Why Mumbai pianists love playing in public spaces like hotels and malls

Updated On: 29 March, 2024 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto

As the world celebrates Piano Day on March 29, to denote the 88 keys in the piano on the 88th day of the year, mid-day.com spoke to Mumbai pianists who play in public spaces to know more about the popularity of the instrument and the reactions they get from Mumbaikars when they play

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Mumbai pianists Bonita Deniz, Shanice Ferreira and Alstan Remedios love to interact with the crowd while playing in hotel lobbies. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement

Every Sunday afternoon, Bonita Deniz sits at the piano in Taj Land’s End lobby from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm in Bandra to play her heart out as she interacts with the crowd by smiling at them. She shares, “Very often, the piano is perceived as an instrument for classical pieces but performing at hotels and other venues for local audiences has made the piano an instrument for pop pieces.” Even though she plays there for just one day, it is worth her while because of the joy that her music brings to the faces of children, adults, and the elderly too. While the Mumbaikar juggles between being a piano teacher in various avenues in Mumbai, this is the cherry on the cake for Deniz, who comes from a family of musicians in Mumbai and Goa.

Every year, World Piano Day is observed on March 29 around the globe to celebrate the instrument and those who play it. It is celebrated on the 88th day of the year to denote the 88 keys on the instrument. Over the years, Mumbai has boasted of many talented pianists and while people look in awe at the ones who perform on stage, many others perform in public places like hotels and malls and also play for a live audience but one that is interactive and is completely mesmerized with music as they not only play classical pieces but also pop songs that can be sung, danced and grooved to without a care in the world. “The pop pieces are opening doors to people who are not exposed to pianos, and it is a positive thing. It is fun when people come and ask you and you play by ear,” adds 30-year-old Deniz, who started by playing the keyboard more than 20 years ago.

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