The Piano (AU) Season 1 Episode 4
#ThePiano(AU)
#PrimeUSTV
#ThePiano(AU)
#PrimeUSTV
Category
š¹
FunTranscript
00:00Welcome to the brand new Sydney Metro. We are on Gadigal land, deep beneath the city,
00:19where a humble upright is poised and ready to showcase a fresh bunch of fabulous pianists.
00:26This is the piano. Playing for a quarter of a million people passing through this
00:36precinct daily are a group of everyday pianists with a deep connection to the
00:42world's favourite instrument. While they're used to playing in the comfort of their own
00:51homes, I did not expect this, these pianists will take to the keys in one of Sydney's
00:57busiest new stations. And it literally stopped people in their tracks.
01:03As always we haven't told them the full story. Behind those hazard signs, hiding
01:11inside that construction zone, are two of the world's best piano players.
01:15You first in case it's dangerous. Thank you, very chivalrous of you.
01:21Yeah, test the grounds. Okay. Cones?
01:24I have to have a talk with Amanda because this was not in the contract.
01:28You mean literally being in a construction zone?
01:31Yeah, this is like our lives are in danger.
01:33But it's for music. Yeah, I guess that's cool.
01:36Playing since he was just seven years old, Harry Connick Jr. is a multi-Grammy award-winning,
01:46multi-platinum selling superstar. And our very own homegrown classical pianist, Andrea Lamb,
01:56with a pretty impressive international resume of her own. At the end of our day at the Sydney
02:03Metro, Harry and Andrea will invite one of the pianists to not only be mentored.
02:08Can we just try straight from here?
02:10But to perform in a very special life-changing concert to be held in Sydney's iconic City Recital Hall.
02:21So far in the concert, we have the extraordinarily talented and resilient DJ.
02:26That's unbelievable. I mean, that really is.
02:32And Grace, who stopped one of the country's busiest train stations with her deeply personal and original song.
02:39Maybe then, when I've seen it all, done it all then.
02:49Plus, the 12-year-old who left Jaws on the floor, spectacular Stefania.
02:55Wow.
02:57Her articulation is fantastic.
02:59It's perfect.
03:04Look at the two of you in these glamorous surroundings.
03:06This is awesome. Dangerous, but awesome.
03:09That's your nickname if ever I've heard of.
03:11You've got that right.
03:13So, the concert's really coming together. What do you hope we might find today?
03:18Well, we know that we're looking for something show-stopping and entertaining.
03:22I think the one thing we've learned is that we don't know what to expect.
03:25Yeah.
03:26If worse comes to worse, you can get a job in construction.
03:28Yeah, we'll see.
03:29If you're okay with it, you're probably going to be on camera as well.
03:39So, if you're having an affair, duck now.
03:44City folk, I find that they don't wave.
03:46There's not a lot of eye contact going on.
03:48But, country folk that we are, we're bringing them around.
03:53For some reason, people don't expect me to play the piano.
03:59Oh, look at this guy.
04:02That is a vibe.
04:04The tats.
04:05The tats.
04:06I'm kind of thinking, I want to try.
04:07The beard is fantastic.
04:08Yeah.
04:09That's him.
04:10I'm in fantasy land right now.
04:12Hello, I'm Amanda.
04:13What's your name?
04:14I'm Chris.
04:15Hello, Chris.
04:16Of course we can.
04:17You look like a character.
04:18Come and join me.
04:19Thank you very much.
04:20You're our first sleeveless.
04:21I was going to wear that today.
04:23You were going to go the sleeveless?
04:24I was indeed.
04:25We should have conferred with each other.
04:26Oh, shouldn't we just?
04:28Yeah, because I was thinking about getting the flu on myself.
04:30Swap jackets.
04:31How are you?
04:32Good, yourself?
04:33Good.
04:34Where are you from?
04:35I'm from Gympie, up in Queensland.
04:36And what do you do in Gympie?
04:37I'm a grave digger, which obviously is a very unusual occupation, but someone's got
04:40to do it.
04:41He's a grave digger.
04:42That's amazing.
04:43I've been a grave digger for 13 years at Gympie Cemetery.
04:48That's not for everyone, but it's the last thing we can do for people.
04:54I always believe in the idea that when people come to a cemetery, it could be the worst day
04:58of their life.
04:59The best thing we can do is try to make everything comfortable and make sure that everything goes
05:04as well as possible.
05:06Ironically, are there life lessons you've learnt from being a grave digger?
05:11I've been in the occupation that long that I'm starting to bury people that I know quite
05:15well.
05:16Crikey, what's that like?
05:17It's very heart-wrenching.
05:18The bad thing that I've learnt from my occupation, Amanda, is that life is too short.
05:23It's dancing, play your piano, and just seize every moment.
05:28Amen to that.
05:47Wow.
05:48To be a grave digger is an honour and a privilege, but it can be quite heart-wrenching.
