[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
some people know this song I take it to
some people know this song I take it to guys you guys remember how it goes
okay everybody else’s whore
okay everybody else’s whore you
you
you [Music]
we go
we go [Music]
good
good [Music]
well you guys have a lot better than I
well you guys have a lot better than I expected thank you so much mayhem you
expected thank you so much mayhem you
expected thank you so much mayhem you guys okay so for those of you who didn’t
guys okay so for those of you who didn’t
guys okay so for those of you who didn’t know that song that is a thousand miles
know that song that is a thousand miles
know that song that is a thousand miles by Vanessa Carlton and you guys remember
by Vanessa Carlton and you guys remember
by Vanessa Carlton and you guys remember the music video for that so she was on
the music video for that so she was on
the music video for that so she was on the street also she had this piano so it
the street also she had this piano so it
the street also she had this piano so it was a beautifully red painted piano it
was a beautifully red painted piano it
was a beautifully red painted piano it had gold accents on the side and on this
had gold accents on the side and on this
had gold accents on the side and on this piano she traveled all around the city
piano she traveled all around the city
piano she traveled all around the city singing the song so she was in the
singing the song so she was in the
singing the song so she was in the street she was on people’s lawns she was
street she was on people’s lawns she was
street she was on people’s lawns she was on with a marching band and at the
on with a marching band and at the
on with a marching band and at the bridge she was on the beach with these
bridge she was on the beach with these
bridge she was on the beach with these horses right do you see this I didn’t
horses right do you see this I didn’t
horses right do you see this I didn’t really get it at the time but um at the
really get it at the time but um at the
really get it at the time but um at the time in 2001 when the song came out I
time in 2001 when the song came out I
time in 2001 when the song came out I was 15 years old and I saw this videos
was 15 years old and I saw this videos
was 15 years old and I saw this videos like that’s it this is why I want to
like that’s it this is why I want to
like that’s it this is why I want to learn how to play the piano mom and dad
learn how to play the piano mom and dad
learn how to play the piano mom and dad because I want to be just like Vanessa
because I want to be just like Vanessa
because I want to be just like Vanessa Carlton and play the piano outside one
Carlton and play the piano outside one
Carlton and play the piano outside one day on the beach with horses um so like
day on the beach with horses um so like
day on the beach with horses um so like I said sort of piano at age 15 it was
I said sort of piano at age 15 it was
I said sort of piano at age 15 it was 2001 I grew up with a public education
2001 I grew up with a public education
2001 I grew up with a public education in New Jersey yes exactly right I
in New Jersey yes exactly right I
in New Jersey yes exactly right I participated in every single music
participated in every single music
participated in every single music program that my school offered I played
program that my school offered I played
program that my school offered I played piano at my local church at Mass and
piano at my local church at Mass and
piano at my local church at Mass and eventually went on to study music
eventually went on to study music
eventually went on to study music full-time at Montclair State University
full-time at Montclair State University
full-time at Montclair State University so once I finished my degree I had my
so once I finished my degree I had my
so once I finished my degree I had my degree in music and I joined this
degree in music and I joined this
degree in music and I joined this infinite roster of people we call
infinite roster of people we call
infinite roster of people we call artists so I’m with a quick show of
artists so I’m with a quick show of
artists so I’m with a quick show of hands who here would identified
hands who here would identified
hands who here would identified themselves as an artist quick show of
themselves as an artist quick show of
themselves as an artist quick show of hands Oh
hands Oh
hands Oh pretty cool awesome well welcome am I
pretty cool awesome well welcome am I
pretty cool awesome well welcome am I the best musician No do I work hard yeah
the best musician No do I work hard yeah
the best musician No do I work hard yeah I work pretty hard did I know what I
I work pretty hard did I know what I
I work pretty hard did I know what I wanted to be doing as an artist not a
wanted to be doing as an artist not a
wanted to be doing as an artist not a clue but I had my music degree and I was
clue but I had my music degree and I was
clue but I had my music degree and I was ready to take on the world so us artists
ready to take on the world so us artists
ready to take on the world so us artists we dream about this stage we dream about
