Have you met our pianos?

If you’ve walked down Main Street in the past few weeks, you might have noticed that there are two pianos, one right by our front door, and one hanging out on the sidewalk across the street.  There are also pianos hanging out at East End Veteran’s Memorial Park on Walnut Street, and inside the Northshore Mall.

Each piano has been painted by contributing artists Jessica Andersen, Desiree Ferreras, Deana Jacome, and Jeffrey Rezende with vibrant colors and patterns that really make them stand out–our piano is black and green with bright red and yellow flowers that stands out beautifully against the red brick of the Library.

But why have these pianos come to Peabody?  They are here for you.  Thanks to a generous donation from the city’s Community Development Block Grant  and from the Peabody Cultural Council, as well as donations from Peabody Access Telecommunications, the Library and Rousselot, these pianos have arrives as part of a public project called “Play Us a Tune”, that is intended to bring music to the streets (and malls) of Peabody.  As you’ll notice on each piano, there is a sticker printed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese that encourages you to play–whatever comes to your mind, or to your fingertips.  You can learn more from the clip below:

So far, the project has been an enormous success.  Though the pianos were only supposed to be here until May, their stay has been extended thanks to really high public appeal.  We have professional students who come every afternoon around 4pm to practice most days, and patrons who are just learning, trying out their skills on these free and colorful instruments.

And speaking as someone in the Library, it’s a sheer joy to hear your tunes, and watch the happiness it brings to people’s faces to hear this piano music floating down Main Street.  So why not come down and meet our piano, or any of the other pianos in Peabody, soon?  They’ll be here for the rest of the month, and can’t wait to make your acquaintance!

And, finally, to whoever is playing ragtime tunes outside the Library on Thursday evenings–I love you.