06:13To be able to get onto the piano and just release that emotion, it's just absolutely incredible.
06:21Music is the best medicine.
06:22Music will keep you alive as long as possible.
06:25Oh my gosh, this guy is awesome.
06:31His technique is good.
06:33I think those peaks and valleys of House of the Rising Sun, it kind of echoes all of the
06:38different ups and downs in his life.
06:40So, at the end of the session, we're living on to be able to cope with
06:44your Morgenst ŃŠæms when I'm leaving.
06:45If you don't find a young in my house, I ź²ė leave at the recourse
06:46of the
07:09never expected this and this is what's really making it hard because this isn't a competition
07:13it's not about you know the best pianist it's about showing the diversity of this instrument
07:18and the most complete story right thanks man pleasure well you know where to find me that's
07:28right above ground above ground that was wonderful thank you very much thank you so much
07:34and i thought i might have had somewhat of an interesting life not anymore
07:48can i have in your tick tock they got something going on they're choreographing over here am i
07:53singing the same song you are i can't even tell sorry amanda's grooving yeah amanda's into it
08:01thank you for letting me join in have a great day i love it
08:10do you be okay taking your sunnies off she said she wanted to hide with those sunnies off
08:19my name is molly i'm 12 years old i'm from a small country town in victoria it's called warrigal
08:25i'm really proud of her yeah she's she's really good i didn't assume i was going to have a musical
08:34child but it just worked out that way and yeah unfortunately she's more talented than me she lets
08:41me know well hi hi come on up i'm amanda what's your name molly hi molly don't you look beautiful
08:53thank you sit with me okay how old are you 12 she's so cute tell me about you uh so what do you do during
09:01your day you go to school uh i'm homeschooled oh yeah and what's that like oh it's really really fun
09:07and so what do you do with your day in between the bits where there's classes and where you're
09:11learning things oh um i like to draw i like to play with my pet budgie biscuit biscuit yeah what's a
09:19budgie can you help your house that's it okay this is biscuit he's my very hyperactive adorable full
09:31of personality budgie he likes to say peekaboo that's his favorite word come on i'm sure everyone
09:42will love to hear you talk no does he listen to you play the piano yeah he does his sweet little
09:50tweety sounds when he likes a piece but when he doesn't like a piece he um shrieks his head off really
09:56yeah what sort of music doesn't he like uh debussy oh i love animals that respond to music what music
10:03does he like uh he likes bark oh good taste although debbie seems lovely what are you going to play for
10:10us today um shadow dance by edward mcdowell and is this one that biscuit might like you think oh that's
10:16one of his favorites actually biscuit approved
10:30that's insane sounds freaking good man
10:53she has a beautiful hand position and and technique and and contact with the kids she's graceful
11:00i love so many things about playing the piano when you just feel like all your worries have melted
11:13away makes me feel free like a butterfly oh wow this is the hardest bit
11:30wow wow that's amazing her timing has a has a lovely cadence to it
11:41i like to play classical music particularly because i really like the complexity of it and
11:46i really like the challenge of classical music i like to challenge myself
11:59that was awesome man she can play she's i'm obsessed with this kid i love her and she's only 12.
12:17i love the story of biscuit who likes some songs and hates others everyone's a critic she was great
12:31my name is john yanko and i'm 18 years old and i'm from melvin australia
12:51it's a joyous thing to play for people my dad is like my number one inspiration when it comes to music
12:57ever since I was a little kid I just remember him playing really good music
13:00that really just put the fire in me to love music so that's why I love it so
13:04much oh yeah he's awesome John John come sit down I like you get up you've got a
13:11bit of a rock God look go really I appreciate that he's rock your thing yeah
13:15I think music is my thing but rock is like deep ingrained in my heart yeah
13:20he's a rocker hair is fantastic so you're 18 you're not long out of school
13:26hmm how'd you go with school well um hated school I remember like going to
13:33school every morning just always dreading it I definitely felt picked on there were
13:40boys who targeted me because I was obese it put me in a place where I just hated
13:47myself a lot year 11 was probably my worst year I remember neglecting any sort of
13:56health physical health mental health I hated myself and wanted to be anyone
14:03else but me I had reached my breaking point it took me to a really dark place
14:10how'd you turn that around through through my music through the piano every recess and
14:16every lunch well I used to go play on the piano um that was my solitude that was my
14:20place that where I could be me and where I could express myself was my escape you
14:25know I remember one day I was just looking at television and I saw and an excess concert was
