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00:08Music is echoing from public pianos all over this country because this year our piano is
00:17traveling to all new public spaces seeking even more incredible undiscovered pianists
00:27I'm a zookeeper. I'm a mum and a carer. I'm also a professional rugby player. You are the
00:34rugbyster rugby players. To celebrate their music and learn why they play. Mum used to play that song
00:49for me while I was in the coma. I have no one else in my life. It's me, my dogs,
01:00my sheep and my piano.
01:02The piano makes me feel good. And two very important people are hiding in the wings.
01:11Hey. To slyly watch our performance. She's fantastic. Returning to the piano is critically
01:19acclaimed world-renowned classical pianist Andrea Lamb. What is so incredibly beautiful about this
01:27is how what she does has an immediate impact to someone that she loves. Galen is the best teacher.
01:36And joining us is one of Australia's most successful recording artists of all time. The multi-instrumentalist
01:43Guy Sebastian.
01:46Oh, I'll be the filthy boy.
01:50Hello beautiful people.
01:52No way.
01:54That to me is the best thing we've seen.
01:56100%.
01:57Good luck. Chills. Proper chills.
02:01Each time they'll choose one everyday pianist and offer them a once in a lifetime opportunity.
02:07It was really special.
02:08They'll be mentored.
02:10That hook to me is like you landing home.
02:12It doesn't need to be too fast because you will show everybody how fabulous you are as
02:16the as the piece unfold.
02:18And perform in concert on one of the country's most prestigious stages, the City Recital Hall.
02:24The ain't never gonna change these battles.
02:29Score and score.
02:33Welcome to the piano.
02:44Welcome to Circular Key, where our public piano will soon turn Sydney Harbour into a stage.
02:51The sound of those keys will be joining an orchestra of docking ferries, of passing trains, and
02:59of hungry seagulls.
03:03It's here on Gadigal land that we've asked everyday pianists to pull up a stool, share their
03:08stories and reveal the power of music to transform lives.
03:12Is this us?
03:13I think we're in here.
03:14We're gonna scroll you away quickly.
03:16All right.
03:17Let's see.
03:18Okay.
03:19Oh, this is interesting, isn't it?
03:20Oh, so glamorous.
03:23They really put us in the nicest locations.
03:26It definitely looks like somewhere where we're not supposed to be.
03:28But it is close to the piano.
03:31So it's just out here?
03:32Right out there, about a metre away.
03:34And we watch here?
03:35Yes.
03:35Yes.
03:35Okay.
03:36And there's me.
03:37And Amanda.
03:39Oh, I'm so excited to see you.
03:42I'm so excited to see you.
03:42And this gorgeous chick over here.
03:44Hello, darling.
03:46Look at this.
03:47Here we are.
03:47This is so exciting.
03:49The pianists, of course, are going to expect to see you.
03:51You are a big surprise.
03:53We're just going to blow these socks off.
03:54It's fabulous.
03:55I can't wait.
03:56Many people know you as a singer, as a songwriter.
03:59Tell us about your piano roots.
04:01Songs that I write are pretty much 90% written on piano.
04:05It's played a big part of my life.
04:07When I play live, very important instrument for me.
04:10Andrew, how does it feel to be back?
04:12I can't wait.
04:13I just remember this feeling of not knowing what's going to happen next,
04:16not knowing who we're going to see.
04:17And don't forget, there is a concert at the end of this.
04:20The two of you are curating.
04:21What are you hoping to find today?
04:23I want to feel the feels.
04:24Some heart, a bit of soul.
04:26I want to feel the full range of emotion where you're taking me to Weep Town
04:31and making me want to dance as well.
04:33Oh, Weep Town and a dance.
04:35Doesn't ask for much.
04:37How about you, Andrea?
04:38I love being surprised by things that move you
04:41because you don't know what to expect.
04:42With music, it's so instant and there's no rhyme or reason sometimes.
04:46So I'm really excited to see that and where it comes from.
04:49It's going to be amazing.
04:50All right, I'll leave you to it.
04:51I'll talk to you throughout the day.
04:52See you later.
04:52Good luck out there.
04:56Oh, here we go.
04:57Out.
04:59Who's going to be our first?
05:09Is it the guy in the high-vis?
05:11No.
05:13My name's Nadi.
05:15I'm 37.
05:15I'm from Dundas, Sydney, Australia and I'm originally from Iran.
05:19We're famous for Persian rugs, Persian cats and all the amazing Persian food.