we dream about this stage we dream about
we dream about this stage we dream about coming here showcasing our passion and
coming here showcasing our passion and
coming here showcasing our passion and in a way we’re all competing to get here
in a way we’re all competing to get here
in a way we’re all competing to get here and to use this space so a stage can be
and to use this space so a stage can be
and to use this space so a stage can be defined as a platform typically in the
defined as a platform typically in the
defined as a platform typically in the theatre where
theatre where
theatre where actors entertainers and speakers come
actors entertainers and speakers come
actors entertainers and speakers come and perform for an audience so that’s
and perform for an audience so that’s
and perform for an audience so that’s another very important factor about art
another very important factor about art
another very important factor about art and that’s the audience so in a
and that’s the audience so in a
and that’s the audience so in a situation like this you have the stage
situation like this you have the stage
situation like this you have the stage in the audience so the audience is a
in the audience so the audience is a
in the audience so the audience is a gathering of people who come to observe
gathering of people who come to observe
gathering of people who come to observe art in an organized fashion you come
art in an organized fashion you come
art in an organized fashion you come with your friends but once the show
with your friends but once the show
with your friends but once the show starts you’re not allowed to be friends
starts you’re not allowed to be friends
starts you’re not allowed to be friends or talk to each other until the show’s
or talk to each other until the show’s
or talk to each other until the show’s over and then even when it comes to the
over and then even when it comes to the
over and then even when it comes to the performers on stage there’s a sort of a
performers on stage there’s a sort of a
performers on stage there’s a sort of a wall between the art and the audience
wall between the art and the audience
wall between the art and the audience and as a musician growing up I’m always
and as a musician growing up I’m always
and as a musician growing up I’m always going to appreciate that tradition but
going to appreciate that tradition but
going to appreciate that tradition but there’s no denying that barrier that’s
there’s no denying that barrier that’s
there’s no denying that barrier that’s there of that tradition of me artists
there of that tradition of me artists
there of that tradition of me artists you audience now watch me so two years
you audience now watch me so two years
you audience now watch me so two years ago I started working in a program that
ago I started working in a program that
ago I started working in a program that has changed my life playing oh man how
has changed my life playing oh man how
has changed my life playing oh man how do I go back this 100 Lovelace is not
do I go back this 100 Lovelace is not
do I go back this 100 Lovelace is not pressing
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so yeah so when two years ago in 2015 I
so yeah so when two years ago in 2015 I
so yeah so when two years ago in 2015 I began working with the sink for ho
began working with the sink for ho
began working with the sink for ho pianos program each summer you can find
pianos program each summer you can find
pianos program each summer you can find 50 artists design instruments scattered
50 artists design instruments scattered
50 artists design instruments scattered all across New York City in streets in
all across New York City in streets in
all across New York City in streets in parks and plazas and they’re just out
parks and plazas and they’re just out
parks and plazas and they’re just out for everybody to play in everybody to
for everybody to play in everybody to
for everybody to play in everybody to use and like I said this experience has
use and like I said this experience has
use and like I said this experience has changed me as a musician as artists we
changed me as a musician as artists we
changed me as a musician as artists we spend a lot of time by ourselves either
spend a lot of time by ourselves either
spend a lot of time by ourselves either in a studio and you’re working on your
in a studio and you’re working on your
in a studio and you’re working on your painting or for myself as a musician in
painting or for myself as a musician in
painting or for myself as a musician in a practice room for hours worried about
a practice room for hours worried about
a practice room for hours worried about every little single note and I realize
every little single note and I realize
every little single note and I realize that all of that means nothing if I
that all of that means nothing if I
that all of that means nothing if I don’t get to share my art with other
don’t get to share my art with other
don’t get to share my art with other people and not just the prepared and the
people and not just the prepared and the
