June 8, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
A number of eye-catching outdoor pianos are stationed throughout the borough for musically inclined neighbors to enjoy this month.
Through a citywide initiative by Sing for Hope, a volunteer arts outreach organization, pianos were installed on June 5 outside of LIC Landing, the Jackson Heights Post Office, the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria and a handful of other locations throughout Queens.
The public, from amateurs to experts, are invited to sit down and play.
The program aims to bring not only music but also visual art to communities, as each piano receives its own design from an artist.
“We are delighted to bring back the Sing for Hope Pianos this year,” Sing for Hope co-founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora said in a statement. “It’s truly special to witness the spontaneous moments of community that occur around these beautiful, interactive works of art.”
A Sing for Hope spokesperson said that the Astoria and Jackson Heights pianos will be available for play 24/7, dependent on weather. The LIC Landing piano will be available from sunrise to about 10 p.m.
The pianos will remain until June 21, when Sing for Hope will donate them to under-resourced schools and community centers, according to a release from the organization.
A total of 50 pianos were installed throughout the five boroughs. Residents can find a full list of Sing for Hope’s public pianos at singforhope.org/find-a-piano.
Piano in Long Island City