14:31on watching Michael Hutchins perform owning who he was with music on a stage that was the catalyst
14:39for me to take action seeing somebody confident like that gives you confidence I moved to a new
14:46school it transformed me as a person I went from being so isolated and so afraid to being the lead
14:55in a musical where I was being celebrated for my talents it was the best decision I've ever made
15:01what are you gonna play today today I'm gonna be playing don't change by in excess why this song
15:07it's just such a positive song it's about embracing who you are it's about being a positive light and that's
15:13what I want to be it's such a great message yeah I was one of those kids who didn't really fit in
15:18this is really a positive story and hopefully people watching can see this and say you know
15:23maybe if I look around there might be a place where I can fit in
15:34was it hard for you to see him struggling at school yeah like every parent but when he plays
15:42music that sort of lifts our spirits I'm standing here on the ground wow the sky above won't fall down
16:01music that's exactly the date of what this is the location you call it
16:03music Great
16:04music in progress
16:05music that's completely got to get out of this show
16:06music that's completely destroyed
16:07music in the spotlight
16:12music that might make the way to make it worse
16:13music that's totally the way to put it ironé£ part of this show
16:17music through the outfits I could put it to make it every way he sings
16:20when Ijergain he sings
16:23I'll tell you to support you much
16:25music that's veulent Ć©conom Chile
16:26I'm going to hike to go
16:27music that'll cool
16:28a blessing
16:29music that's yog
16:29but don't change for you
16:29Don't change a thing
16:33This kid has star quality
16:37He really does
16:38Don't change for you
16:40Don't change a thing
16:44For me
16:46Something so powerful about watching someone
16:51Who identifies so strongly on such a deep level
16:55With a piece
16:56I'm standing here on the ground
17:02The sky above you won't fall down
17:10Dad can't stop smiling
17:12Don't change for you
17:15Don't change a thing
17:18For me
17:20Playing the piano to me is everything
17:25It's allowed me to embrace myself
17:28Without it
17:30But I don't know what I'd be
17:34Like knowing that you have a really wonderful super power
17:36Makes me feel unstoppable
17:39Thank you so much
17:51At the beginning of the day
17:58I was looking for something show stopping and entertaining
18:02That does that for me
18:04I didn't know what to expect but it wasn't that
18:07Oh thank you so much
18:08Unbelievable
18:09And that song sums up everything you're saying about who you want to be
18:14Yeah
18:14And how you knew yourself
18:16How do you feel?
18:18Really good
18:19Thank you all for watching
18:20I appreciate that
18:21You were amazing
18:23Thank you so much
18:24This kid is the most talented overall package
18:29There's way better piano players
18:30The performance of it was compelling
18:32In terms of a performance
18:33Yeah
18:34Well done John
18:35Thank you
18:36You should be proud of your efforts man
18:38It was amazing
18:39Cheers
18:39So how much did it mean to you
18:41Having your dad here
18:42It's incredibly meaningful
18:43This is you know
18:44My dad is the guy that kickstarted the passion
18:46You know
18:46It means the world
18:49You know
18:49Yeah
18:50I got quite emotional
18:52Listening to John
18:53Did you just hear John?
18:54Wasn't he amazing?
18:55He was fantastic
18:57Yeah
18:57He's only 18
18:59Yeah
18:59Oh I know
19:00Amazing
19:01He only looked like you were about 18
19:02Oh you
19:03I'll give you that 50 bucks
19:04I promise you
19:05Thank you
19:08Thank you
19:08Next to share his love of the piano
19:13Is brand new Melbourne dad
19:15Gideon
19:16This guy's got like a nice
19:18Happy vibe
19:19I have two newborn twins
19:22How old are they?
19:24They're about four weeks
19:25Wow
19:26When was the last time you slept?
19:29Four weeks ago
19:30Wow
19:32What's it like
19:32Having these new lives in your life?
19:35I think the moment that I became a father
19:37A switch flicked and yeah
19:40Everything changes
19:41It's the best
19:43What sort of music do you play?
19:46I've always played lots of different styles of music
19:49More recently I've been exploring a lot of Yiddish music
19:52Which is the music that was sung by my grandparents
19:57And my aunties and uncles and ancestors
19:59Yiddish is the language of predominantly the European Jews
20:04Yiddish was the language that was spoken in my grandparents' home
20:08Bubba is the Yiddish word for grandmother
20:11My Bubba was a very loving and doting grandmother
20:14She was born in Poland
20:16And escaped the horrors of Nazi Germany
20:22And made it out to Australia in 1950
20:24When I play and sing in Yiddish
20:27I feel like I'm channeling her
20:30My mother was Jewish
20:32Yeah
20:32Her father was from Russia
20:36And her mother was from Hungary
20:38For first generation Americans
20:40I didn't realise that there was a Yiddish community in Melbourne
20:42That's amazing
20:43And what are you going to play today?
20:46I'm going to play a Yiddish hit
20:48It's called Tumbala Leke
20:49My Bubba, she loved this song
20:52She always used to hassle me to play it
20:53Which at the time annoyed me
20:55Why would I play Tumbala Leke?