people and not just the prepared and the perfect part of art but even the bad and
perfect part of art but even the bad and
perfect part of art but even the bad and the difficult parts of art and I feel so
the difficult parts of art and I feel so
the difficult parts of art and I feel so lucky that I now get to share my art in
lucky that I now get to share my art in
lucky that I now get to share my art in this completely new and different way
this completely new and different way
this completely new and different way even if you don’t know how to believe
even if you don’t know how to believe
even if you don’t know how to believe the piano you can come over and just
the piano you can come over and just
the piano you can come over and just sing along and if you can’t do that
sing along and if you can’t do that
sing along and if you can’t do that either just enjoy the music we saw
either just enjoy the music we saw
either just enjoy the music we saw plenty of people doing just that
plenty of people doing just that
plenty of people doing just that yes
I was actually just coming out on a
I was actually just coming out on a lunch break and I’m Sheila piano and I’m
lunch break and I’m Sheila piano and I’m
lunch break and I’m Sheila piano and I’m styling that see and um this was
styling that see and um this was
styling that see and um this was actually my very first time out on this
actually my very first time out on this
actually my very first time out on this thing for a piano outside and so I saw
thing for a piano outside and so I saw
thing for a piano outside and so I saw this gentleman and he told me that he
this gentleman and he told me that he
this gentleman and he told me that he worked in finance with a very repetitive
worked in finance with a very repetitive
worked in finance with a very repetitive lifestyle and he said to me I have such
lifestyle and he said to me I have such
lifestyle and he said to me I have such a change in my mood I experienced this
a change in my mood I experienced this
a change in my mood I experienced this spontaneous moment that I didn’t expect
spontaneous moment that I didn’t expect
spontaneous moment that I didn’t expect when I left the house but at the same
when I left the house but at the same
when I left the house but at the same time I was feeling that sort of change
time I was feeling that sort of change
time I was feeling that sort of change as well because it was my first time
as well because it was my first time
as well because it was my first time interacting with someone on a piano out
interacting with someone on a piano out
interacting with someone on a piano out on the street and in this instance I
on the street and in this instance I
on the street and in this instance I learned that art transform you
learned that art transform you
learned that art transform you but that transformation is a two-way
but that transformation is a two-way
but that transformation is a two-way street it was changing both me and him
street it was changing both me and him
street it was changing both me and him and breaking down those walls so as New
and breaking down those walls so as New
and breaking down those walls so as New Yorkers we’re constantly in a rush we’re
Yorkers we’re constantly in a rush we’re
Yorkers we’re constantly in a rush we’re always running from A to B to C we spend
always running from A to B to C we spend
always running from A to B to C we spend like 30 minutes underground on the
like 30 minutes underground on the
like 30 minutes underground on the subway we don’t even talk to each other
subway we don’t even talk to each other
subway we don’t even talk to each other although I’m sure some of you don’t want
although I’m sure some of you don’t want
although I’m sure some of you don’t want to be talking to everybody on the train
to be talking to everybody on the train
to be talking to everybody on the train but these pianos are breaking down walls
but these pianos are breaking down walls
but these pianos are breaking down walls not just between artists and audience
not just between artists and audience
not just between artists and audience but as human beings and as people and
but as human beings and as people and
but as human beings and as people and giving us new ways of making connections
giving us new ways of making connections
giving us new ways of making connections here at TEDx Broadway were asked the
here at TEDx Broadway were asked the
here at TEDx Broadway were asked the question how can we make Broadway the
question how can we make Broadway the
question how can we make Broadway the best that it can be and I say let’s keep
best that it can be and I say let’s keep
best that it can be and I say let’s keep breaking down those walls don’t think of
breaking down those walls don’t think of
breaking down those walls don’t think of Broadway as a place so you have the
Broadway as a place so you have the
Broadway as a place so you have the music you have the last and the tears
music you have the last and the tears
music you have the last and the tears the razzle-dazzle and everything in
the razzle-dazzle and everything in
the razzle-dazzle and everything in between
between
between all takes place on a stage but that
