Children (and adults) who would like to tickle the ivories this summer can do so at one of five working upright pianos that have been placed in public parks in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The “Pianos in the Parks” program, which has been running for four summers now, is curated by the International Music Foundation’s Make Music Chicago and the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks initiatives.
But this summer is the first time private piano teachers have been brought in to provide a quick “lesson” for anyone who wants to learn.
“A lot of these kids do not have access to pianos, so for a lot of them this is their first time being exposed to the instrument,” the paper quoted Louise McCurry, president of Jackson Park Advisory Council, as saying. “These kids will walk away from their 10-minute lesson calling themselves a piano player.”
Piano locations:
- Buttercup Park, 4921 N Sheridan Rd
- Jackson Park, 6401 S Stony Island Ave
- McKinley Park, 2210 W Pershing Rd
- Mozart Park, 2036 N Avers Ave
- Washington Square Park, 901 N Clark St
Based on the French Fête de la Musique, Make Music Chicago joins 800 cities in 120 countries. It’s the world’s largest single-day music festival, taking place on June 21 every year.
Make Music Chicago is also a member of the Make Music Alliance, connecting Chicago with over 60 other US cities in celebrating this day of music.
