Pianist Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Pianist (disambiguation).

A pianist (say "pee-AN-ist") is a musician who plays the piano. Pianists can play many kinds of music, like traditional classical music, jazz, blues, and all sorts of popular music, including rock and roll. Most pianists can also easily play other keyboard instruments. These include the synthesizer, harpsichord, celesta, and the organ.

What Pianists Do Today
Famous Classical Pianists
Jazz Pianists
Pop and Rock Pianists
Pianists Who Also Composed Music
Amateur Pianists
See also

What Pianists Do Today

Modern classical pianists spend their careers performing concerts and making recordings. They also teach, research, and learn new musical pieces. Unlike pianists in the 1800s, they usually do not write or change music themselves. Some classical pianists focus on playing with singers or other instruments. This is called accompaniment or chamber music. A few pianists perform alone as full-time soloists.

Famous Classical Pianists

Mozart was one of the first "concert pianists." He performed widely on the piano. Other famous players from the Classical era (around 1730-1820) were Beethoven and Clementi.

From the Romantic era (around 1800-1910), famous pianists included Liszt, Brahms, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Schumann. The piano became very popular in homes during the Classical period. Other great performers from that time were Clara Schumann and Hans von Bülow. We don't have recordings of these early pianists. So, we learn about their playing style from old writings.

Jazz Pianists

Tord Gustavsen playing piano at the 2016 Oslo Jazz Festival in Norway

Jazz pianists almost always play with other musicians. Their playing is often more free than classical pianists. They create a feeling of playing "in the moment." They usually do not write down their music. Making up music as they play, called improvisation, is a big part of jazz. Well-known jazz pianists include Bill Evans, Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner, and Herbie Hancock.

Pop and Rock Pianists

Popular pianists might perform live in concerts or theaters. They can also be session musicians, playing for recordings. Many popular pianists use synthesizers and other electronic keyboards. Famous popular pianists include Victor Borge, who was also a comedian. Richard Clayderman is known for playing popular songs. Liberace was a singer and entertainer. He was one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world during his most famous years.

Pianists Who Also Composed Music

Many important composers were also amazing pianists. Here is a list of some of them.

Classical Period (1730-1820)

Romantic Period (1800-1910)

Modern Period

Contemporary Period

Amateur Pianists

An amateur pianist playing outdoors at Pike Place market in Seattle.

Some people learn to play the piano very well when they are young. But they choose careers that are not in music. Even so, there are many amateur pianists around the world. They play at a very high level and give concerts. They do this not for money, but because they love music. The International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs is held every year in Paris. About one thousand people listen to it, and it is broadcast on French radio.

A famous example is Jon Nakamatsu. He won the top prize at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997. This competition is for professional pianists. But at the time, Jon was technically an amateur. He had never gone to a music school or studied music in college. He was working as a high school German teacher. After winning, he started a career as a classical pianist.

The German pianist Davide Martello is known for traveling to conflict zones. He plays his piano there to bring comfort and hope. The European Parliament has honored Martello. They recognized his "outstanding contribution to European cooperation and the promotion of common values."id:Piano

Pianist facts for kids

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