all takes place on a stage but that
all takes place on a stage but that stage can be anywhere that you want it
stage can be anywhere that you want it
stage can be anywhere that you want it to be and the synchro pianos are just
to be and the synchro pianos are just
to be and the synchro pianos are just one way of making this stage for
one way of making this stage for
one way of making this stage for everybody because art is for everybody
everybody because art is for everybody
everybody because art is for everybody so when people see a piano outside they
so when people see a piano outside they
so when people see a piano outside they don’t know exactly how to react but the
don’t know exactly how to react but the
don’t know exactly how to react but the right song can get people dancing so
right song can get people dancing so
right song can get people dancing so let’s see
now my favorite part about this moment
now my favorite part about this moment this was in Marine Park out in Brooklyn
this was in Marine Park out in Brooklyn
this was in Marine Park out in Brooklyn if anyone lives out there um is that one
if anyone lives out there um is that one
if anyone lives out there um is that one girl said thank you to me at the end and
girl said thank you to me at the end and
girl said thank you to me at the end and in that moment I’m thinking no thank you
in that moment I’m thinking no thank you
in that moment I’m thinking no thank you like this is the moment that we share
like this is the moment that we share
like this is the moment that we share together you made the stage your own and
together you made the stage your own and
together you made the stage your own and so often art is thought of as a
so often art is thought of as a
so often art is thought of as a privilege no way art is a right for
privilege no way art is a right for
privilege no way art is a right for everybody and I think that proved that
everybody and I think that proved that
everybody and I think that proved that right there
right there
right there um so for all of our piano locations I
um so for all of our piano locations I
um so for all of our piano locations I go all over New York City and I scout
go all over New York City and I scout
go all over New York City and I scout different places where we can put pianos
different places where we can put pianos
different places where we can put pianos um so I went to this one park and I met
um so I went to this one park and I met
um so I went to this one park and I met the park manager and he goes to me no I
the park manager and he goes to me no I
the park manager and he goes to me no I think I’m good you can find a different
think I’m good you can find a different
think I’m good you can find a different part to put this piano work we’re all
part to put this piano work we’re all
part to put this piano work we’re all right um I went ahead anyway I filled
right um I went ahead anyway I filled
right um I went ahead anyway I filled out the permits I did the paperwork and
out the permits I did the paperwork and
out the permits I did the paperwork and we put a piano in that Park I ended up
we put a piano in that Park I ended up
we put a piano in that Park I ended up catching up with him like a year later
catching up with him like a year later
catching up with him like a year later he runs up to me any shakes my hand and
he runs up to me any shakes my hand and
he runs up to me any shakes my hand and it goes Lester thank you so much for
it goes Lester thank you so much for
it goes Lester thank you so much for putting this piano here it’s really made
putting this piano here it’s really made
putting this piano here it’s really made a big difference in my community I can
a big difference in my community I can
a big difference in my community I can definitely tell you there was less
definitely tell you there was less
definitely tell you there was less trouble in our neighborhood than usual
trouble in our neighborhood than usual
trouble in our neighborhood than usual he told me that he heard some opera
he told me that he heard some opera
he told me that he heard some opera singing coming from the piano and he
singing coming from the piano and he
singing coming from the piano and he went and sat there for two hours and he
went and sat there for two hours and he
went and sat there for two hours and he said that people just kept coming and
said that people just kept coming and
said that people just kept coming and coming
coming
coming definitely for a community that doesn’t
definitely for a community that doesn’t
definitely for a community that doesn’t get to hear opera as often as other
get to hear opera as often as other
get to hear opera as often as other people think and then he grabbed my hand
people think and then he grabbed my hand
people think and then he grabbed my hand and then he tugged me everywhere else he
and then he tugged me everywhere else he
and then he tugged me everywhere else he wanted to put next year’s piano so it
wanted to put next year’s piano so it
wanted to put next year’s piano so it was a long day though um so yeah so like
was a long day though um so yeah so like
