MINI: Driving Hope
47% of music programs have disappeared from NYC schools since '07. So MINI and Sing For Hope created 50 hand-painted pianos and placed them around NYC for students and others to play, all of which were then donated to schools in need.
Then, we used MINI's surprising storage space to create a roving 51st piano, which performed all over the city for 3 straight weeks.
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The making of the MINIPIANO:
Footage by Helo and MINI USA
VANESSA CARLTON during halftime of Steve Nash's annual Soccer Showdown:
Footage by Bleacher Report
Hand-painted piano locations:
Example hand-painted pianos:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL PERFORMANCE:
Footage by NowThis/Thrillist
NOWTHIS coverage of our first event, "A Ride Through Time":
Footage by The Juilliard School
BRONX BLOCK PARTY:
Free concert at Brooklyn Library
J MASCIS + JUKEBOX THE GHOST:
Footage by Sing for Hope
Key MINIPiano events:
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MAY 24:
THRILLIST RIDE THROUGH TIME
plays at historical venues like CBGB
JUNE 4:
LIBERTY PLAZA LAUNCH
all 51 pianos perform
JUNE 4:
LIVE TV PERFORMANCES
with Steve Madden & various hosts
JUNE 6:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
live performance
JUNE 8:
NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL
in Williamsburg & Greenpoint
JUNE 11:
PIANO LESSONS
at public schools
JUNE 12-13:
POP-UP SHOWS
citywide
JUNE 14:
BRONX
Block Party
JUNE 16:
INDUSTRY CITY
Thrillist Best Day of Your Life
JUNE 17:
FATHER'S DAY
piano on demand
JUNE 20:
FREE CONCERT
J Mascis + Jukebox the Ghost
JUNE 20:
VANESSA CARLTON
at Steve Nash Showdown
JUNE 21:
DUELING PIANOS
MINIPiano vs. painted piano
JUNE 22:
BROADWAY DAY
with Wicked, Kinky Boots, etc.
JUNE 24:
CLOSING CEREMONY
at Liberty Plaza
Photo by the Brooklyn Library
DINOSAUR JR.'S J MASCIS:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL PERFORMANCE:
Footage by The Juilliard School
Along with musical artists, the initiative also involved some surprising non-musicians, like STEVE MADDEN (below) and STEVE NASH.
Via FOX 5
CO-CREATIVES:
Lily Fu, Nate Mayer, Nick Sonderup
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
Bleacher Report, Helo, Thrillist/NowThis