05:27Sorry.
05:31Hi.
05:33Oh, are you looking for us?
05:35Oh, hi.
05:36Nadi.
05:37Nice to meet you.
05:38Hi Nadi.
05:38Come and sit down with me.
05:40I like his beard.
05:42I like his beard.
05:42I feel like it must be very satisfying to have a beard like that.
05:46Mr. High-vis, have you come straight from work?
05:49I did, yes.
05:50In construction?
05:51Yeah.
05:51You didn't bring your hard hat?
05:52I didn't bring my hard hat.
05:53Okay.
05:54Oh, we've got some hard hats here he can borrow.
05:57I don't know why I'm surprised to see high-vis and the piano.
06:00How long have you been playing the piano?
06:02I picked it up completely by an accident.
06:05It was at the time of the movie Titanic so Celine Dion's soundtrack was out and about everywhere
06:09and I could mimic basic notes for the soundtrack itself and I started playing piano.
06:15Oh.
06:15Right.
06:16And have you had music in your life this whole time?
06:18Yes.
06:19Picked up the piano and I moved to Australia.
06:24In 2013 I moved to the land of Australia as a student to have a better life.
06:30When I graduated I found a job on construction sites.
06:35That area is an exclusion zone so if you don't have to be there, don't be there please.
06:41Nowadays I'm a project safety manager.
06:44The very first thing that comes through my mind as a safety manager is
06:48let's do it good mate.
06:50Don't mess it up.
06:53Nardi, I'll just be over there.
06:54Yep.
06:54Enjoy.
06:55Nardi's very hard to work out because Celine Dion, he works in construction.
07:01What is he going to play?
07:03What is he going to play?
07:04Let's do it again.
07:05I'm kind.
07:20I'm really happy.
07:21Look at me.
07:21I'll find a better place.
07:21All right.
07:21All right.
07:21All right.
07:21It's a good game.
07:22All right.
07:23If you keep going to play with the piano and you're doing it
07:27All right.
07:28You're a good game.
07:31You're a good game.
07:35Wow, this was very unexpected.
07:37This is beautiful.
07:49I mean, it sounds like a movie scene, and it's shifted the whole mood in that audience.
08:08I'm playing a song called Connie's Butterfly by a Persian composer.
08:13It's because I miss my own family a lot, yeah, I miss them a lot.
08:19In Australia, it's just joy and happiness.
08:23But it's really hard not to be able to hug your mum or your dad or your sister.
08:34So the piano is the second in family for me.
08:39He's got a big heart, this guy.
08:41You can just tell it in his playing.
08:46The voicing between the melody and the accompaniment and the shaping,
08:51it really does feel like his singing is very natural.
08:55His tempo variance is really felt.
09:00When I'm playing the piano, I feel like I'm talking to a family member,
09:03and it's talking back.
09:12That was definitely not what I expected from Nadie.
09:15No. How gorgeous.
09:18It was an absolute gift to hear you play today.
09:20Thank you very much.
09:25If that's the quality, this is incredible.
09:28I was so excited.
09:33Don't lose me.
09:34Hey, don't lose me handbag.
09:36She's got a bad hip. Hang on to me.
09:38Don't lose me handbag.
09:40You all coming?
09:44I'm Betty Patterson, and I'm from Coromel, New South Wales.
09:48Are you ready to hold you?
09:50Are you ready?
09:50No, I'm right.
09:51Oh.
09:52Up here.
09:53Over here.
09:54Oh, here we go.
09:57I love her sweater.
09:59Betty Patterson, it is a delight to meet you.
10:01Is it rude to ask how old you are?
10:03I'm a hundred.
10:05She's a hundred?
10:06I cannot believe you're a hundred years old.
10:09Yes.
10:09Can you believe you're a hundred years old?
10:11No, I can't.
10:13Can you imagine her perspective on life?
10:16The things she's seen and experienced.
10:17Yeah.
10:18You've seen a lot of the world change since 1925.
10:22Oh, I have.
10:22I have.
10:23When do you think the best time was?
10:25When I married my husband.
10:27And was it love at first sight?
10:28Oh, my very word it was.
10:30Oh.
10:30Yes.
10:31He was a beautiful man.
10:32He had a beautiful voice.
10:34He could sing.
10:35And we had a beautiful life of music.
10:37Oh, he'd make me cry.
10:40Hey, Mum.
10:41How are you going today?
10:42All right.
10:42Good, good.