20:57It's so daggy
20:57But now I love it
20:59Yeah, when I play it, I think of her
21:01I think music is the closest art form
21:04To memory
21:05And to kind of those places
21:09That are very deep in the soul
21:10Isn't it amazing how like human beings
21:36Feel compelled to move
21:38Love it
21:38When they hear music
21:39It's amazing
21:40We haven't heard a lot of this variation in articulation
21:59Like in the way
22:00Yeah, he's got some diminished chords going
22:02He's got some chord progressions
22:04Just harmonically, like kind of cool to hear
22:09When Bubba Hinder died
22:14She left behind a little bit of money
22:16She didn't have much money
22:17But what she did have
22:18She left behind for her family
22:20And with that money
22:22I went with my dad
22:23To pick out a piano
22:24And that piano has stayed with me
22:26It's been moved around
22:27To all different places I've lived
22:29And yeah
22:31It always reminds me of her
22:32Welcome to Brendan
22:46Judy and thank you
22:47Thank you
22:48He got something totally different going on
22:53Yeah
22:53There's something about him that makes me want to
22:55Kind of be in his orbit
22:57I can't describe it, you know
22:58I've been listening to you on the radio for so many years
23:08And when you used to tell stories of your sons
23:11I think somebody's going through the same thing as I'm doing
23:14Would you be nervous playing in a train station?
23:20Absolutely
23:20It's the thing with the nerves
23:22It's like it's when you
23:23When you care about something so much
23:25I have truly only been nervous once in my life
23:29Really?
23:30Yeah
23:30That was when I was 23
23:31And Frank Sinatra was in the audience, you know
23:33And I wouldn't have been nervous
23:35But Ella Fitzgerald was sitting backstage
23:37Are you serious?
23:38And I went up to her
23:39And she was sitting there by herself
23:41And I said
23:41Hey, Miss Fitzgerald
23:43Are you okay?
23:43She goes
23:44I'm fine
23:45I'm just so nervous
23:46Because I have to go sing in front of Frank
23:47And I'm like
23:48Oh no
23:49Like
23:50I got really nervous
23:51That's insane
23:53Yeah
23:53Public pianos have given this beautiful instrument
23:59A new lease on life
24:01Hundreds of them are sitting pretty across Australia
24:04Begging to be played
24:06Just like our one in Sydney Metro
24:08Sing us a song
24:09You're the piano man
24:11Sing us a song tonight
24:14But we're all in the mood for a melody
24:18You got us feeling alright
24:21Can't have a show about the piano without the piano man
24:24Some ragtime
24:35We haven't heard anybody play ragtime
24:37I think she gets a lot of joy out of this
24:55Oh yeah
24:56Being an entertainer
24:57It's such a blessing to be able to play for people
25:01Such an incredible gift
25:05My name is Fiona Carter
25:15I am actually a theatre manager for a community theatre
25:20I act, sing and I play the piano
25:25I am a triple threat
25:31But it means I'm easy to put into a show
25:35I got to play a British cleaning lady last year
25:39Oh hello missus
25:41Have you finished with the vacuum?
25:43I can do Mary Poppins
25:44Every job that must be done
25:46There is an element of fun
25:48I can do drunk
25:48It would be not complete if you weren't here
25:52I love you
25:54I feel sweaty
25:55That's what nerves do to me
25:58My palms sweat
25:59My knees sweat
26:01Everything sweats a little bit
26:02I'm probably glowing a little bit
26:04Tell me the Fiona story
26:06Well I'm 63
26:08I'm involved in community theatre
26:11Oh tell me about that
26:12Well I've done some musicals
26:13Some straight plays
26:14Some dramas
26:15Some comedies
26:16What have you had to do?
26:17Well
26:18Strip off
26:19Oh my goodness yes
26:20It was a play called Sitting Pretty
26:23And I was a life model
26:25Which I thought was just you know
26:27You go and you sit there
26:28And somebody paints you
26:28And then they said no
26:29Strip off
26:30So I was the settee
26:31And I had to recline on it
26:32In this big crimson satin piece of fabric
26:37And I had to let the fabric slide off
26:40So they look poor things
26:42They could see me
26:44What a true actress
26:46And you were very method
26:48And who have you brought with you today?
26:51My husband Ian
26:52Where is Ian?
26:54There he is
26:55Yes Ian
26:55Hello Ian
26:56How are you?
26:58I'm going to go and stand with him
26:59While you play the piano
26:59Oh that's lovely
27:00Are you ready to start?
27:01I just need to dry my nervous hands
27:03Okay
27:03Do it on my pants
27:05Go on
27:06I can't touch Amanda Killa's pants
27:07Come on Fiona
27:08Dry your hands on my pants
27:09There we go
27:10Ready to go?
27:11We'll see how we go
27:13Good luck
27:13Thank you so much
27:13I'll be over here with Ian
27:14I won't nick him I promise
27:15They seem like old friends
27:18Yeah
27:18How long have you two been married?
27:2232 years
27:23Oh
27:24Of wedded bliss?
27:25Wedded bliss
27:26Yes
27:26Wonderful
27:27How do you feel when you watch a play?
