Top 5

This is random. I clearly haven't been putting effort into my blog, but here are some things that I love/have enjoyed/have learned from this past week:

1. "O"tober -- all entries but particularly Day 16, Day 18 and Day 20 from this week.

2. Oprah's Lifeclass -- especially "Please be responsible for the energy you bring into this space."

3. 750Words.com -- today is Day 3, and I am loving writing just to write. It's great to have a goal and a sense of accomplishment in the morning to kick off the day. I also feel a sense of clarity after each entry. Plus, I love all the stats the site gives you about your writing. Getting ready for my first ever NaNoWriMo, and now I can't wait!

4. Practicing the piano -- memorization has been difficult for me in the past, but now I see that if I can find the patterns and break it down into chunks, my brain cooperates with my fingers. I think I should still put in more time to practice. :)

5. Les Mis in 6 Minutes -- I am obsessed! Major props to U.S. tour swing Natalie Weiss. Please enjoy:


(Full disclosure: Yes, I work on the 25th Anniversary tour of Les Misérables, but this is from the musical theatre fan in me... which is the reason why I do what I do for a living.)

An Important Message for Brycen Graden Cabellon

Love,
Auntie Allison

Pop-Up Pianos: Days 14 and 15 in Pictures

Friday

Piano #43: John Paul Jones Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  The piano was a little on the quiet side.

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in the background.

Wider shot of the gazebo.

Piano #44: Shore Road Park.  I had to wait a little while to play the piano, and by the time I could take a picture sitting at the piano, the piano buddy had already closed the lid.  Sigh.  Oh well.  At least, the piano sounded good, and I got to talk to some nice people here.

After I played, a woman recommended that I check out the fancy homes along Shore Park Road, so that's just what I did...

After viewing the homes, I passed by the piano again, and it was already locked and covered.

Saturday

The ceiling of the gazebo at Prospect Park - Grand Army Plaza.

Piano #45: Prospect Park - Grand Army Plaza.  This piano is from Philadelphia.  It had a lovely sound.  The one trouble I had was looking at sheet music.  I tried placing it on top of the piano, but I couldn't see, so I placed my sheet music on my backpack.  (Instead of a portable bench, the seating area in the gazebo served as the "piano bench.")  A young girl and her mother listened to me play, and when I finished, the little girl smiled at me and babbled.  I asked her if she wanted to play the piano, but the mother said she was thanking me for playing.  So I happily told the little girl, 'Thank you for listening!"

This piano is called This Too Shall Pass.  I played "Arithmetic," "The Sound of White," and "Grow Old With Me."

Piano #46: Fort Greene Park at Myrtle Avenue.  I actually passed another piano in Fort Greene Park, but someone was playing it, and it was out of tune.  I didn't want my record-breaking piano to be that out of tune.  Luckily, there was another close by, and nobody was playing it when I arrived.  When I lifted the piano's tarp and looked at the artwork, I loved the painting.  Beautifully done!

Four keys on the piano weren't working properly, but the sound/tune was decent.  I played "Arithmetic," of course, followed by "Gravity."  Yikes, wrong choice.  I messed up near the end, so it couldn't be my finale song.  I then played "Where I Stood."  Only time I've played it during the 2011 Pop-Up Pianos.  It was my last song of the day and 15-day pianothon.  Though I considered visiting more pianos, even just to listen, I made the executive decision to head home and rest.  Running around New York City is exhausting.  Seriously exhausting.  But for pianos?  Worth it.

Pop-Up Pianos Summary
1) Played all 33 Manhattan pianos.
2) Set new personal record for pianos played: 46.
3) Played at least one piano in each borough.