10:43All right.
10:44We've got some photos.
10:45Yes.
10:46Beautiful photos.
10:47Look at me.
10:48That's me and Lou.
10:50Lewis Miller Patterson, his name was.
10:53I was 18 when I met him.
10:55Oh, he was a handsome guy.
10:57Oh, my word.
10:58He was.
10:59He loved music, which I loved.
11:02So we made a good team.
11:03Hmm.
11:04What I loved about Lou was his gorgeous way of living.
11:08He was always such a bright, lovely person.
11:11We never went anywhere without one another.
11:14We were always together.
11:16My word.
11:17We loved our life.
11:19Hmm.
11:20For the good times is what they used to call it.
11:23Hey?
11:25Looks so sad.
11:27I know it's over.
11:30There was nobody else in our lives and it just has to.
11:34Yes.
11:36It's a sad thing when you lose them at 53.
11:39You know.
11:41It's sad.
11:42Yeah.
11:43What are you going to play for us today?
11:45Well, I'm playing, it had to be you, for my husband.
11:48Oh.
11:49Oh.
11:51I'll take a stick.
11:52I'll go and stand with your family.
11:53Okay, okay.
11:53Can't wait to hear you.
11:54Oh, this is such a beautiful song.
12:11Oh, she's playing the real swing version of it.
12:28Oh, she's a hundred.
12:30Oh my gosh.
12:31Look at those fingers.
12:32She's great.
12:38The saddest thing in my life was losing my husband.
12:41He passed very suddenly.
12:43It was something shocking.
12:45Since then, I never wanted nobody else.
12:49This is fabulous.
12:53Lewis, it had to be you.
12:57I've never met anybody like him.
13:00Never.
13:01No.
13:19I've never met anybody like him.
13:25So proud.
13:27If he was here.
13:28Yes.
13:30You are a marvel.
13:31How do you remember it?
13:32Don't know.
13:34It's just muscle memory in there.
13:35It just comes out of my memory.
13:36Yes, it is.
13:36Yeah, absolutely.
13:37Yeah, thank you.
13:38Is there anything that Betty can't do?
13:41Um, not really.
13:42She can play the mouth organ as well.
13:43You can play the harmonica.
13:45Yes, I play the harmonica.
13:46Do you?
13:46Yes, I do.
13:47Oh, my gosh.
13:48Betty's just full of surprises, isn't she?
13:51Betty's a one-woman band.
14:06That's here for Betty.
14:08Really good at the harmonica too.
14:11Wow.
14:12Betty would be really interesting for the concert.
14:15Betty, what's the secret to such a long life?
14:18Oh, I wish to be happy and to love everybody.
14:21Happy and love everybody.
14:22And love everybody.
14:23Yes.
14:24Betty, thank you for coming and spending time with us.
14:26That's all.
14:27Congratulations.
14:27Beautiful.
14:30Wasn't that a beautiful piano?
14:31It's a pleasure to play it.
14:33Now, where's my handbag?
14:34You got my handbag?
14:41You happy?
14:42Yeah.
14:42I wonder what he's doing out of school.
14:45My name is Aidan.
14:46I'm 11 years old.
14:47And my background is China.
14:50But I was born in Sydney.
14:52How long have you been playing the piano?
14:53I've been playing piano for seven years.
14:55And so have you been good at it from the moment you started?
14:58No.
14:58When I started, it wasn't so well.
15:00You know, Mary had a little lamb?
15:02Yes.
15:02I struggled doing that.
15:03Okay.
15:04What do you think he's going to play?
15:06I've no idea.
15:15Oh, we all know this.
15:16Oh, we all know this.
15:16We all know this.
15:18We all know this.
15:18From Pierre Kidd.
15:19I love it.
15:23Does Aidan know him?
15:26Where did he come from?
15:33Two boys wagging school.
15:40Wait, is there another person going out?
15:42Oh, there he is.
15:43Oh.
15:53Four.
15:55Oh, no.
15:56There's not a fourth, is there?
15:58Can you fit?
15:59That's it.
15:59Just four.
16:05So we all know this song, but I've never heard it with eight hands.
16:10No.
16:10It's so fun.
16:11That is true.
16:16It really makes sense to just add on because it has that winding up.
16:25That's very difficult to stay in sync.
16:27It is, yeah.
16:34Wow.
16:39I did not expect that.
16:41You know what would be fun in the concert is if we could get more people.