was a long day though um so yeah so like I said we’re always in a rush in New
I said we’re always in a rush in New
I said we’re always in a rush in New York City sometimes were buried into our
York City sometimes were buried into our
York City sometimes were buried into our phones but when there’s a piano there
phones but when there’s a piano there
phones but when there’s a piano there outside people do stop and people do
outside people do stop and people do
outside people do stop and people do take that moment to experience that
take that moment to experience that
take that moment to experience that spontaneous joy so I met this woman in
spontaneous joy so I met this woman in
spontaneous joy so I met this woman in Central Park and let me tell you every
Central Park and let me tell you every
Central Park and let me tell you every time I play this song
let me everybody comes around everybody
let me everybody comes around everybody has a story and so I play I play the
has a story and so I play I play the
has a story and so I play I play the song and then I turn around and people
song and then I turn around and people
song and then I turn around and people have gathered and they’re all singing
have gathered and they’re all singing
have gathered and they’re all singing along they’re laughing they’re making
along they’re laughing they’re making
along they’re laughing they’re making new unexpected connections with
new unexpected connections with
new unexpected connections with strangers that you wouldn’t have
strangers that you wouldn’t have
strangers that you wouldn’t have expected to and you can’t go wrong with
expected to and you can’t go wrong with
expected to and you can’t go wrong with that so in this moment I was singing
that so in this moment I was singing
that so in this moment I was singing with this girl here I’ll go back can you
with this girl here I’ll go back can you
with this girl here I’ll go back can you play that Thanks
play that Thanks
play that Thanks [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I wish nothing
I wish nothing
I wish nothing [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so in this instance I was sitting with
so in this instance I was sitting with
so in this instance I was sitting with her and we were singing and she said to
her and we were singing and she said to
her and we were singing and she said to me well I said to her wow you were such
me well I said to her wow you were such
me well I said to her wow you were such a great singer amazing and she goes no
a great singer amazing and she goes no
a great singer amazing and she goes no don’t call me a singer I’m definitely
don’t call me a singer I’m definitely
don’t call me a singer I’m definitely not a singer like you and I said that’s
not a singer like you and I said that’s
not a singer like you and I said that’s the magic and joy of art is that you’ll
the magic and joy of art is that you’ll
the magic and joy of art is that you’ll always find someone like you and in that
always find someone like you and in that
always find someone like you and in that day I met a brand new artist so this
day I met a brand new artist so this
day I met a brand new artist so this piano was actually covered in canvas
piano was actually covered in canvas
piano was actually covered in canvas print so it also had ink pads so you can
print so it also had ink pads so you can
print so it also had ink pads so you can kind of interact with and be a part of
kind of interact with and be a part of
kind of interact with and be a part of the art and with the nature and the
the art and with the nature and the
the art and with the nature and the reality of a public art project it got
reality of a public art project it got
reality of a public art project it got tagged on its first day but actually
tagged on its first day but actually
tagged on its first day but actually immediately kids just came up with their
immediately kids just came up with their
immediately kids just came up with their markers and they started coloring it in
markers and they started coloring it in
markers and they started coloring it in like a coloring book and they didn’t
like a coloring book and they didn’t
like a coloring book and they didn’t really know what the intention of that
really know what the intention of that
really know what the intention of that mark was and I think this is a great
mark was and I think this is a great
mark was and I think this is a great example that um art is organic it’s
example that um art is organic it’s
example that um art is organic it’s always growing and there’s us as humans
always growing and there’s us as humans
always growing and there’s us as humans were part of that growth and it’s always
were part of that growth and it’s always
were part of that growth and it’s always changing oh and I’m sure you’re all
changing oh and I’m sure you’re all
changing oh and I’m sure you’re all wondering did lessor fulfill his dream
wondering did lessor fulfill his dream
wondering did lessor fulfill his dream of becoming Vanessa Carlton well guess
of becoming Vanessa Carlton well guess
of becoming Vanessa Carlton well guess what can we’ve hit play
what can we’ve hit play