27:29Excited
27:29Yeah
27:30Proud
27:30I'm going to be doing
27:32There's no business like show business
27:34From Irving Berlian
27:35And I would love you to sing along
27:38And I have some words to help
27:41Thank you
27:46She's smart man
27:47She's getting everybody involved before her song
27:49She's endearing herself to the crowd
27:51The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
28:05Are secretly unhappy men
28:08Because
28:09The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
28:15Get paid for what they do
28:18But no applause
28:20There's no business like show business
28:27Like no business I know
28:30This is amazing
28:31The way that she's just drawn this crowd in
28:34That show business right there
28:35Nowhere do you get that happy feeling
28:39When you are stealing that extra bow
28:44There's no people like show people
28:48This dude
28:49Yeah, he knows the words
28:52Even with the turkey that you know is bold
28:56You may be stranded out in the cold
29:01Still you wouldn't take it for a sack of gold
29:04Let's go on with the show
29:08Woo!
29:13Oh, thank you!
29:16Aw!
29:17Aw!
29:18Aw!
29:20I loved it.
29:21How did you feel?
29:22My name's awake
29:23There's no business like show business, baby
29:26Indeed
29:27This is really the point of everything
29:29Yeah, no matter how you play
29:31It just brings us all together, you know
29:34For sure
29:35It's no surprise that Australians love a piano
29:45In fact, at the turn of the 19th century
29:49Australia had more pianos per capita than anywhere in the world
29:53From Tassie to the Top End
29:56The lovable upright took pride of place in our homes
29:59Bringing families together
30:01Our next pianist, Georgie, has travelled over 3,000 kilometres to be here
30:10Isn't this very cool looking dude?
30:13He's walking with purpose
30:14He looks like an artist
30:16Yeah
30:17Hi Georgie, come on up
30:18So you've come a long way for today
30:20Tell me about your upbringing in Darwin
30:22Darwin was a very chill upbringing
30:25I love Darwin because you can go fishing, hunting
30:28It's like that tropical weather
30:30It's a pretty good childhood by the sound of it
30:32Very
30:32Darwin's special
30:40It's a cross between a city and a country town
30:43It's the clear waters
30:46It's the clear skies
30:48You can see like the monsoons coming from Asia
30:52It's a different feeling out there
30:54I hear you come from a pretty musical family
30:59Yeah
30:59Dad was the lead singer of Warumpi Band
31:03Music runs through my family's blood
31:09My dad was George Runambu
31:11Warumpi Band was the pioneers of indigenous rock star music at the time
31:17All the people of different races
31:21Like fellow whitefella was a staple in Australia's music culture
31:26Music is important to my culture
31:30It's what I believe has kept my culture together for so many generations
31:35It's how we keep our stories so relevant
31:38Till this day
31:40Sadly, my dad passed away when I was two years old
31:46Yeah
31:47I've only, yeah, I've only heard stories about my dad
31:50But yeah, I didn't have too many ways of connecting with him
31:53I would say the only way is looking at his videos
31:57And kind of just like wondering what it would have been like if he was here today
32:02When you're playing, do you feel a link to your dad?
32:07Yeah, yeah, I feel like, yeah
32:09Playing the piano, it brings that connection through me and my dad
32:13It's the reason why I'm pursuing music
32:14He seems to have this old soul
32:17And like, I feel like I'm looking at a person who's been around a really long time
32:21And I'm looking at them when they're young, you know?
32:24What are you going to play for us today?
32:26The song that I'll be playing is Out the Door by Izzy
32:29It's about love, moving on
32:31Yeah, dad was like, he was a door that wasn't really opened when I was younger
32:36But the piano helped me see through that
32:39And I guess opened that door for me
32:40And it's special in that way because I've found a lot more connections through that as well
32:47Who are you with today? Who have you got with you?
32:49Oh, I'm here with my mum, Georgina
32:51And, uh...
32:53Hello, so Georgina and Georgie
32:55Yes
32:55I'm George
32:56And his dad was George
32:58Yeah
32:58It's limited your options for when you have a child
33:01Yeah, that's right
33:02Um, just before I'd like to play, I'd like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nations
33:07I can't wait to hear him, especially given his history
33:32Where is he going in his mind?