16:45Like if we had the four of them and then just everybody just kept on coming up.
16:53I'm Felicia, I'm 22 and I'm from Canterbury.
16:58Hello.
16:59Come and have a seat.
17:01Playing the piano has turned into something that's really special that I've grown to love.
17:06Tell me about your connection with the piano.
17:10I started the piano when I was four or five years old.
17:14The piano has always been a part of my life.
17:16I grew up listening to my sisters play piano.
17:18No.
17:20No.
17:20You were the Von Trapps.
17:21We weren't the Von Trapps.
17:23But you know.
17:23Lining up the staircase.
17:25So long, farewell, our feeders and goodbye.
17:28No.
17:29But we all played the piano.
17:31And are you the youngest, I'm guessing?
17:33I am the youngest, yes.
17:37Growing up behind my sisters Florence and Fiona, I was just the silly, goofy one, I think.
17:44What I loved about having older sisters is I had all of their old clothes.
17:50And I also had all the hand-me-down exercise books, meaning that I had all the answers.
17:56It also meant I had someone to look up to and someone to be proud of.
18:02Be honest.
18:03Are you the best piano player in the family?
18:05Alright.
18:05I'll have to give it to her.
18:07I think my sister Florence was the best.
18:09I'll give that one to her.
18:10You said she was good.
18:12Should I be reading something into the was?
18:14Um, my sister Florence actually passed away.
18:18Oh, I'm so sorry.
18:24February last year, my sister Florence took her own life.
18:32Um, and as a family, the rug was just pulled out from under us.
18:41We didn't cope.
18:43And how we got through it was the friends that came through, the family that came through,
18:50and the piano.
18:55The piano in our home was really only there because of her.
19:01Florence, she was a music teacher.
19:03We all spent so many hours listening.
19:07She was the best.
19:10And I think just any time I'm on the piano now, it connects all of us together.
19:18At the end of the song, right, when you finish building, and then your hand bang, just hold
19:24in the air for a moment.
19:26What's bang?
19:27Hold in the air in the moment.
19:29Just like that.
19:29Just listen.
19:30I know she's listening, and it feels like any second now she's going to come barge into
19:37the door and say, you're doing this all wrong.
19:39And she'll play it better.
20:06That's a Chinese, um, Chinese folk song.
20:09Yeah.
20:09Yeah.
20:09Yeah.
20:10You can always tell with the Fenta Tali, yeah.
20:25Growing up, I always heard Florence practicing Chinese folk music.
20:31And I would wake up to her practicing.
20:34It was the most beautiful environment to grow up in.
20:39Oh, God, that's the three sisters.
20:41Okay.
20:42Oh, here, that's you playing.
20:44Oh, no, that's Florence.
20:45Oh, my God.
20:46Look, she was performing for us again.
20:49It just brings back so many good memories and, yeah, of us thrown together.
20:54That we had actually forgotten.
21:02Such a complex.
21:05Unimaginable.
21:06Grief.
21:07Um, watching my wife go through it when she lost her brother.
21:13And it can go from anger to confusion and devastation, but I'm so happy that Felicia is now at that
21:25cycle where she is celebrating Florence.
21:45I love that smile.
21:46Yeah.
21:47It's like a sigh of relief.
21:51It was just beautiful.
21:53It just transported me.
21:54It was just lovely.
21:56You've honoured everyone in your family today.
21:58I loved it.
21:59Thank you so much.
22:00Thanks, Felicia.
22:05When someone takes their life, it's just such a different sort of grief.
22:10And you're always back at that point where you're like, oh, they weren't well.
22:16You always arrive back there.
22:18They just, they weren't well.
22:20And for some reason, they thought the world would be a better place without them.
22:25And you're left behind going, I wish they knew how wrong they were.
22:43I can smell hot chips.
22:45It's very unfair making me stand here while I can smell hot chips.
22:54Do you love me or do you love me?
22:56Look at this.
22:57You are the best ever.
22:59Now, that's for you.
23:01Something happened on the way here and there's only a few left.
23:04Oh, Amanda, you greedy little bit.
23:06Sorry about that.
23:07Hang on, hang on.
23:09Go on.
23:09Go for it.
23:11It's true what they say about talent.
23:14It needs to be fed in order to flourish.
23:18Life is good.
23:19Oh, yum, but chicken salt as well.
23:23Thankfully, our next pianist, Amber, snuck in her lunch extra early today so she could join us.
23:30Where do you work?
23:31I work at Sydney Opera House.
