Our town has recently placed six old pianos in various parks here, and which were painted in bright colors by local kids in various Summer programs. The intent is to encourage anybody, with any ability, to sit down and play! It seems like a great and creative way of exposing people of all ages to the piano, and the circumstances of course does allow for total freedom with creativity!
We have one in a park which is about a 5 minute walk away!
Above: “Introducing Mr Ray (Piano Man) Charles”
Below” “Yeh! Yeh! I get the white ones, but what do the black ones do?”
We had a minor hitch with the piano bench. It was a little on the small side and, with also having a very smooth top, getting Ray to jump up onto it was precarious. Once up, his problems became more complex because when he takes a sitting position on a smooth surface, his rear starts sliding backwards! However, with my left arm holding him firmly in place (to stop him from sliding over the edge), he cooperated very well!
A New Direction Perhaps? 
That is the best idea ever. Lots of talented players do not have space for a piano and it gives everyone the chance to have a go. I love the bright colours. When I played piano my cat used to push down keys with his paw in time to the music. What will be next? Moozart played by cows? 😉
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Sadly, our piano has suffered. The black keys have been forced off their mountings and gone! 😦
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Sounds like you both were using some extreme talent. Were you taking requests.
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Given our individual, and combined, abilities on the piano…. taking requests would have been “awkward”, so no! 🙂
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🙂
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Kinda hard to play without thumb, though I suspect Ray did an admirable job.
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He certainly did! 🙂
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I’m also requesting a recording of Ray’s vocals as well as the tune he composes.. If he consents to make them public, it is.. 😉
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Requests duly noted! 🙂
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Nice hat but dude, I recommend protein shakes for those legs.
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Ah but those legs have carried me through so many 5km road races, 4 Marathons, and every road race distance in between. They are very functional legs, and I am very attached to them!!!! 🙂
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Hi Ray. Are you taking requests? We like “Over the Rainbow.” Oh wait, that’s not a Ray Charles song…
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Hi Lexi. I am looking for doggy songs like “How much is that doggy in the window?”
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Oh yes,Mommy sings that one to me. And You Are my Sunshine. And Jesus Loves Me. She only sings when no one else is around. I wonder why…
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Perhaps she only wants you to receive the gift of her singing? Woof! Ray.
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I love these public pianos. I know them from the States. So cool! Ray did a good job in sitting on that bench!
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He really did do well didn’t he… and it was not easy for him. 🙂
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I can imagine. He must be a music lover that he gave his best 😄
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Well he can produce some interesting vocals! 🙂
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Haha…. most of all when chasing a squirrel!
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No that’s just plain barking! He produces his most interesting vocals when Carol returns having been gone for an hour or two. I think that he is telling her off! 🙂
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Haha! You should record that once!
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Now there’s an idea! 🙂
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😁😁
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I love this idea. They did this a bit in NYC. Always with amazing results. Painting them was a nice touch. ☺
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Such a simple and inexpensive idea …. and so much potential! 🙂
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What a fabulous idea! I’d probably have a go on all of them! Ray looks all set for an encore!
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…. and walk from park to park! Great exercise! 🙂
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Ha….. I’m into walking now so this would definitely be a Good thing!
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🙂
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Go Ray! 🙂
What happens when it rains?
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The pianos get a tarp like cover… or they get wet! 🙂
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OK 🙂
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Aww…how adorable! I’d come to one of Ray’s concert any day!! 😀
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Thanks Phoebe. I’ll tell him that. It might give him some incentive to practice a little more!
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Great idea.
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Hi Chris: Among the many questionable decisions that are made in local politics, we do get one of these every now and then that says imagination and creativity in local government is not totally dead! 🙂
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That’s funny. I’m sure Ray can play one mean piano. Anyone invite him to a jam session?
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Joking aside, we do have a piano at home which he will play by tapping the keys with his lower jaw! Not a particularly pretty sound… unless you like very progressive avant-garde compositions! 🙂
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This is such a cool idea!!!
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Yes it really is. Competent players can entertain, and kids can hammer the keys and “explore” the end results! 🙂
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I think it’s a fantastic way to foster creativity!!!
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Absolutely…. and the cost? The pianos were, I believe, donated by a local music store*, so the cost is to put them in place! The benefits start from the summer programs that included them as painting projects, and continued right up to this moment as an introduction to both the piano and to music in general.
* The music store is running a competition. Take a video of yourself playing one of the pianos and send it to the store. They will award an electronic keyboard to their choice of winner!
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I think this is all truly awesome!!
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🙂
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