Sydney Opera House
Location: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
News & Links
- • "Sydneysiders tickled tickling ivories of outdoor pianos" (news.com.au)
- • "Performer: Luke Jerram" (radio programme, ABC)
- • "Sydney virtuosos tickle the ivory" (news report: video & transcript, ABC)
- • "Tinkling any old keys in the street" (Sydney Morning Herald)
- • Sydney Festival homepage
Latest photos
This is up there as my favourite piano along with the one at Prince Alfred Park at Parramatta. Superb!
It has been an absolute hobby of mine that when I was little I had to take it up but stopped because of an autocratic teacher I had which made me lose my motivation to play, let alone accost a piano.
Now with this great initiative, I wasn't afraid to tinkle the ivories once more but I had been out of practice for over 15 years and more bum notes surfaced rather than good ones. This has made me appreciate the instrument once again but from a different perspective and I love it more than when I did the first time. Maybe it's because I don't have to take any lessons or anything, I just wanted to be more carefree and see if I still had what it takes - albeit rusty in playing it.
I've played this particular one on a few occasions as I strongly felt that the piano was placed in the most appropriate location rather than at random. I thought "Why not? Give it a burl!" So I did!
Well, I tried to diversify repertoires and genres from classical (except the technique and intricate virtuosity was lost but the basics were still there) including 1812 Overture.
Then in popular mode, incorporate introductions to popular songs that use the piano for example Clocks (Coldplay) and Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve, although it substituted the beautiful string intro and I can play the violin as well).
I then decided to incorporate singing as I LOVE to sing. Although there is a small piano bit, I had to sympathise with Britney Spears and attempt Baby One More Time in full with just the simple piano intro lead-in and soft soothing bridge, and the rest I had to improvise.
In the lead up to Australia Day, I had to incorporate a few Aussie songs for good measure (singing them that is) like Botany Bay, G'day G'day, Duncan (both from Slim Dusty), Home Among The Gum Trees, I am You Are We Are Australian, Locomotion (well, Kylie's version anyway) as well as the two most profound that share the profound meaning of this country - I Still Call Australia Home from Peter Allen (I almost choked with emotion while I was singing it), and, of course, it would be remiss of me not to include a stirring rendition of our national anthem, in which was played and sung with great gusto much to everyone's delight and enjoyment.
Of course, I'd end my repertoire with a country instrumental made famous by honky-tonk country pianist Floyd Cramer. If you listen to 2GB and in particularly Ray Hadley (I'm an addict and admit it, I love you Ray, muah!), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. That instrumental in question is called Last Date and it's just wonderful.
Speaking of wonderful, I had an absolute blast tinkling those ivories and must thank the festival and the PLAY ME I'M YOURS organisers and co-ordinators for this wonderful initiatives and I can't wait to see them up and running again for the next festival.
Keep on tinkling those ivories!