PLAY ME, I’M YOURS

STREET PIANOS RETURN TO GENEVA

You will have noticed colourful pianos popping up around the city like every year around June, inviting anyone to play a piece or two, throw an impromptu concert or sing a song…

The street pianos are part of the Play Me, I’m Yours (Jouez, je suis à vous) project, which was first introduced to Geneva in 2011.

This year it takes place from Thursday, 13 June untill Sunday, 30 June.

WHAT IS PLAY ME, I’M YOURS?

No less than 32 street pianos will fill the streets with music in 12 communes of Geneva. Located in parks, squares, bus shelters, train stations, outside galleries and in markets and along the lakeside, the pianos have been placed there for the public to play and enjoy. Their strategic placement will lead to magic moments and impromptu encounters – all thanks to the great social tool that is shared music.

Each city has a unique website where the public are invited to upload and share their films, photos and stories of their interaction with the pianos. The objective of Jouez, je suis à vous is to connect the instruments with the population and to keep track of their journey in Geneva.

STREET PIANOS WORLDWIDE

Play Me, I’m Yours is a project created by British artist Luke Jerram.

Since 2008, Luke Jerram has overseen the installation of more than 1800 pianos, and has now installed them in over 55 cities across the globe, with the simplest tagline: “Play Me, I’m Yours”. The project has already reached more than ten million people worldwide.

Street pianos appear in world cities and are at the disposal of the public in parks, streets and squares. Anyone can play freely. Play Me, I’m Yours provides access to this musical instrument and gives musicians the opportunity to share their creativity by performing in public. These pianos are transformed into works of art by local artists or community groups who decorate them in imaginative and exciting ways to make them more appealing and inviting for people to view and play.

Pianos are often considered as an instrument of the upper class. The idea behind this installation makes a big difference. In cities like London, hundreds of perfectly good, working, second-hand pianos get thrown away each year. Luke Jerram transports many of them annually to different countries to give the public the chance to enjoy them.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a virtuoso or a someone who took few lessons, just sit down and let your fingers do the talking ?

The aim of the project is to encourage togetherness through spontaneous music. It impacts people and engages their sense of creativity, inspiring interaction. The project is acting as a catalyst for conversation, many people have met for the first time around the pianos. It is said that Play Me, I’m Yours project is one of the most successful social space experiment.

The street pianos have also enticed many hidden musicians out of the woodwork. It has become apparent that there are thousands of pianists out there who don’t have regular access to this instrument. Play Me, I’m Yours generally is presented in a city for 2-3 weeks, after which, many of those are donated to schools and community groups within the area.