33:50It's almost meditative
33:52Yeah
33:52Yeah, it's hypnotic
33:53That kind of, like, you know, water and waves sort of constantly flowing
33:58When I sit down and play piano, I can feel, like, my community behind me
34:04I can feel my dad behind me
34:07I reckon he would be proud
34:10Yeah
34:10This relationship with his dad is so beautiful and so interesting
34:17And it's amazing that he has this connection through music
34:21And maybe this sort of simplicity is a way to channel that
34:28It's beautiful to see all those connections in those moments
34:48Yeah
34:48Hear that in a young person as well
34:49The sense of pacing and patience when it comes to music
34:54Well done
34:55Deadly has
34:56Dad, he was so super proud
34:59One of the wonderful things about Wurumpey band
35:04Was that they would sing in multiple languages, their own languages
35:07And they were the first, kind of, First Nations band
35:10Um, that made it really big
35:13I'm gonna check them out
35:14And now, seeing Georgie, it's gonna mean that much more
35:18Absolutely
35:19Our everyday Australians who've come to play at our public piano
35:24Have no idea they're being watched
35:27Harry and Andrea are hoping to find another undiscovered pianist
35:32To join them in their concert at the City Recital Hall
35:35The next train to arrive on Platform 7
35:41Goes to City Circle
35:43Via Museum
35:44It makes me so happy when playing piano
36:03And performing it to everyone
36:05Because they get the feel of emotion
36:07You can feel loud, you feel soft
36:10It's like a movie
36:11Chopin's Fantasy Impromptu
36:16Is a very difficult piece
36:17That takes months, if not years, to learn
36:20I've never played it
36:21I've taught it a few times
36:22My fingers come on
36:24I've taught music
36:29Wow
36:40Holy mackerel
36:41This is a graceful technique
36:43This is serious
36:44I was born with, um, autism
36:49I'm very proud of myself having a disability some people say well I can't
36:57do this I can't do that I can't play piano but I did prove them wrong by
37:01playing difficult pieces
37:06whether you're blind whether you have a wheelchair or learning disability you
37:13could still do things disability is a gift
37:20that is amazing I mean you know learning a piece that's as
37:49technically difficult as the fantasy impromptu and you have autism which I
37:54can only imagine would present challenges that I couldn't begin to
37:57understand I would put that in the unbelievable category for sure it's
38:02incredible oh Tika it was just wonderful mom had a bit of a cry obviously round of
38:09applause for Tika everybody
38:14you've made me cry I'm going to redo my mascara
38:24pianos can be found in the most unique places the instrument has even made it to
38:29Antarctica brought there by captain Robert Falcon Scott during his early 1900s
38:34expeditions
38:37every space station needs a piano cut to 2003 NASA astronaut Ed Lu played an electric
38:46piano in outer space
38:53that's our piano the piano really does go the distance and someone else who likes
39:02to turn unexpected places into concert stages is Tasmanian Kelvin I'm always
39:09excited to play a piano you place a piano anywhere I mean the magic that goes on
39:14inside of me in that moment it is just beyond description you know and to play
39:20somewhere like this with people all around and in a metro station I love it
39:25absolutely love it
39:29hello is your smiling face for me I'm Amanda
39:32hi Kelvin tell me about you I love music love nature love piano so I thought well
39:41what if I were to take pianos to beaches and to rivers and to mountaintops and say
39:45that's my thing how do you get a piano to a river
39:48there's kind of some let's say lateral thinking that goes into how are we going to achieve some of the
40:03the gigs I love to improvise you might say is unusual pieces for you know things
40:11they're not meant to be used for
40:12let's see if I can get the thing started there we go
40:18one of the things that I really love when I take the piano out is just there's a
40:22little bit of a crazy edge to it skidding a little not much
40:29like who does that who would do that originally I think everybody just thought I was nuts like
40:35why would you even do that I love a challenge I love beautiful music and I love scenic locations
40:43put them all together oh man played at Gordon Dam with the use of a helicopter
40:50played on a catch on the Huon River Port Arthur
40:57why push a piano somewhere why
41:02if by me playing in beautiful locations that can help people smile that's what I'm all about
41:09knowing that there's that moment where people just kind of look up and go hang on is that
41:14is that a piano and then it's like crap that is a piano
41:18that payoff just keeps me going and going and going
41:23the whole concept of a piano on a beach just makes my mind explode
41:28me too
41:29this is my dream
41:30what are you gonna do today
41:31I'm gonna do the
41:32actually you're gonna push this first
41:33no well I mean somebody's done the work for me
41:35okay that's right we've made it too easy for you
41:37this is right come on
41:39what am I playing today the soundtrack to the movie the piano the piece speaks to me because
41:44in the movie it's a woman playing the piano on a beach with a daughter dancing around her
41:49I guess maybe at some subconscious level that was kind of a spark for me to go and play in lovely places as well
41:56it's been lovely places as well
41:58it's been lovely places as well
42:03there's this beautiful sincerity to the way that he plays
42:16yeah I agree it's just kind of like the breeze going through the trees
42:31why do I love the piano when I'm playing if I'm playing like a piece that I absolutely love I could just feel this little kind of tingle running up my spine there's something about it that is just like utter perfection