23:33Oh, she didn't have to travel for me.
23:35They got a local.
23:37Are you a concert pianist at the Opera House?
23:39Is that your job?
23:39No, I work in technology.
23:41I'm a systems analyst.
23:42Is it a creative job?
23:44Absolutely not.
23:51For me, the special thing about the Opera House started when I was young.
23:58Because I came from Port Macquarie, coming to Sydney was a really big deal.
24:06So I feel like it's a great privilege to be able to go and work there now, all these years
24:11later.
24:15I reckon she does sneak into the dressing room pianos backstage.
24:30She has fantastic fingers.
24:33Oh, she is making it sing.
24:35She is making it sing.
24:36She's very dynamic.
24:45She is fantastic.
24:47So we've got some really skilled technical players, some players that are very emotionally connected to the instrument.
24:54Very.
24:55I think we have a few very serious contenders to join us for the concert.
24:59I feel like what I've heard so far would make a great concert already.
25:03That's true.
25:05So far, this sparkling harbour hotspot has shown us it's awash with talent.
25:12But which of these amateur pianists will Guy and Andrea invite?
25:17Could it be this duo?
25:19My name is Natasha.
25:22I'm Dad and my name is Ray Han.
25:25What sort of music are you going to play for us today?
25:27Guy Sebastian.
25:28Anti-Dep.
25:30Ohhhh.
25:32You like Guy Sebastian?
25:33And so does my mum.
25:34Ohhhh.
25:35Guilty as charged.
25:36I uploaded a little piano tutorial of how to play this on YouTube.
25:41It's funny how I hate it when I'm here but here I am again.
25:47This is adorable.
25:49Like I was made to mend but mend they never seem to make it end.
25:53And oh there you go, making it all okay.
26:02Ohhhh.
26:04Well they've pulled a crowd.
26:05Oh yeah.
26:07You make it safe to get older, when I'm losing life, when I'm tipping over my annie door.
26:17A couple of years ago we bought a piano and she started learning.
26:21I started learning as well to join the journey with her.
26:24I just love playing piano with my dad.
26:29That was absolutely brilliant.
26:32You did that.
26:33Aww.
26:34They are just the cutest family.
26:36You never know with all these cameras around here Guy Sebastian might see this and he might say smashed it.
26:42How excited would they be to be in the concert with you?
26:46Like that would just blow their mind.
26:50The next train to arrive on platform 2 goes to Central.
27:03I'd like to tap you on.
27:05May I?
27:06Yeah.
27:06Which one's your tap on?
27:07Here we go.
27:08Get ready.
27:09Here you go.
27:12Thank you very much.
27:13I feel useful.
27:15I'll be putting my invoice in for that.
27:19At the Quay, over 20 million commuters tap on here every year.
27:25One of them is Vonda, who's travelled all the way from South Australia.
27:28Home, this is my mother's land, country.
27:43Both of my parents had a mission band.
27:46They were very much into reconciliation.
27:51I've always wanted to keep connecting to all people and all cultures through music.
27:59I sing this song in language and English.
28:02I just hope that it brings people together.
28:27Oh, that's beautiful.
28:37That was just wonderful.
28:39Thank you very much.
28:46It's one of these girls.
28:47Yeah.
28:47All both of them.
28:48Yes.
28:49Yeah.
28:49Yeah.
28:50My name is Anastasia.
28:52I'm 16 years old and currently I live in Sydney.
28:56Well, I'm really excited but also worried because there are so many people around.
29:01Yeah.
29:01And it's also not too far from my school so my classmates might see me today.
29:07Hello.
29:08Nice to meet you.
29:09My name is Anastasia.
29:10Anastasia, who are you walking in with then?
29:12My mom.
29:13Is that your mother?
29:14That was her mum.
29:14That was her mum.
29:16What?
29:17Yeah.
29:18How old are you?
29:19I'm 16.
29:2016.
29:20And what role does the piano play in your life?
29:24It plays the role of being able to express my feelings.
29:28Especially when I didn't really know English.
29:31Because I'm originally from Ukraine so I had a really bad English.
29:35So it's such a great thing to have music.
29:38Because it's basically like a language.
29:40And you can just play and express what you feel without any words.
29:44Oh, I love that.
29:46And it would always help me to cope with my struggles.
29:50Because, you know, of the war, we had to leave Ukraine three years ago.
29:57Oh, wow.
29:59And my entire family is there.