• The Bronx: 1 piano
• Brooklyn: 6 pianos
• Manhattan: 33 pianos
• Queens: 3 pianos
• Staten Island: 3 pianos

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 13

After work, I took the M104 bus down to 42nd Street and then caught the 7 train to the first stop in Queens. Made my way to Gantry Plaza State Park. I forgot there were two pianos here last year until I saw the park. Nobody was playing the piano when I arrived. In fact, the lid was closed. I sat down to play "Arithmetic" and at the end of the song, a little girl came up to me and smiled. I asked her if she wanted to play, and she nodded yes, so I said, "Go for it!" I got up and ate my dinner (free falafel rice platter -- heh heh, it pays to be loyal). When I finished (and when she finished), I returned to the piano and started to play "Awake." Another little girl came up to the piano and smiled, so I smiled back at her. I finished the song, and the first little girl wanted to play again, so I got up and enjoyed the slowly setting sun, breeze, and view.

After taking these pictures, I sat back down at the piano one last time but for three more songs: "Shadowfeet," "Nightminds," and "Gravity."  A few people clapped softly after I played "Shadowfeet," and even though the piano was slightly out of tune, I couldn't resist playing "Gravity."  I contemplated playing one more, but "Gravity" is definitely a finale song for me.  It can't be topped.

On a final note for the day, I suppose I could leave this for my final entry, but I've been reflecting on the places I've visited over the past two weeks.  At some places, I definitely felt like a fish out of water.  Some places have kept me on my toes (ahem, Columbus Park, ahem).  Other places like Gantry Plaza State Park?  Totally belong.

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 12 in Pictures

Piano #40: Knowing that I would set a new personal record for unique pianos played, I knew Harlem Art Park had to be #40!  After two failed attempts to play this piano last year (either the piano or the park was locked), I was finally able to play at this location!

#41: Central Park - Dana Discover Center.  I was happy to see the piano when I arrived.  Nobody was playing, so I took off the blue tarp and began to play.  Just by looking at the piano, I could tell some keys were in bad shape.  Poor piano.  I guess the repairs weren't enough.  I was fortunate to have an active "audience of one."  After I played "Arithmetic," I had a little chat with the guy who was standing to my right and a little behind me.  I asked him if he wanted to play, but he just said he wanted to listen and asked me about my piano training and how long I'd been singing.  It's funny -- I was not a good piano student, and I haven't had voice lessons.  I just love both on an amateur level.  I was hesitant on which song to play next but eventually settled on "Nightminds."  Unfortunately, the ending -- my favorite part of the song -- suffered from the keys that were broken.  Oh well!  I wish that someone played the piano after me, if only to hear once again how the sound carries so well over Harlem Meer, but alas, no one did.

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 11 in Pictures

Piano #36: Times Square - Broadway between 45th and 46th

Piano #37: Times Square - Broadway and 42nd

Note: I did not take any pictures of Piano #38 and frankly have no desire to return there due to the crazy nature of what transpired.  I'm not going to go into details, but it was rudeness personified, and I chose my safety above anything else.  I am happy that I got to listen to two amazing pianists before my brief time on the piano and speak to a couple of European tourists while we listened to those pianists.  But most of all, I am thrilled that I didn't let #38 be my last piano of the day...

Piano #39: Tompkins Square Park.  The piano was in tune, so I played and sang "Gravity."  A man stood to my right a few feet away from the piano to listen.  After I finished he complimented me and asked who wrote the song, so I showed him the cover of the piano book and talked about Sara Bareilles.  I asked him if he played the piano, and he said that he played the trumpet but wished he could play.  I thanked him for listening and made my way home.  This piano marks a tie with the number of unique pianos played in 2010, which means I'm set to break my personal record with the next piano I play!

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 10 in Pictures

Piano #34: New York Public Library/Bryant Park

The piano sounded pretty good listening to other people play.  While I was playing, I found it difficult to hear with the traffic going by.

Piano #35: Greeley Square. Hello Miss Piano decorated by Isaac Mizrahi.

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 9 in Pictures

Piano #27: Battery Park.  The boy in the blue T-shirt played "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" before me, and his father offered to take pictures.

The keys were a little trippy to look at while playing, so I didn't look when possible!