42:54I can honestly say I've never seen the
43:24I've never heard of somebody who has gotten joy out of the piano in this way I think it's another example of human ingenuity meets a really big heart
43:31ingenuity meets a really big heart
43:38I got a smile hello hello
43:50our final pianist today is mum of two Sarah
43:54just feeling honestly wildly out of my comfort zone
43:58never played for anyone before
44:00but I want to show my kids that it's okay to do things that you're a little bit afraid of
44:05oh hello tell us about Sarah
44:08I am a full-time mum
44:09I have two little kids
44:11I have my son Caleb is five and my daughter Isla is two
44:14wow that's a handful
44:16they are a handful
44:18my daughter is a reflection I think of my own sassiness
44:21it's all coming back to bite you on the bottle
44:24that's right
44:25so tell me about the piano have you played for a long time
44:27I played piano when I was a kid actually I had lessons around the age of seven
44:31and I did that for a few years until I got to high school and it wasn't cool anymore
44:36discovered boys instead
44:39for everyone at home piano playing is cool
44:42alright
44:43it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that my husband actually bought me a piano just to have in our home
44:50so I started playing around on it again a little bit
44:53and in the last year and a half especially I have really picked it back up again and spent more time with it
45:01tell me about the last year and a half
45:04in early 2021
45:07um
45:08my husband was diagnosed with cancer
45:12wow
45:14he went through a couple of years of treatment
45:19unfortunately
45:23we
45:24he didn't make it through that
45:26and he passed away early last year
45:28I'm sorry to hear that
45:29happy birthday to you
45:35when my husband was diagnosed with cancer
45:37he handled it so well
45:39and this was just who he was as a person
45:41he was positive, pragmatic, proactive
45:44and nothing was ever going to get in his way
45:48he showed me what life was about and how we should be living
45:54and in that time prepared me
45:58to face what I have to do now
46:02which is to navigate and create a life without him
46:07to get up and move forwards
46:11the way that I am living now
46:15I'm grieving in my sadness
46:17but I'm also grieving in my joy
46:19life has changed so much
46:25and the thing about the piano I think for me is that it's been a constant amongst all of them
46:32I found that especially when it would come to the evenings
46:38I'd have the day with my kids
46:40I'd put them to bed and then come back upstairs again
46:42and be alone
46:44and be alone
46:46and be alone
46:48yeah
46:50the piano in a way became a companion for me
46:53when I sit down to play
46:55it's like I can forget everything else
46:57and I forget that I'm on my own
47:01I can't see that there's no one else in the room
47:03it's really interesting how you can escape
47:07and be present at the same time with the piano
47:11it really is
47:13what are you going to play today?
47:14I'm going to play Yellow by Coldplay
47:16I learnt to play this when Chris first got me the piano
47:20and it has evolved with me as well
47:22the way that I play it now is different to how I played it ten years ago
47:25but it's still here and it just felt really fitting
47:28well, Sarah, before I start crying
47:32I can't wait to hear Yellow
47:34I just want to give her a hug
47:36because I don't think there's a person on this planet
47:38who hasn't been touched by cancer in some way
47:41I can't wait to hear it in some way
47:42I can't wait to hear it in some way
48:00To go so suddenly from sharing that parenting role with somebody to doing it on your own
48:29It's devastating
48:31It's new and it's challenging
48:38I always remember my mother playing music around the house, you know
48:48I don't even think she realizes the memories that she's creating for her children
48:52Laying in bed, falling asleep and hearing mom play upstairs
48:56It must be so peaceful for them
48:58Let's go, let's go
49:03My children are a mirror of how we're doing in life
49:07And as long as I continue to see them happy
49:10And reflecting that joy back to me, I know that I'm doing okay
49:13My husband had a saying, which is get after it
49:20I have it tattooed on my arm
49:22Get after it, whatever it is that you want
49:25Go and do it
49:26You only have one life
49:28So live it the way that you want to live it
49:30Which is why it happened here today
49:32How did that feel?
49:55My hands are shaking
49:55How did you feel?
49:56It was a really special experience
49:58That was really impressive to me
50:01And it was so direct and emotional and true
50:05Yeah
50:05It's so powerful
50:06I mean, it literally stopped people in their tracks
50:08What will you tell your son when you go home?
50:11Oh, that mommy smashed it
50:12She smashed it
50:13Oh, you smashed it, Sarah
50:15Thank you
50:16We're very proud of you
50:17Thank you so much
50:17Thank you
50:18Oh, I'm far too emotional for this job, really
50:26Crikey
50:27She smashed it
50:30It's the end of the day at Sydney Metro
50:38Oh, this is nice
50:41We've asked all of our pianists to gather together
50:44I really enjoyed about this experience
50:46We're all from completely different walks of life
50:48But we're all bored here for the same thing
50:50And the love of the piano
50:51And the love of music
50:52So that we can thank them
50:54Reveal who has really been watching them
50:57And find out who will be invited to perform
51:00At our very special concert
51:01Let's get down to it
51:03Where do we start?
51:04We saw so many different people
51:06This is the worst part of this experience for me
51:10I just want everybody to come and play
51:11I know
51:12Can't we do, like, the world's longest concert?
