About — Piano. Push. Play.

About Piano. Push. Play.

Piano. Push. Play. is on a mission to make pianos available to anyone who wants to play them. Since 2013, we have worked with local piano companies to rescue old pianos that are still in great shape and get them out into the world to be enjoyed.

But these are not your average, plain Jane instruments. Each piano has been given new life by an artist who has transformed it into a wonderfully unique creation. From outlandishly vibrant sculptures to poetically painted panels, each piano has its own distinct personality.

Every summer, a new collection of pianos make their way onto the sidewalks of Portland for anyone and everyone to play the keys and enjoy the music. On any given day, you’ll find an experienced musician or a novice passerby creating an impromptu concert in a public space.

At summer’s end, when the air turns crisp, we find new homes for each piano in schools and community centers to be played all year long. It’s a rewarding project that welcomes new opportunities for collaboration and a deeper sense of community through interactive art.

“This is not just about pianos or about music, this project is about reimagining spaces… creating more space for people to connect with one another.”

— Megan Diana McGeorge, founder of Piano. Push. Play.

A note from Megan

People are used to seeing pianos look a certain way, in a certain environment, played by a certain type of performer. Piano. Push. Play. works to upend all of those previous associations.

By putting pianos throughout the streets and parks of Portland, our project allows people to experience the city differently. More importantly, it allows people to see and experience each other in a whole new light.

You may be surprised to see someone without a home sit down and play Mozart, or a kid step off their skateboard for a rendition of “Für Elise.” You may learn that a friend of yours has a secret talent because a colorfully painted piano in the park gave them the nudge to see if they could still remember “Let It Be.” You may give it a go yourself because you never had access to a piano before, but finding one on the street allows you to tap into your creativity.

This instrument is a tool for expression and connection. It is capable of breaking boundaries between strangers and friends, class divides and cultural barriers. On the one hand, yes, it is just a piano. But on the other, it is a catalyst for creating community spaces rich with life.

It continues to amaze me how many folks out there can play this instrument and are eager to listen to the music created with it. I have witnessed countless moments of beauty with our pianos and it helps me remember that you never know what’s lying underneath a person. If this project can help people reach, communicate, and understand each other a little better, then I feel like I’ve succeeded.

— Megan Diana McGeorge, founder of Piano. Push. Play.

Frequently Asked Questions

We collect them from all over the Portland area. Private parties, piano stores, moving companies — they can come from anywhere. Any piano we accept has to be in decent shape and able to hold a tune.
If you’d like to donate a piano for next year, please get in touch.
First, each piano has to survive life on the streets all summer. It’s not easy being out in the weather, getting played at all hours of the day. But for those that can still hold a tune at the end of summer, we make any repairs necessary before donating them to schools, recording studios, musical venues, private citizens, hotels, preschools, food cart pods, and any other spots with people waiting to play.
If you have an idea of a place that needs a beautiful piano, please let us know.
Possibly. There are so many pianos worthy of a good home and we have pianos donated all the time. Even though we take used pianos, all of our instruments need to be ready to perform on stage. We check over every potential donation carefully and typically end up with our finalists in March.
It’s important to let us know the condition of your piano. Send us an email with the following information:
When was it last tuned?
Do the pedals work?
Does every key play a note?
It’s helpful to include a video of you playing the piano or trying out all the keys and pedals.
We’d love to have you! We have musicians, puppeteers, painters, sculptors, designers, agencies, and all sorts of artists exploring what they can do with pianos. Get in touch and let us know:
What sort of work have you done before?
What ideas do you have for pianos?
Do you have studio space to work on a piano?
We have some partners who can provide studio space. We typically line up artists in the fall for the following summer’s pianos. Get in touch with us any time and let’s chat.
Some locations have “Piano Buddies,” people who keep an eye on the piano, cover it with a tarp when it rains, or lock the keyboard cover at night (to avoid annoying the neighbors). If you’d like to make sure the piano in your neighborhood is a source of joy for everyone, please get in touch.
Our concerts often have volunteers helping in all sorts of ways. We’d love to have you.
Step 1: Get your passport at the Kickoff Concert or order one through our shop.
Step 2: Check out our Instagram and Facebook feeds for the latest locations.
Step 3: Play! Visit each piano and stamp your passport at each location. Stamps can be found inside the bench of each piano.
Email us and we’ll get back to you with our best answer.