What We Did
Our group chose to focus on the subway musicians who occupy the Union Square subway station. At the intersection of the L N Q R 4 5 6 SUBWAYS is Union Square, a hub or activity. People rushing to their trains at musicians provide a soundtrack to their busy lives. We interviewed two musical acts, a Plastic Bucket drummer and a group of Native American Musicians. Union Square is not the only place to find subway musicians, you can find them at the 6th-7th Avenue Tunnel or at Grand Central Station.
Musician Interviews/Observations
What We Found Out
Musicians can be found all around and often times their talent goes unnoticed as their music blends in with the many sounds of New York City. Our group wanted to shine a spotlight on these performers and show that it is worth it to sometimes slow down and just enjoy their performance. While doing fieldwork at Union Square and Grand Central we found a plethora of different musicians. However, they all had one thing in common, the love of music and performance. All musicians we interviewed said they do not do it for the money or fame, but to share with people what they love to do. They offer free performances to allow New Yorkers to take a pause on their hectic lifestyle, listen, and come to appreciate all types of music. Next time you see a performer on the subway platform make sure to listen and appreciate the music that is all around us in New York City.