Piano #28: Stone Street.  This Yamaha is decorated with 30,000 rhinestones!

Piano #29: Tappen Park on Staten Island.  Sadly a little out of tune, but of course, I played anyway!  When I was playing "Awake," a little girl came up to me and asked me about my sheet music.  At least, I think she did.  She asked, "Are you following that?"  So I explained to her that yes, I was reading the music so that I could play.  I asked her if she wanted to play and invited her to sit down but she smiled and ran away.  I finished playing "Awake" and then headed back to the railway station.

Close-up of the painting on top of the piano.

Piano #30:  Richmond County Bank Park aka Ballpark at St. George aka Staten Island Yankees Stadium.  People were waiting around the stadium for the game to start.  While I was playing, a musician practiced the National Anthem and another singer practiced "God Bless America."  I stopped to listen to each, and of course plunked out the continuing notes when they stopped their sound checks!

Despite the fact that the piano was out of tune, I have come to the conclusion that I really like Wurlitzer upright pianos.  :)

Piano #31: St. George Ferry Terminal.  This baby grand could've used a tuning, too.  I found it amusing that the pedal sounded like geese honking.  It made my attempt to play a sad song quite humorous.  To me, at least.  :)  Lesson learned in Staten Island?  Do not play "Gravity" when the piano is out of tune.

Piano #32: McCarren Park.  This is definitely one of my favorite pianos this year.  I love artwork, the piano's sound, and the location.  Two thumbs way up for Sohmer & Co.  They rival my new love for Wurlitzers.  

The name of this piano is called Windows, and in the artist's own words:  "Windows represents the intertwined importance and unique influence of each individual's contribution to the community that is NYC."  Brilliant!

Piano #33: Alexa joined me at my final piano of the day -- East River State Park.  

I didn't fully appreciate the view while I was playing the piano, so I'm glad Alexa took this picture!

Pop-Up Pianos: Day 8 in Pictures

Piano #19: Van Cortlandt Park.  Decorated by BD Wong.

Another shot of Piano #19.  I took this picture while I was waiting to play.  The keys were a bit challenging to press on this piano.

Piano #20: Highbridge Park!  This time, the piano was unlocked!  The sun was out in full force, so I only played two songs here, "Arithmetic" and "Awake."

Ray Charles

Piano #21: St. Nicholas Park.

Piano #22: Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  The highlight was playing "Gravity" for a few cyclists who stopped to listen while I played and sang.  I was so happy with my performance that I decided not to play any more songs at this piano after "Gravity."

Piano #23: Central Park - Bandshell.  After stopping at the Dana Discovery Center  (only to discover that the piano had been taken away without warning last night supposedly for repair), I made my way down to this piano.  There was an event going on, so there were lots of people, and there was even a band playing, but that didn't stop people from playing the pop-up piano!

Pink gorilla!  This piano had a beautiful sound.  Despite the background noise of the event, I could still tell.  If I have time, I'll try to return to this piano.

Piano #24: Riverside Park.  Last year, there were two pianos here and people took turns playing the pianos.  This year, even with only one piano, the tradition of turn-taking held up!  This woman played and sang an awesome medley!

This girl played "Here Comes the Sun."

On the way to Roosevelt Island for the first time!

Piano #25: Roosevelt Island.  This man let me play right after he finished up his  song -- I'm not sure how long he'd been there before I got there, but he could sense that I was ready to play.  When I played, a black and orange butterfly landed on the piano, and that made me very happy.  After I finished playing, this man and I compared notes on our piano experiences.  He had played 20 pianos and told me which pianos were a little funky or great in Staten Island and Brooklyn, and I told him my appreciation for the Jackie Robinson Recreation Center.  We both raved about the baby grand at Rubenstein Atrium!

Piano #26: Carl Schurz Park.  It took a while to find this piano!

Surprisingly, the piano was a little out of tune and the keys were a bit sticky to the touch, but I played three songs anyway.  :)