30:01And it's been really sad and hard because you don't know when the attack is going to happen
30:09and where it's going to happen.
30:10So it's always been a struggle.
30:12I can't imagine.
30:12I cannot imagine the stress of that.
30:14Yeah.
30:20As air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv, authorities confirmed Russian troops had crossed the border
30:26into the country.
30:27My first memory of this whole situation was the news.
30:33They've been saying that Kyiv, it got bombed.
30:38We were so shocked.
30:40We couldn't believe that that actually would happen.
30:46We would get a lot of sirens in our city.
30:50And that was probably one of the most triggering things ever.
30:54Because you don't really know where to go.
30:57You don't know where to hide.
30:59And then we decided to leave this madness.
31:07When we were leaving, it was only me and my mom.
31:11The men had to stay in case they had to fight.
31:18So to leave without my dad, it was just really, really sad and hard.
31:27But I realised that I need to be strong for my mom.
31:31It must have been a very hard decision to pack up and leave.
31:35It was the hardest time in all my life.
31:39I'm so grateful.
31:41But I miss all our family.
32:02The piano, it's always been my passion since I was small.
32:07When I play, I just feel the music.
32:10I don't think about the problems that I have.
32:12I just think about the best moments of my life.
32:18Family gatherings, Christmas, my grandparents, my dad.
32:33She's fantastic.
32:35Beautiful phrasing, beautiful control.
32:38She's just got this musical maturity that you can't teach.
32:51My dream is that the war will end.
32:55And that I will be with my family once again.
33:35Thank you very much.
33:36It was absolutely wonderful.
33:38There's something special about her.
33:41Everything that she's been through, turn it around into such a positive outlook.
33:47I'd love to see her in the concert.
33:50Yes.
33:55Oh, look at the dog.
33:56Can I pat your dog?
33:57Yes.
33:58She's very friendly.
33:59She's very friendly.
33:59What's your dog's name?
34:00Savignon Blanc.
34:01I'm sure we've met before.
34:04The afternoon sunshine has every man and his dog out.
34:09Literally.
34:10Which is good news for the buskers, with over 100 of them trying their luck here every year.
34:18Along with our next pianist, 18-year-old Ollie.
34:23I'm extremely nervous to perform.
34:25I've always found performing stressful.
34:28I've gone busking once with my friend, but there was not a great audience.
34:32So this would be very different to anything I've ever done.
34:34Are you looking for me?
34:35Come on up.
34:36But I'm hoping that this is definitely a very special moment for me and my grandfather.
34:42Ollie, tell me a bit about yourself.
34:43What's your connection with the piano?
34:44All my life I've struggled with anxiety.
34:48I've struggled with going to school, playing the piano and music has given me purpose.
34:55I'm glad that he's found this.
34:58My grandpa has been so supportive of me and he's been a big inspiration for a lot of my love
35:04of music.
35:05He took me to a Jimmy Barnes concert.
35:08I think it was a very special experience.
35:09So today I'm playing Flame Trees by Cold Chisel, which is one of his favourite songs.
35:16Oh, how beautiful.
35:18Flame Trees is such a beautiful song to play on piano.
35:22Such a beautiful melody.
35:35The kids are driving Saturday afternoon just passed me by.
35:43Yeah, Ollie.
35:44Okay.
35:45And I'm just severing familiar sights.
35:52Great voice.
35:54Great voice.
35:55And I can't stop that long forgotten feeling of her.
36:02Time to book a room it's day to night.
36:10And all the flake trees are by the weary driver.
36:18You can just tell when there's music that just resonates on such a deep level.
36:24That's amazing.
36:25Yeah.
36:25There's no place to come.
36:28There's no change.
36:31There's no place.
36:33Everything within is.
36:36Just makes it harder to.
36:41Yes.
36:42She won't be around.
36:56Wow, look at Granddad.
36:58I didn't know what to expect with your voice and you've got such a beautiful voice.
37:02Thank you very much.
37:04Yeah, it was a great job.
37:05I'm a very proud Granddad.
37:14I love the diversity of people just milling around.
37:20Oh, this is a beautiful woman.
37:25I'm Erin.
37:26I'm 38 years old and I'm from Sydney.
37:29I'm a very busy mum and tired mum of two little girls.
37:34These dinosaurs right here, do you think that their mummies sang them some loud lullabies
37:38or soft lullabies?
37:40Loud and soft.
37:41Loud and soft.
37:42Possibly.
