Sadly, there are an awful lot of old unwanted pianos knocking around. Many will go into landfill which is such a terrible waste, considering the materials and workmanship that has gone into building these instruments.
The casework is sometimes rescued and made into items of furniture such as bookcases, shelves, and drink cabinets. Frames and soundboards can be transformed into “interesting” coffee and dining tables, etc. But what can you do with all the internal components?
Over recent years artists and craftsmen have realised that these elements — the keys, the action, the hammers, the strings, etc — can be used as the perfect core materials for works of art. And they are turning out brilliant pieces.
The Piano Shop Bath, located in the southwest of England, was being asked to scrap hundreds of unwanted pianos every year. So owner Jon Kelly set up the “Played and Remade” sustainability division of the business. The shop donates parts from the old pianos to local artists for them to create amazing works of art, and these are then put up for sale in the shop or online. A few examples can be seen above.
Creating artworks from old products isn’t a particularly new idea. However, The Piano Shop Bath’s “Played and Remade” circular concept whereby the company supplies the raw materials, and then sells the end product is a satisfying one. It’s kind of recycling doubled.
Pianodrome at Leeds 2024
One organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the repurposing of old pianos is Scotland’s Pianodrome.
Founded by Tim Vincent-Smith and Matt Wright in 2017, Pianodrome is an organization that transforms unwanted pianos into extraordinary art installations and performance spaces.
Its debut project was a 100-seat amphitheatre, now known as the Grand Pianodrome. Constructed entirely from recycled pianos, it first appeared at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival (read more here).
In 2021 Pianodrome created a series of striking piano-based art installations for the Leeds Piano Trail (part of the Leeds International Piano Festival and Competition).
A second Pianodrome, given the name Old Royal, was built in 2022, and also that year a third Pianodrome was built in Charlotte USA.
The Leeds Piano Trail is back in 2024 and runs from August 31 to September 21. Pianodrome is the “Artist in Resonance”, and the trail will incorporate some of its 2021 favourite artworks. These include the Piano Cube and The Elephant in the Room. New commissions will feature a Piano Bike and a Resonance Room – more will be revealed shortly, and of course all are made from bits of unwanted pianos.
The Old Royal Pianodrome itself, built from over 80 pianos, will also form part of the Piano Trail. Located at Broderick Hall in Leeds City Museum it will be open from September 1st to 21st (10.00—17.00 Tuesdays to Fridays and 11.00—17.00 Saturdays and Sundays).
Pianodrome has successfully repurposed and given new life to over 550 pianos since its inception.
Roman Thiery – Requiem for Pianos
Also, as part of the Leeds Piano Festival, artist/photographer Romain Thiery will be exhibiting his fantastic photographic collection of abandoned pianos discovered in deserted buildings across Europe. Not so much repurposing, but visually remarkable and featuring unwanted pianos.
The exhibition is also at Broderick Hall and is open throughout August and September 2024. This really is a must-see!
Get in Touch
If you have images of artworks made from parts of old pianos please do send them to us, and we will add them to this article.
Reader Response:
– Nigel Shearing sent us this link to his Instagram account.
– A reader sent us details of Pianos Recycled, a company based in Victoria, Australia.