Casio America, Inc., kicked off the first day of summer, June 21, by participating in the 7th Annual Make Music New York event. Make Music New York is one of the nation’s largest annual music events, where more than 1,000 free concerts are held throughout New York City. Casio was involved in several activities taking place in conjunction with this event, including hosting three Make Music New York After Dark open mic parties and sponsoring a portable Privia Piano Bar featuring a traveling pianist playing music on a Casio Privia PX-350 digital piano throughout Manhattan.
“We are extremely excited to be a part of the 7th Annual Make Music New York event, which is also taking place on National Music Day,” said Stephen Schmidt, Vice President of Casio’s Electronic Musical Instruments Division. “We feel hosting the After Dark events and the Privia Piano Bar are great ways for Casio to engage with musicians throughout New York City and provide them with the opportunity to celebrate National Music Day and Make Music New York by jamming out alongside one of our most popular keyboards. With our donation of the Privia PX-350 digital pianos, keyboard players no longer have to worry about carrying their keyboard throughout New York City and they can focus on what they love: playing music.”
For the past several years, Make Music New York has offered all musicians, beginners or professionals, young or old, the chance to attend and participate in free concerts throughout the five boroughs of New York City. This year, Casio sponsored a Privia Piano Bar that started in Harlem and made its way down the island to the East Village, stopping at various Make Music New York concert locations. At each stop, Nate Buccieri, an accomplished singer/songwriter, pianist, vocalist, accompanist and music director, played live music with the Casio Privia PX-350 on the back of the rolling piano bar. Buccieri accompanied singers at the street concerts and performed live requests all day long.
Casio also hosted three After Dark parties, giving musicians the chance to continue the celebration throughout the night. The three Manhattan locations included the Sidewalk Café and the Drom in the East Village and the Harlem Tavern in Harlem. Casio donated three Privia PX-350 digital pianos, which were part of the indoor, multi-genre open mic events. Musicians were invited to play the PX-350 at all three locations and participate in jam sessions with one another.