37:43I'm Amanda.
37:44Hello.
37:45Nice to meet you.
37:45I'm Erin.
37:45Hi, Erin.
37:46Come sit down.
37:47Your hands are nice and warm.
37:48Oh, good.
37:50The song I'm playing today is my own song and it's called Lullaby for the Old Men and
37:54I wrote it for my dad.
37:55Every Christmas or barbecue or family gathering, he was always with the kids, making the fun
38:02happen and often the man behind the old home videos.
38:07Erin.
38:08Erin.
38:09Closer.
38:10He was always wondering what he can do for you.
38:12How can he help?
38:12Can he drive you here?
38:13Can he do that?
38:14He's been ultimately nicknamed the mother hen.
38:18Tell me about your dad.
38:20My dad is a former rugby league player.
38:22His name is Steve Mortimer.
38:23Oh, wow.
38:25He's currently living with a form of dementia.
38:29Brought on through rugby league.
38:30Yeah.
38:31Repetitive head trauma with rugby league.
38:33Oh, wow.
38:34Steve Mortimer's a big deal.
38:36Full time.
38:37How sweet it is.
38:39Steve Mortimer's face tells it all.
38:41The Blues wrap up the State of Origin series for the first time.
38:46The hardest part about loving someone with dementia is just seeing someone that was just a superhero
38:55to you.
38:56Dad, turn around, smile.
39:02And to see that slowly get taken away from you bit by bit and to see them end up in
39:08such
39:08a vulnerable state and him being in a room now which isn't home, that's hard.
39:26How old is your dad?
39:27He's 69 now.
39:29Yeah.
39:29In some way, he's somewhat young still to be having this condition.
39:33So it's heartbreaking because you start to see your mum become a carer.
39:37And it can be really tricky sometimes.
39:41Oh, that would be very difficult.
39:44But songwriting has been a godsend because it has been a wonderful way to process a lot
39:49of it when you've got someone that's still very much here, but not really here.
39:55It's wonderful.
39:57And just to have that as a tool, and I'm so grateful that I can still go to the piano
40:01and sit down and put words down, cheersing to the man that he was.
40:05Tell us about the song you've written for him then.
40:07What part of this journey have you written about?
40:09The title itself being a lullaby is because I sing my kids to sleep.
40:15My dad would actually sing me to sleep.
40:17I cannot wait to hear your song.
40:19You ready to go?
40:20I'm ready to go.
40:20I'm going to sit over here with Karen.
40:24I'm really looking forward to hearing this.
40:26I'm ready to go.
40:27I'm ready to go.
40:50I'm ready to go.
40:55I'm ready to go.
40:56I'm ready to look in my house and bed.
40:57And then I turn out the light.
41:00I sing the same song that you'd sing.
41:03The sun's shine and the rain.
41:05But man the pain
41:12Sadness gently snuggles in
41:16Because I think of all your wisdom and how you take things on the chin
41:22Life's on the fair yet that I know because you deserve to be living
41:28So this is just a heart. This is so powerful. So I sing a lullaby for
41:35the old man
41:37Who could do what no one else can
41:43He lifted up the rest
41:45Never pounded on his chest, but he loved and how he loved
41:53You read about grief. This is definitely the long goodbye
41:57But I think for me, I know he's still there
42:01Inside and his soul is still very active. So it's still being hugged
42:07A loyal son and brother. That's for sure
42:12The most loving husband to his wife you ever saw
42:18Now she's the one that carries him uphold his dignity
42:23Despite the noise she brings him joy
42:27Love's unconditionally
42:29It's a very honest voice, isn't it? Same thing with the piano playing. It's just very sincere
42:34It's between the vocal lines
42:36So here's to you
42:39So here's to you
42:40The truest blues
42:42And I'll keep on singing for you
42:46If I could have one more clear conversation with my dad
42:50I just say thank you
42:52I promise to keep on singing for you
42:54Because
42:54I promise to keep on singing for you
42:56Mate you did good
42:57For you
43:01And I love him so much
43:05Yeah
43:20Erin, what a spectacular song
43:23Thank you
43:24How are you feeling?
43:25I feel proud
43:26How do you think your dad would have felt?