what can we’ve hit play [Music]
no one forced it but I’m working on it
no one forced it but I’m working on it I’ll get back to you so after the pianos
I’ll get back to you so after the pianos
I’ll get back to you so after the pianos are done on the street they actually
are done on the street they actually
are done on the street they actually come back to our studio and they get
come back to our studio and they get
come back to our studio and they get delivered to public schools that get
delivered to public schools that get
delivered to public schools that get delivered to health care facilities
delivered to health care facilities
delivered to health care facilities community centers where they get to
community centers where they get to
community centers where they get to inspire people for years to come so um
inspire people for years to come so um
inspire people for years to come so um yeah and super proud to share we
yeah and super proud to share we
yeah and super proud to share we actually all 50 of the 2016 sync for
actually all 50 of the 2016 sync for
actually all 50 of the 2016 sync for hope pianos are donated to public
hope pianos are donated to public
hope pianos are donated to public schools this past summer we had a
schools this past summer we had a
schools this past summer we had a hundred percent survival rate so we’re
hundred percent survival rate so we’re
hundred percent survival rate so we’re very very proud about that and so no
very very proud about that and so no
very very proud about that and so no matter what’s going on in the world
matter what’s going on in the world
matter what’s going on in the world anything that’s troubling us there’s so
anything that’s troubling us there’s so
anything that’s troubling us there’s so much that we can do from the ground up
much that we can do from the ground up
much that we can do from the ground up to make our foundation stronger and I
to make our foundation stronger and I
to make our foundation stronger and I feel like programs like this are
feel like programs like this are
feel like programs like this are planting those seeds of change because
planting those seeds of change because
planting those seeds of change because we all know the transformative power of
we all know the transformative power of
we all know the transformative power of the arts so I’m hoping that we can make
the arts so I’m hoping that we can make
the arts so I’m hoping that we can make those changes from the bottom up
those changes from the bottom up
those changes from the bottom up together
together
together I’m just so just to sum everything up
I’m just so just to sum everything up
I’m just so just to sum everything up let’s see the stage is anywhere you want
let’s see the stage is anywhere you want
let’s see the stage is anywhere you want it to be the stage is for everyone
it to be the stage is for everyone
it to be the stage is for everyone because everybody can be an artist so
because everybody can be an artist so
because everybody can be an artist so let me just take one second if I’m going
let me just take one second if I’m going
let me just take one second if I’m going to clap over them get your hands ready
to clap over them get your hands ready
to clap over them get your hands ready this is a part for you so if I take my
this is a part for you so if I take my
this is a part for you so if I take my hands and I clap something I want to see
hands and I clap something I want to see
hands and I clap something I want to see what you guys are spawned ready
exactly see some of you guys knew it you
exactly see some of you guys knew it you know why because it’s your primal
know why because it’s your primal
know why because it’s your primal instinct as humans to respond and
instinct as humans to respond and
instinct as humans to respond and express art so you guys had it right
express art so you guys had it right
express art so you guys had it right there so um no matter who you are what
there so um no matter who you are what
there so um no matter who you are what you look like or where you come from
you look like or where you come from
you look like or where you come from there’s an artist inside everybody and
there’s an artist inside everybody and
there’s an artist inside everybody and if you ever forget just put your hand on
if you ever forget just put your hand on
if you ever forget just put your hand on your heart and feel that beat because
your heart and feel that beat because
your heart and feel that beat because there’s already a rhythm inside you all
there’s already a rhythm inside you all
there’s already a rhythm inside you all right okay I know how great you guys
right okay I know how great you guys
right okay I know how great you guys aren’t singing so I have one more song
aren’t singing so I have one more song
aren’t singing so I have one more song if you guys know the how the song goes
if you guys know the how the song goes
if you guys know the how the song goes come on sing along with you ready
come on sing along with you ready
come on sing along with you ready [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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