Sing a Song for Them: 88 Pianos is back June 1

Anyone can play! Provided that is you know how to play. Photo by Adam Suerte, via Sing for Hope — Anyone can play! Provided that is you know *how* to play. Photo by Adam Suerte, via Sing for Hope

Now that summer is here, finally, for real this time, we should shake off the winter doldrums with a little bit of whimsy. Maybe not rainbow balloon parade amounts of whimsy, but how about music in public wherever you look? If you’re into that, good news: Sing for Hope’s 88 Pianos are back starting on Saturday. Painted up pianos that are free for anyone to play will be all over NYC for two weeks, and Brooklyn gets 21 of them.

If you’re not familiar with Sing for Hope, it’s pretty simple. 88 painted up pianos are distributed around the city, there being 88 keys on your standard piano. And they hang out for two weeks, free for anyone to play, show off on a date or just make an awful racket under the mistaken impression you can play the piano. Then they’re donated to schools, community organizations and health facilities, so the music can keep going.

Sing for Hope has suggested events to see the pianos, like a date night, a bike tour, a river view tour and even a day on Governors Island. hey, our Gov guide might come in handy for that one. If you just want to freestyle though, plenty of Pianos can be found in Brooklyn, from Greenpoint all the way down to Coney Island. Hey, here’s a list!

McCarren Park
833-859 Lorimer Street

Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway

DUMBO Archway
37-43 Adams Street

Navy Yard, BLDG 92
63 Flushing Avenue

BQE – Clinton Hill
46-58 Grand Avenue

Maria Hernandez Park
64 Irving Avenue

Fort Greene Park
158 Washington Park

Columbus Park
225 Joralemon Street

Irving Square Park
238-284 Weirfield Street

George Walker Junior Park
18 Wyona Street

Brower Park
195 Brooklyn Avenue

Prospect Park: Grand Army Plaza