43:29Oh smiling maybe swaying a little and singing if he was
43:32Yes
43:32He loves music
43:33He's always loved music
43:35Yeah
43:36Oh
43:36Please thank Erin and Karen
43:38Thank you
43:41Thank you mate
43:42Cheers
43:43It's a lot about that story that resonates with me
43:45But that's for another time
43:54As the sun starts to set on Sydney Harbour
43:59We've asked our everyday pianists to return to our public piano
44:03So we can thank them and reveal all
44:08Because still stashed away of course is Andrea
44:12And this guy
44:13Can I have some of your stem cells Betty?
44:15Yeah
44:16They have a very special invitation
44:18For one of our players
44:20To be mentored and perform
44:23At an unforgettable concert
44:25Well hello
44:26Help
44:27This is the hard bit isn't it?
44:30Help
44:30What about Nadi?
44:31Oh
44:31In his high viz
44:33And then the beauty of that song he played
44:35I did not know what to expect
44:37And that's what would make the concert exciting
44:39You'd see this guy who's a tank
44:41And he's got this beard
44:42But then he comes out and plays this beautiful Persian
44:44Classical piece
44:45I was so moved by Aaron
44:47The most loving husband to his wife
44:50I would be excited to see how we could enhance the purpose of that song
44:54Which is to honor somebody who's a hero
44:56But we've got to look at
44:57There's so many things
44:58How good they are as a pianist
45:00There's so many things
45:00How good they are as a pianist
45:02Anastasia
45:02She's fantastic
45:04I just thought she had beautiful phrasing
45:07Beautiful control
45:08And a beautiful connection with the music
45:10She really moved people
45:11Well to quote Highlander
45:12There can be only one
45:13So I'm glad I don't have to decide who that is
45:17Oh good
45:18Good luck guys
45:19This is going to be tough
45:20For your safety
45:21Please find the game
45:23Well hello
45:24Oh my god
45:25Hi, hi, hi
45:26How are you all?
45:27Great
45:28Thank you
45:28Thank you
45:29You've given us such a joyous day
45:31Thank you for sharing your music
45:33Now you weren't just performing for all the passers-by here today
45:37You've also been performing for two musical superstars
45:42Oh
45:43This woman, backed by popular demand
45:46Is one of Australia's greatest classical pianists
45:49Please welcome the wonderful Andrea Lamb
45:53Oh
46:00Now I've been dying to tell you this all day
46:03We are going to be joined this year
46:05By one of Australia's greatest musical geniuses
46:09The multi-award winning
46:11Mr. Guy Sebastian
46:13Oh no way
46:16Oh fantastic
46:22And it's so pretty
46:24Hello beautiful people
46:27We have absolutely loved getting to know you a little bit
46:30In these very beautiful intimate parts of your life
46:33You guys made people stop in their tracks
46:36And you did it by your gift
46:38You made that piano sing
46:39And it was just an honour
46:42It honestly
46:44Is Guy crying?
46:47It was just beautiful to see
46:49It was amazing
46:50And so
46:51A small token of thank you
46:53We would love to invite you as VIP guests
46:56To a concert at the City Recital Hall in Sydney
46:59Thank you so much
47:01But there's also one other thing
47:03One of you guys are going to actually perform at this concert
47:09This is somebody who used music
47:11To express their deepest and most personal thoughts
47:15So that person
47:17With her beautiful tribute to her father Steve
47:19Is you Erin
47:21Well thank you very much
47:23Congratulations Erin
47:24Thank you
47:29It's been a big day
47:30But we're going to tear up a bit
47:33Oh my goodness
47:34Thank you so much
47:35Thank you
47:35Oh wow
47:37Erin's performance was so moving
47:39I think it was something that was so personal to her
47:42And she was able to sincerely access that
47:45And bring that to us
47:46And we were so moved by that
47:48It spoke so powerfully and so directly
47:51Wow what a first day
47:53We've been in tears
47:54We've been dancing
47:55We've been crying
47:56It's been beautiful
47:57High fives
47:58Yeah
47:58I'm not going to wash your hands
48:00Yeah
48:00Yeah
48:03You take the weight off my shoulders
48:06You take me from stopping to dancing
48:10You're where I go
48:11You're where I go
48:12When everything's broken
48:14Why any time
48:18I was so starstruck
48:20I couldn't even speak
48:25Thank you
48:28Next time
48:29Yeah Louie
48:31We're in Brisbane
48:33Queen Street Mall rocks
48:34Where piano players from all walks of life
48:38Share their passion
48:39Every time I struggled I would go to the piano
48:42And the life changing power
48:45I never thought I'd be playing piano again
48:50Of this magical instrument
48:52There's something special going on
48:53Thank you
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