Melbourne is about to get a whole lot more musical, with more than 20 colourfully painted pianos due to pop up around the city from January 19 to February 4.
Play Me, I’m Yours is a major public art project by British artist Luke Jerram inviting anybody to jump on a piano stool, tickle the ivories and belt out a tune. The pianos were in Melbourne for three weeks in 2014, and proved popular with all kinds of pianists: young children to professional musicians and late-night party-goers stumbling home from a night out.
They proved so popular that Arts Centre Melbourne is bringing the project back again, this time with even more pre-loved pianos restored to playable condition and decorated by community groups and artists. When the season is over, the pianos will be donated back to those community groups.
The exact locations of the pianos is yet to be announced, but there will be several around the Arts Centre and the CBD, and others in Melbourne suburbs. The project has previously been in 55 cities around the world, with pianos installed from public parks to ferries.
Obviously the pianos are for everybody, but if you happen to be a killer muso and are looking to impress a date, why not learn where the nearest piano is and take that special someone on a random stroll in that direction?
The piano locations will be posted on streetpianos.com.au in January.