Sing for Hope pianos find homes all over Brooklyn

Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, DUMBO among hosts

June 8, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Sing for Hope piano is moved into place in Sunset Park and is ready for anyone who wants to play. Photo courtesy Sunset Park BID

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Brooklynites looking to channel their inner Chopin probably won’t be able to resist. Pianos have been placed in parks all across the borough, from Bay Ridge to DUMBO, and are just standing there, waiting for someone to play them.

The Sing for Hope pianos are back!

Sing for Hope, the non-profit organization that each year has worked with community groups to place dozens of pianos in public parks and recreation centers for a two-week period, has done it again this year. Fifty pianos have been placed at locations around the city, including several spots in Brooklyn, by the organization, which is inviting people to come and tickle the ivories.

The instruments were installed on June 5. From now until June 21, everyday New Yorkers will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to play a piano, regardless of their musical training, or lack thereof.

The Brooklyn locations where residents can find pianos include: Bay Ridge’s Shore Road Park, Sunset Park in Sunset Park, the DUMBO Archway, Grand Army Plaza, Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brownsville Rec Center in Brownsville and the Carmine Carro Community Center in Marine Park.

After the two week display period is over, the pianos will be donated to public schools, health care facilities and community organizations, according to the Sing for Hope website.

Sing for Hope was founded in 2006 by two opera singers, Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora, who were seeking a ways to bring artists and communities closer. The piano project began in 2010 when the organization placed 88 pianos around the city, representing each of the 88 keys on a piano.

This year, 50 pianos will be out there. Another fun aspect of the project is that Sing for Hope invites artists to decorate the pianos.

Community organizations and business groups across Brooklyn happily welcomed the pianos back again this year.

Renee Giordano, executive director of the Sunset Park Business Improvement District (BID) emailed a notice out to let residents know that a piano has been placed inside the park. Sunset Park is located between 41st and 44th streets and stretches from Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue.

“The Sunset Park BID is sponsoring its third one in Sunset Park this year. It has been decorated by artist ZiZi with the words ‘Flowers for Peace Love’ and ‘Hope Melding Love. It will be located near the comfort station for two weeks from June 5 through June 21 for the enjoyment of the community,” Giordano wrote.

If you sit down and play the piano in Sunset Park, he sure to have someone take your picture, Giordano advised. “Users are encouraged to take pictures and videos while enjoying it. If they send to the BID or post them with #SingforHope and #SunsetParkBID, both organizations will post them too,” she wrote.

In the two previous years that Sunset Park BID has taken part in Sing for Hope, the pianos were later donated to the Sunset Park recreation Center and to the Sunset Park branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. This year’s piano is destined for the Sunset Park Recreation Center, according to Giordano.

Pianos won’t be the only instruments making memorable music in Sunset Park.

Sunset Park BID is also taking part in Make Music NY, a program that brings free entertainment to city streets.

Make Music NY will take place on Sunday, June 21. A stage will be set up in front of 5120 Fifth Ave., where Regina Opera and groups like Closenuf and Amistad with Tim Perez will be performing. The show gets under way at noon and lasts until 5 p.m.

For more information, visit the Sunset BID website at www.sunsetparkbid.org.