Our goal is to bring public pianos to our city of Pittsburgh. Why? Because connecting over music crosses barriers that exist in daily life. Make room for a piano in your neighborhood and you make room for people to be heard. Do you want to play music, enjoy music, or teach music?
Free the Music is a not-for-profit social good initiative which places gently used, beautifully painted pianos out in the public for all to hear and play. All pianos are donated by local members of the community, then each is partnered with an artist that will transform it into a work of art. Upon approval to place each in a public setting, the pianos are transported and tuned in their new location. The instruments are then available for use by anyone and everyone. People have shared their love for music, reconnected with a joy of their past, and learned to play with the new access to a piano.
This project was dreamed up by teenager Hudson Colletti, who has played the piano for 13 years. On a trip to the annual Montreal Jazz Festival, he found similarly painted pianos on street corners, train stations, and in restaurants. After playing one, he realized the opportunity to spread this love back home in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Free the Music has since placed multiple pianos in locations ranging from streets, apartment buildings, movie theaters, and restaurants to currently partnering with the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Hudson is currently a college freshman at Pomona College studying economics and computer science. He believes music is fundamental in creating community, so spreading this love for piano will bring people together. Whether you are a professional pianist or simply enjoy listening to a tune, he wants to connect everyone through the common language of music.
