Boldly Go Solo

Piano players! Come quick to New York City.

As of today, 60 painted and decorated free public pianos are set up in 50 places throughout the Big Apple, from the Metropolitan Museum to the Coney Island boardwalk, according to a blog post with a great headline: "New York City plunks 50 free public pianos."

Does anyone else see how great a solo trip this is for the musically talented? One, you have a goal: Get to NYC to show off. Two, you start playing and there's no way in the world people aren't going to gather and talk with you.

Three, you would be so cool and I would be so envious. Four, you could tour the whole city by piano. There are pianos in all five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, for those who don't know New York City well.

Go play at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Most pianos will be available until 10 pm.

The whole thing is actually an art installation, the concept dreamed up by Luke Jerram, a British artist. New York is the first U.S. stop. But the artist has put pianos in London, Sydney and Sao Paulo.

Remember the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Answer: "Practice, practice, practice." How do you get to play the Central Park band shell? Just show up with talented fingers and tickle the ivories!

You think I'm kidding about people talking to you? According to the story, a couple in Sydney met at a piano and are now married! I'm not saying go to find a spouse. I'm just saying it's sure to be an incredible bonding experience for those who are out there.

Only two weeks left. Hurry!