51:14First of all, a grave digger
51:17With a heart of gold
51:19Oh, Chris?
51:25It's the most unusual combination of life and music
51:29That we've seen so far
51:31Okay
51:32What did you make of beautiful Molly
51:34With the budgie called Biscuit?
51:36Oh, Molly was fantastic
51:37And her piano playing was beautiful
51:39It was concise
51:45It was beautiful
51:46She had total command of the piece she was playing
51:48And she's only 12
51:49I'm fascinated with Molly
51:50She needs her own show
51:51I'm standing here
51:55On the ground
51:57One of my favorites was John
52:00I think his voice is way above average
52:02And I think he has a career in the future
52:06I think he's got something going on that's pretty special
52:08Calvin was amazing
52:14The piano pusher?
52:15The piano pusher
52:15Who does that?
52:17Yeah
52:17He rocks my world
52:18I've always dreamed of taking a piano around on a truck
52:21And bringing it to place
52:21Have you?
52:22I've always wanted to do that
52:23Where would you take it?
52:24Everywhere
52:24Yeah
52:25It's been quite the day
52:32What are you thinking?
52:34There's a lot going on there
52:35There's a lot going on
52:36There's a lot of talent
52:37So we're going to put this decision on you
52:39And we want to say thank you for making this decision for us
52:44I'm going to flip it
52:44Okay
52:45Okay
52:45Thank you so much for doing this
52:47Well, I look forward to hearing what comes next
52:49I'll leave you to it
52:50Oh, gosh
52:50Good luck
52:51Thank you
52:55Greetings
52:56Hello, hello, hello
52:58How nice to see all of you together
53:01A huge thank you to all of you
53:04For your incredible performances today
53:06But also for sharing your stories
53:08Each of you has a different story that brought you to the piano
53:10And that's what we really enjoyed about today
53:12I haven't been completely honest with you
53:15I've been keeping a little bit of a secret
53:17The commuters have been watching and loving all your performances
53:20But you've also been observed by two of the world's greatest pianists
53:25One is a global music superstar
53:29The other is one of Australia's greatest classical pianists
53:33I'd like to introduce Harry Connick Jr. and Andrea Lamb
53:38They've been watching
53:41Hey, everybody
53:44We have been watching you and listening to you
53:48Playing from behind a construction site wall
53:53We've just been blown away
53:54Thank you
53:57I know what the piano means to me
53:58But to see what it means to all of these different people
54:01Is really like an amazing experience
54:04Man, I'm so proud of you
54:06Start getting into your pop's music
54:08Because I don't know a lot about it
54:10So I need to learn about it
54:11I reckon you'll like it
54:12Calvin
54:13I mean
54:14Seriously
54:16Made my dream come true
54:18You've got to kind of be a little crazy
54:19And then you've got to embrace your crazy
54:21Before you actually get there
54:22My mother's heritage comes from the Ashkenazi Jews
54:27Like me, yeah
54:27So when you started talking about Yiddish
54:30I was so impressed
54:31Somebody's carrying that traditional
54:34Yeah
54:34Seeing all of these different people play the piano
54:37Makes me itch just to run out there
54:39And just play along with them
54:40Well, we have a little surprise for y'all
54:43We're so excited to invite you all
54:46To join us at one of Australia's most esteemed venues
54:49Where many of the world's greatest musicians have played
54:52The City Recital Hall in Sydney
54:54We are putting on a special concert there
54:57And we want all of you to come
55:00Will you come?
55:01Yeah
55:01All right
55:02Yeah, thank you
55:03There's one extra part of the surprise
55:06Which is
55:07We would like to invite one of y'all
55:09To perform at that concert
55:11The person that we have chosen
55:13To perform in the final concert is
55:16John
55:18Congratulations
55:21Are you actually serious?
55:25Congratulations, man
55:26Thank you so much
55:27I appreciate that
55:28Thank you
55:29Congratulations
55:30Music means everything to me
55:32I feel so grateful
55:35That I have the opportunity
55:37To play this instrument
55:40And show people what I can do
55:41You know
55:42This concert is really to celebrate the piano
55:48Really important
55:49Especially in music and the arts
55:51To bring a piece of yourself to it
55:53And John really embodies that
55:54I'm standing here
55:58On the ground
56:00He was humble
56:18He had a great voice
56:19Which is a cool addition to his piano playing
56:22Sing with me, everybody
56:24But don't change fear
56:27Don't change a thing
56:31For me
56:33Don't change fear
56:39Don't change a thing
56:43For me
56:45Yeah
56:46Next time
56:55Don't please
56:56Don't you throw at them
56:57The piano is dining out in Chinatown
57:00Yeah, that's hot, but that's good
57:01We continue to celebrate the world's favourite instrument
57:05How much do you love your classical music
57:08This much
57:10We'll discover its link through history
57:13There's thousands and thousands of generations
57:17That is connected with my music
57:20You ain't seen
57:21You ain't seen