away at the keys. It was truly a spellbinding moment.

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Lily Shearer 23/01/09

What a great project, didjerigor (thank-you) Luke! As the piano at Redfern Community Centre has given the evironment a sense of serenity and calm, with children, youth, community and local artists all having a play. Professional and non, with Aunty Minnie Reed being our star for the ABC 7:30 Report story last night!

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william frean 25/01/09

LOLZ the whole idea is so mad!

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Dwight Torrevillas 26/01/09

What a great idea. Our family went to see how many pianos we could see and play. My two sons, Zach and Keenan play the piano and they were able to play on 11 of the installations. 7 in Parramatta and 4 in the city including the Opera House. Now they can say they played at the Opera House!! They also met and saw the queen of Boogie Woogie piano!!

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Tom 26/01/09

Where did the funky piano go? I know it was there, we did a photo shoot with it!

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David Bajdek 27/01/09

My 14month old daughter just loved the piano's! thank you!!

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Andrew 27/01/09

But it's working!

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Simon H 28/01/09

Sitting at the Oxford Hotel in Taylor Square one evening, we saw a guy walking past drinking from a beer bottle in a paper bag. He stopped when he saw the piano, put the bottle down and belted out a brilliant version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", singing along enthusiastically. Then he just picked up his bottle and wandered off - with a smile on his face. A truly uplifting moment.

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SUSAN DAWE 31/01/09

The centennial park piano is in a wonderful spot.I caught the last day and played beyond myself

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