30 Pianos

Jim Kalin, 53, of Koreatown plays the song “You Gotta Move” on the piano at Chinatown Central Plaza with his 3-year-old son Kyd at his feet.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Eric Valdez of Mount Washington plays the Beatles’ “Martha My Dear” on the piano near Los Angeles City Hall. Steve Stanley of Sherman Oaks reacts with surprise because -- unbeknownst to Valdez -- he had played the same song minutes earlier.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Barbara Bragonier of Redondo Beach and Miguel Campa, 3, of Watts play “Chopsticks” on the piano in Los Angeles’ Union Station.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Ray Lowe, 57, plays the piano on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

People play the piano in Chinatown Central Plaza.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The art project “Play Me, I’m Yours,” brought to the city by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, intends to bring communities together through random acts of public music.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

British artist Luke Jerram conceived of the project in 2008.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles chamber orchestra has been preparing for more than a year, finding local artists and community organizations to decorate the pianos.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The pianos’ locations will include downtown Los Angeles, L.A.’s Chinatown, Pasadena, the Santa Monica Pier, UCLA, USC, Hollywood, Claremont, Torrance, San Pedro, Boyle Heights, Monterey Park, Panorama City and North Hollywood.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Most of the 30 pianos were donated by Hollywood Piano Co.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Before the event begins, pianos are being tuned and repaired at the L.A. Chamber Orchestra.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The pianos are to be available to be played 24 hours a day.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times))

Vincent Collins fixes one of the pianos at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra before “Play Me, I’m Yours” begins.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times))

After the project, the pianos are to be donated to schools and community groups or auctioned off.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

“I am a firm believer that music is for everyone,” says Rachel Fine, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra’s executive director.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)